Modern Smart TV LG's smartphones are equipped with powerful multimedia capabilities that allow them to be easily integrated into your home entertainment system. It often happens that your smartphone's screen is too small to comfortably view videos, family albums, or online content. Fortunately, wireless data transfer technology via Wi-Fi solves this problem in seconds.
Unlike older methods that required bulky HDMI cables or complex adapters, modern protocols provide stable, high-definition video streaming. You don't need to be a techie to set it up. screen mirroring or streaming. Both devices need to be on the same local network, which is a key requirement to get started.
In this article, we'll take a detailed look at all the current methods for connecting Android and iOS mobile devices to an LG TV. We'll also explore the system's built-in features. webOS, native capabilities of phone operating systems and specialized applications that will help display images even on older models.
⚠️ Important: For all of the described methods to work correctly, it's critical that both the TV and smartphone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. If your router has separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, make sure the devices aren't isolated from each other by the router settings.
Preparing equipment and network
Before you begin setting up your broadcast, you need to make sure your infrastructure is ready to handle heavy video streaming. Wireless network The signal must be stable, as high-definition video (Full HD or 4K) requires significant bandwidth. A weak signal can lead to audio and video desynchronization or artifacts.
First, check the software version of your LG TV. The manufacturer regularly releases system updates. webOS, which add support for new codecs and communication protocols, such as AirPlay 2 or improved MiracastGo to your TV's settings menu, select "General," and find "About TV" to check for updates.
It's also worth paying attention to your router's Wi-Fi frequency. If your router is dual-band, it's preferable to use a dual-band network. 5 GHz for video transmission. This range provides higher data transfer rates and is less susceptible to interference from neighboring networks and household appliances, which is critical for streaming.
- 📶 Make sure your router supports Wi-Fi 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) or later for stable operation.
- 🔄 Check for the latest firmware updates in the menu
Settings → All settings → Support → Software update. - 🏠 Make sure "AP Isolation" is disabled in your router settings, otherwise the devices won't see each other.
☑️ Check before connection
If you're using a guest Wi-Fi network, it may have local data transfer restrictions. In this case, streaming may not start, as device discovery protocols operate within the local network. It's best to use your main home network to ensure full functionality.
Stream from iPhone and iPad (Apple AirPlay)
Apple device owners are in a favorable position, as modern LG TVs support the technology AirPlay 2 Natively. This means you don't need to install any additional apps on your TV—everything works out of the box. This technology allows you to not only stream video but also mirror your entire smartphone screen or display photos.
To start playback, open a video player, such as YouTube or Netflix, on your iPhone. Look for the AirPlay icon, which looks like a rectangle with a triangle at the bottom. Tap it to see a list of available devices. Select yours. LG Smart TV from the list.
When you connect for the first time, you may see a message on your TV screen. confirmation codeEnter this code on your iPhone's screen to authorize the connection. The devices can then remember each other and won't always require confirmation, significantly speeding up the process.
| Function | Description | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| AirPlay 2 | Video and audio broadcasting | webOS 4.0 and later |
| Screen Mirroring | Full screen mirroring | AirPlay support |
| Multi-Room Audio | Multi-room audio | Devices with AirPlay 2 |
| Siri Commands | Voice control | iOS 12+ and webOS |
AirPlay 2 also lets you control playback directly from your phone, using it as a remote control. You can pause videos, change the volume, or rewind while the TV is playing content. Picture quality remains high thanks to efficient stream compression.
Streaming from Android (Miracast and Smart View)
For Android users, the main native technology is Miracast, which is often implemented under different names depending on the smartphone manufacturer. For Samsung, this function Smart View, Xiaomi has — Broadcast, other brands may call it "Wireless Monitor" or "Screen Projection".
To start broadcasting, pull down the notification shade on your smartphone and look for the corresponding icon. If you don't see it right away, it may be hidden in the additional quick access button editing menu. Once activated, your phone will begin searching for available devices on the Wi-Fi network.
When yours appears on the list LG TV, tap it to pair. A connection request will appear on the TV screen, which you'll need to confirm with the remote control. After that, the image from your phone will appear on the big screen.
Path to Miracast settings on LG TV:
Settings (gear) → Mobile device connection → Mobile device list → Enabled
It's important to note that Miracast creates a direct Wi-Fi Direct connection or uses a local network to transmit a video stream without the compression typical of DLNA. This ensures minimal latency, which is important if you want to show a presentation or demonstrate an app interface.
⚠️ Note: When mirroring your Android screen in landscape mode on your phone, the image on your TV should also flip. If this doesn't happen, check to see if automatic screen orientation is blocked in your smartphone settings.
Using the LG TV Plus app
If the built-in functions are unstable for some reason or you require advanced control functionality, LG offers an official application LG TV PlusIt is available for download on Google Play and the Apple App Store and serves as a universal remote control and media center.
After installing the app and connecting to Wi-Fi, it will automatically find your TV. The app not only lets you stream photos and videos from your phone's gallery, but also controls the TV channel, enter text using your smartphone's keyboard (which is great for searching YouTube), and launch apps installed on your TV.
The app's "Multimedia" feature lets you select files on your phone and send them to your TV for playback. Unlike mirroring, the TV decodes the file itself, reducing the strain on your smartphone's battery and freeing it up for other tasks.
- 📱 Ability to use your smartphone as a touchpad to navigate webOS menus.
- 🎮 Support for running simple games where the phone acts as a controller.
- 📂 Access media files on your phone without having to turn on the cast screen.
- 🔊 Control volume and change channels directly from the app.
However, it's worth remembering that the LG TV Plus app doesn't always support streaming protected content from some streaming services due to DRM (Digital Rights Management) restrictions. In such cases, it's better to use the built-in apps on the TV itself.
Why might the app not see the TV?
If the LG TV Plus app doesn't find your TV, check your router's firewall. Sometimes antivirus software or Windows security settings (if you're using a PC on a network) can block the ports needed to detect UPnP/DLNA devices. You can also try rebooting your router.
Streaming via Google Chromecast built-in
Many modern LG TV models have built-in support for this technology. Google Cast (Chromecast built-in). This allows you to stream content directly from Android and iOS apps that use this protocol, such as YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, Google Photos, and many others.
Unlike Miracast, which mirrors the entire screen, Google Cast only sends a link to the content to the TV, which then downloads it from the internet. This frees up the phone's processor and allows it to be used for other tasks, such as replying to messages while watching a movie.
To use this feature, find the Cast icon (the rectangle with Wi-Fi waves in the corner) in the app on your phone. Tap it and select your LG TV. The image quality will be the highest supported by the service, as the stream is sent directly from the server to the TV.
This method is especially convenient for streaming services, as it doesn't require a constant active connection between your phone and TV once playback has started. If you receive a call, the video on your TV won't be interrupted; it will simply pause or resume, depending on your settings.
Third-party applications and alternative methods
In cases where standard methods don't work, or the TV is an older model without Smart TV support, you can use third-party solutions. A popular application is TV Cast for LG TV or BubbleUPnPThese programs often have their own browsers for downloading videos from websites and sending them to the TV.
Another method is to use DLNA servers. You can install a server app (such as Plex or Kodi) on your computer or phone, which will share your media library. Your LG TV will see this server as a signal source, and you can play files through the built-in player.
For advanced users, there is the option to set up a local server. DLNA Directly on the router, if it supports USB drives. In this case, video files are copied to a flash drive, which is inserted into the router, and streamed to all devices on the network, including TVs.
| Method | Delay | Quality | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirPlay / Miracast | Low | High | Low |
| Google Cast | Minimum | Maximum | Low |
| DLNA (Local File) | No | Original | Average |
| Third-party apps | Average | Depends on the codec | High |
Don't forget about physical connections as a backup option. If your Wi-Fi network is overloaded, using an adapter HDMI (Lightning to HDMI for iPhone or USB-C to HDMI for Android) guarantees a perfect picture without delays, although it does deprive you of the convenience of wireless control.
Solution and optimization
Even with proper setup, connection issues may still occur. These are most often caused by an unstable Wi-Fi signal or outdated software. If the image is choppy or the sound is lagging, try moving closer to the router or turning off other devices that are actively consuming bandwidth.
Another common issue is audio and video desync. This is often resolved by rebooting the TV (unplugging it completely for 10 seconds) and resetting the network settings on your phone. Also, check if your TV's "Eco" or power-saving mode is enabled, as this could limit processor performance.
⚠️ Note: The webOS interface and menu names may vary slightly depending on the operating system version (webOS 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, and later). If you cannot find the specified option, use the search in the TV settings (magnifying glass icon).
To optimize performance, we recommend regularly clearing the app cache on your TV. Accumulated temporary files can slow down system performance and cause problems decoding video streams during streaming. This can be done in the storage settings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why doesn't my LG TV see my phone in the list of devices?
Most likely, the devices are connected to different networks (for example, one to a guest network and the other to the main network) or client isolation is enabled on the router. Also, check if the antivirus software on your phone is blocking local detection.
Is it possible to display a phone's screen on an old LG TV without a Smart TV?
Without Smart TV, this isn't possible directly via Wi-Fi. You'll need to purchase an external set-top box (such as Chromecast, Apple TV, or Android Box) that connects via HDMI and adds smart features to your TV.
Does AirPlay stream 5.1 sound to my LG TV?
Yes, if the TV supports the appropriate audio codecs and is connected to a sound system via optical output or HDMI ARC. However, with simple screen mirroring, the sound is often transmitted in stereo (2.0).
How to reduce lag when playing games from your phone on TV?
Enable "Game Mode" in your TV's picture settings. This will disable unnecessary image post-processing. Also, use a 5 GHz network to minimize data transfer latency.
Is DRM content (Netflix, Kinopoisk) streamed via screen mirroring?
Protected content often fails to stream during full screen mirroring (via Miracast/AirPlay) due to HDCP protection. A black screen with sound is normal. Use the built-in app on your TV or the Cast button within the app.