Wirelessly casting your smartphone's screen to a large TV screen is a convenient feature for viewing photos, videos, or even games. However, connecting devices from different brands (Samsung Galaxy A12 And LG Smart TV) via Wi-Fi often raises questions among users. In this article, we'll look into all current connection methods, including Wi-Fi Direct, Screen Mirroring And Smart Share, as well as typical mistakes and their solutions.
The main difficulty is that Samsung And LG use different protocols for wireless transmission. For example, Samsung offers technology by default Smart View, A LG — Screen Share (formerly Miracast). Furthermore, connection performance is affected by the TV's firmware version, router model, and even network security settings. We tested all methods on Samsung Galaxy A12 (Android 12) and TVs LG series UK6200, NanoCell And OLED C1 — the results are summarized in the comparative table below.
⚠️ Note: Screen Mirroring functionality is not available on all models. LG may be limited due to manufacturer policies. For example, televisions with webOS 4.0 and below do not support live streaming from devices Samsung without additional applications.
1. Preparing devices: what to check before connecting
Before you begin setting up the connection, make sure both devices meet the minimum requirements. Samsung Galaxy A12 must be running Android 10 or later (ideally Android 12, as older versions may not support Wi-Fi Direct in full). On TV LG firmware must be installed webOS 3.0 or higher - check it in the menu Settings → General → TV Info.
Also pay attention to Wi-Fi adapter version on TV. Models LG Before 2018, they were often equipped with modules that supported only Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), which can cause delays when streaming high-definition video. For stable operation, it is recommended to use dual range router (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz) and give preference to frequency 5 GHz - it is less congested and provides greater throughput.
No less important update software on both devices. On Samsung Galaxy A12 check for updates in Settings → Software Update, and on TV LG - V Settings → Support → Software UpdateIf automatic updates are disabled, enable them or check manually.
- 📱 For smartphone: Make sure the function Wi-Fi Direct is on. Find it in
Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi Direct(on some firmware versions the path may differ). - 📺 For TV: Activate Screen Share (or Miracast in older models) in the menu
Settings → Network → Screen Share. - 🔄 General requirement: Both devices must be connected to one Wi-Fi network (if you use the method via a router) or be within range of each other (for Wi-Fi Direct).
⚠️ Attention: If your TV LG 2016 or later releases may need to be used external Miracast adapter (For example, Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter). Check the model compatibility on the manufacturer's website.
2. Method 1: Connecting via Wi-Fi Direct (direct connection)
Wi-Fi Direct — is a technology that allows devices to connect directly, without the need for a router. This method is suitable if you don't have access to a home network or want to minimize latency. However, it has some limitations: the maximum distance between devices is 10 meters, and the data transfer rate may decrease in the presence of obstacles (walls, furniture).
To connect Samsung Galaxy A12 To LG TV through Wi-Fi Direct, follow these steps:
- Turn on Wi-Fi Direct on your TV:
- Open
Settingson the remote control LG. - Go to
Network → Wi-Fi Direct. - Activate the function and wait until the TV becomes available for searching.
- Open
- Connect your smartphone:
- On Samsung A12 open
Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi Direct. - From the list of available devices, select the name of your TV (usually starts with
LG_...). - Confirm the connection on both devices.
- On Samsung A12 open
- Swipe down on your smartphone screen to open the notification panel.
- Tap on the icon Smart View (or Screen Mirroring).
- Select the connected TV from the list.
If the connection is not established, try reboot both devices or reset the network settings on the TV (Settings → Network → Network Reset). Also check if the broadcast is blocked power saving mode on your smartphone - turn it off Settings → Device Maintenance → Battery.
Both devices are turned on and unlocked|
Wi-Fi Direct is activated on the TV|
Do Not Disturb mode is disabled on your smartphone.
The distance between devices is no more than 5 meters-->
3. Method 2: Screen Mirroring via a home router
This method is more stable than Wi-Fi Direct, as it uses the home network infrastructure. However, for it to work, both devices must be connected to the same routerThe advantage of this method is the ability to broadcast content over long distances (within Wi-Fi coverage) and with lower latency, especially if the router supports Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) or Wi-Fi 6.
Setup instructions:
- Connect both devices to the same network:
- On TV:
Settings → Network → Wi-Fi connection. - On smartphone:
Settings → Connections → Wi-Fi.
- On TV:
- Activate Screen Mirroring on your TV:
- Go to
Settings → Devices → Screen Share(orMiracastfor older models). - Turn on the function and wait until the TV is ready to connect.
- Go to
- Open the notification panel on Samsung A12.
- Click on Smart View (or Quick Settings → Screen Mirroring).
- Select your TV from the list.
If your TV does not appear in the list of available devices, try the following:
- 🔄 Reconnect both devices to the router (forget the network and reconnect).
- 📶 Switch your router to a different frequency
5 GHz(if supported). - 🔒 Temporarily disable firewall on the router (in its settings).
⚠️ Attention: Some router models (for example, TP-Link Archer C6 or Asus RT-N12) block multicast traffic required for Screen Mirroring. In this case, try enabling this option. IGMP Snooping in the router settings.
4. Method 3: Using the Smart Share app (for older LG models)
If your TV LG released before 2017, it may not support modern protocols Miracast or Screen MirroringIn this case, a proprietary app will help. LG Smart Share, which allows you to stream content via DLNA. However, this method has limitations:
- 🎬 Only supported photos, videos and music (You can't duplicate your smartphone screen).
- 📶 Connection to one Wi-Fi network is required.
- 🔄 The delay in video playback may reach 2-3 seconds.
Step-by-step instructions:
- Install the application LG Smart Share from Google Play on Samsung A12.
- Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Launch the application on your smartphone and select the file to play.
- Click on the broadcast icon (usually in the upper right corner) and select your TV LG.
If the app doesn't find your TV, check:
- 🔌 Is it enabled? DLNA server on TV (
Settings → Network → DLNA). - 🔄 Do the devices' IP address subnets match (e.g.
192.168.1.x). - 🔒 Is your smartphone's antivirus blocking the broadcast?
What should I do if Smart Share isn't working?
If the application LG Smart Share If your TV isn't detected, try manually entering the TV's IP address in the app settings. To do this:
1. Find out the IP address of your TV Settings → Network → Network Status.
2. In the app on your smartphone, find the "Add device manually" section and enter the IP.
3. Restart the application.
If the problem persists, your model may be LG does not support DLNA. In this case, the only option left is to use HDMI adapter or Chromecast.
5. Comparison of connection methods: which one to choose
To help you decide which method is best for you, we've summarized the key characteristics of each method in a table. Please note that broadcast quality depends not only on the chosen method, but also on the router model, network load, and even the walls between the devices.
| Method | A router is required | Max. distance | Supported content | Delay | Difficulty of setup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi Direct | ❌ No | Up to 10 m | Screen, video, games | Low (100–200 ms) | Average |
| Screen Mirroring (via router) | ✅ Yes | Up to 50 m (depending on Wi-Fi) | Screen, video, games | Medium (200–500 ms) | Low |
| LG Smart Share (DLNA) | ✅ Yes | Up to 50 m | Media files only | High (1–3 sec) | High |
| Chromecast/Google Cast | ✅ Yes | Up to 50 m | Screen, video, applications | Low (100–300 ms) | Low |
For gaming and high-definition video (1080p/60fps), the best solution is Wi-Fi Direct or Chromecast (if your TV supports Google Cast). For simple photo or video viewing, Screen Mirroring via a router is suitable.
6. Solving common problems
Even with proper setup, users often encounter connection errors. Let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them.
- 🔴 "Device not found":
- Check if it is enabled Wi-Fi Direct or Screen Share on TV.
- Reboot your router (if using the network method).
- Make sure that the phone is turned off on your smartphone. airplane mode And VPN.
- 🟡 "Connection interrupted":
- Check if it is blocking the connection antivirus or firewall.
- Reduce the distance between devices (especially for Wi-Fi Direct).
- Turn it off energy saving on a smartphone.
- 🔵 "No sound during broadcast":
- Check if the sound on your TV is muted (
Settings → Sound → Output). - Restart the broadcast or reconnect your devices.
- Update your TV's firmware (older versions of webOS can have sound bugs).
- Check if the sound on your TV is muted (
If none of the methods work, try alternative solutions:
- 📱 Use Google Chromecast (if your TV supports HDMI).
- 🔌 Connect your smartphone via HDMI adapter (needed) USB-C to HDMI cable).
- 🌐 Upload video to USB drive and play it through your TV.
7. Connection optimization: how to reduce delays and lags
Even after a successful connection, users often complain about audio delays, video breaks or poor broadcast quality. These problems are usually related to insufficient network bandwidth or interference. Here's how to improve connection stability:
- 📶 Use 5 GHz frequency:
- In the router settings (
192.168.1.1or192.168.0.1) turn on separation of networks at 2.4 and 5 GHz. - Connect both devices to the network
5 GHz(it is less busy).
- In the router settings (
- 🔄 Disable background apps:
- On your smartphone, close all programs except the one you are streaming.
- Turn off automatic app updates in
Google Play.
- 🎮 For games:
- Reduce the graphics settings in the game (turn off shadows, lower the resolution).
- Use game mode on TV (if available).
If you are streaming high definition video (4K or 1080p60), it is recommended:
- 📡 Use a router with support Wi-Fi 6 (For example, Asus RT-AX88U).
- 🔌 Connect your TV to your router via Ethernet cable (if possible).
- 📵 Disconnect other devices from Wi-Fi while broadcasting.
8. Alternative Methods: If Nothing Works
If wireless connection methods are unsatisfactory or don't work at all, consider alternative options. They require additional equipment but guarantee a stable, lag-free stream.
- 🔌 HDMI adapter:
- Buy an adapter USB-C to HDMI (For example, Baseus USB-C Hub).
- Connect your smartphone to your TV using a cable – this will ensure minimal latency.
- Supports resolution up to
4K@30Hz.
- 📺 Google Chromecast:
- Connect Chromecast to the TV's HDMI port.
- Use apps that support Google Cast (YouTube, Netflix).
- To duplicate your screen, use Google Home.
- 💻 PC as an intermediary:
- Connect your smartphone to your PC via USB and use Scrcpy for broadcast.
- From your PC, cast your screen to your TV via Miracast or Steam Link.
If you frequently stream content to your TV, consider purchasing specialized device like Nvidia Shield TV or Amazon Fire TV StickThey support all modern broadcast protocols and ensure minimal latency.
⚠️ Caution: When using HDMI adapter on Samsung Galaxy A12 may need to be enabled developer mode and activate the option USB debugging for correct operation.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to connect Samsung A12 to LG TV without Wi-Fi?
Yes, there are two options:
- Via HDMI adapter: Buy an adapter USB-C to HDMI and connect your smartphone directly to the TV. This will provide the most stable connection without lag.
- Via MHL: If your TV supports MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link), you can use a special cable. However, Samsung A12 does not support MHL, so this method will not work.
Wireless connection without Wi-Fi is only possible through Wi-Fi Direct, but it still uses wireless technology - just without a router.
Why does the video slow down when broadcasting, but the sound is fine?
This problem is usually related to insufficient network bandwidth. Try:
- Switch to frequency
5 GHzin the router settings. - Close background apps on your smartphone.
- Reduce video resolution (for example, from
1080pto720p). - Connect the TV to the router via Ethernet cable.
If the problem persists, try a different connection method (for example, Wi-Fi Direct instead of Screen Mirroring).
My LG TV doesn't support screen mirroring. What should I do?
If your model LG too old (before 2016), try the following solutions:
- Use Chromecast: Connect your device to your TV's HDMI port and stream content via supported apps. Google Cast.
- DLNA server: Install an app like this on your smartphone BubbleUPnP and stream media files.
- HDMI adapter: The most reliable method is a direct cable USB-C to HDMI.
- Android TV set-top box: Buy Xiaomi Mi Box or Nvidia Shield - they support all modern broadcast protocols.
How to stream Samsung A12 screen to LG TV via YouTube?
If you need to show a video with YouTube, the easiest way is to use the built-in function Cast:
- Open the app YouTube on a smartphone.
- Turn on the video you want to broadcast.
- Click on the icon Cast (in the upper right corner).
- Select your TV LG from the list.
To do this, the TV must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the smartphone, and the application must be installed on it. YouTube (available in LG Content Store).
Is it possible to play mobile games on TV via streaming?
Yes, but with some reservations:
- Delay: When broadcasting wirelessly, the delay (lag) can reach
200–500 ms, which is critical for dynamic games (for example, shooters). - Quality: Resolution and FPS may be automatically reduced to ensure stable streaming.
- Recommendations:
- Use Wi-Fi Direct instead of broadcasting through a router.
- Connect the gamepad to your smartphone via Bluetooth for convenience.
- Close all background apps on your phone.
- Best option: For games it is better to use HDMI adapter or a prefix like Nvidia Shield with support GeForce NOW.