How to listen to music on your TV via your phone via Wi-Fi: all the methods

Music through the TV speakers sounds louder and richer than from a smartphone - especially if you have a model that supports Dolby Atmos or a built-in soundbar. But how do you redirect the audio stream from your smartphone to your TV? without unnecessary wiresThere are more ways than you might think: from standard functions Smart TV to specialized applications.

In this article we will analyze all current methods music transfer over Wi-Fi - from simple screen mirroring to advanced protocols like DLNA And Google CastLet's pay attention to the nuances for different brands (Samsung, LG, Sony, Xiaomi) and operating systems (Android/iOS). We'll also tell you how to get around common problems, such as, audio delay when listening through YouTube Music or Spotify.

If you have already tried to connect and encountered errors, there is information at the end of the article FAQ with solutions For 90% of cases. Let's start with the most universal method, which works on 9 out of 10 modern TVs.

1. Screen Mirroring is a universal method

The most obvious way is mirror your smartphone screen to a TV via the built-in function Screen Mirroring (on Android) or AirPlay (on iPhone). Advantage of the method: it is transmitted All, what's happening on the phone - including sound from any applications (Yandex Music, Apple Music, VK Music).

Cons: possible sound delay (up to 1-2 seconds), and on weaker routers, the picture may "lag." If you only need to listen to music, it's better to choose specialized protocols (more on that below). But for a fast connection Screen Mirroring fits perfectly.

• 📱 On Android: open Settings → Connections → Screen Sharing (or Screen Mirroring). Select your TV from the list.
• 🍎 On iPhone/iPad: swipe up to call Control center, click Screen mirroring and select TV.
• 📺 On TV: turn on the function Miracast (on Samsung — Smart View, on LG — Screen Share).

⚠️ Attention: On iPhone screen mirroring via AirPlay works only with TVs Apple TV or models with support AirPlay 2 (For example, Samsung QLED 2018+, LG OLED 2019+). For other TVs, an additional device will be required - Apple TV 4K or router with AirPlay support.

2. Google Cast (Chromecast) – for Android and iOS

If you have TV with Android TV (or connected Google Chromecast), use the protocol Google CastHe transmits sound only (or video) without screen mirroring, which reduces network load and eliminates lag. Works with most music services: YouTube Music, Spotify, Yandex Music.

How does this work:

1. Make sure your phone and TV are connected one Wi-Fi network.
2. Open an app with music (for example, Spotify).
3. Click on the icon Cast (usually in the upper right corner) and select your TV.

If icons Cast No - check if your app supports this feature. For example, Apple Music does not work with Google Cast, but you can use a workaround through Chrome (open the web version of the service and click Broadcast in the browser menu).

Install the latest version of the app (Spotify, YouTube Music, etc.)

Connect your phone and TV to the same Wi-Fi network (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz)

Turn on the Cast feature on your TV (Settings → Network Services → Google Cast)

Reboot your router if the devices don't see each other-->

3. DLNA/UPnP – for local files

Protocol DLNA allows you to stream music directly from the phone's memory or with NAS drive to your TV. Suitable if you store tracks in formats .mp3, .flac or .wav and don't want to use streaming services.

How to set up:

• 📱 On the phone: install a media server application, for example BubbleUPnP (Android) or MediaConnect (iOS).
• 📺 On TV: turn on DLNA in the network settings (on Samsung — Settings → General → External devices).
• 🔄 In the app on your phone, select a track and send it to your TV as Render (playback device).

Almost everyone supports DLNA Smart TV, but there may be format restrictions. For example, Sony Bravia does not reproduce .flac via DLNA, and LG may not display album art. In such cases, converting files to .mp3.

⚠️ Note: If music is interrupted when streaming via DLNA, please check your settings QoS on a routerPrioritize traffic for phone and TV devices to avoid packet loss.

4. Bluetooth as a backup option

Wi-Fi isn't always stable, especially if the router is far from the TV. In such cases, Bluetooth may become a temporary solution - albeit with some caveats:

• ✅ Pros: low power consumption, no connection to a router.
• ❌ Cons: limited radius (up to 10 meters), possible interference from other devices.

How to connect:

1. Turn on Bluetooth on the phone and TV (on Samsung: Settings → Sound → Sound Output → Bluetooth Device List).
2. Select your phone from the list of available devices on the TV.
3. Play music on your phone and the sound will automatically be transmitted to the TV.

Important: Not all TVs support Bluetooth audio reception.For example, models LG Until 2020, they can often only transmit Sound through headphones, but not receiving it. Check the specifications for your model on the manufacturer's website.

Why Bluetooth might be better than Wi-Fi for music?

When listening via Bluetooth, audio latency is typically lower (50-100 ms versus 500+ ms with Screen Mirroring), and the quality is sufficient for most tracks (SBC or AAC codecs). However, for Hi-Res audio (24-bit/96 kHz), it's better to use Wi-Fi or a wired connection.

5. Specialized music apps

If the built-in methods don't work for you, try apps optimized for audio transfer:

For iPhone the best choice is AirMusic (paid, but with a trial period). It can broadcast audio to AirPlay compatible TVs even without Apple TV, if they support the protocol.

6. Problems and solutions: why the sound doesn't come through to the TV

Even with proper setup, glitches may occur. Here the most common mistakes and ways to fix them:

• 🔌 Devices do not see each other:
  • Check that both devices are in one Wi-Fi network (not in the guest room!).
  • Reboot your router—sometimes the DHCP server “forgets” to assign IP addresses.
  • Turn off the TV Power saving mode (it can block network connections).
• 🔊 The sound is delayed:
  • Use Google Cast or DLNA instead of Screen Mirroring.
  • Connect your phone and TV to the router via 5 GHz (less interference).
  • Enable it in your router settings. WMM (QoS) to prioritize multimedia traffic.
• 🚫 The app does not support Cast:
  • Try the web version of the service (for example, Spotify Web Player V Chrome).
  • Use LocalCast to transmit sound from the screen.

⚠️ Note: On some TVs Samsung (series JU6400, KU6000) After updating the firmware, support may disappear Google CastIn this case, resetting the TV to factory settings or rolling back to a previous software version (if available) will help.

FAQ: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to listen to music from your phone on TV without Wi-Fi?

Yes, there are three options:

1. Bluetooth: if the TV supports sound reception (see section 4).
2. Wired connection: through AUX (3.5 mm) or HDMI (adapter needed) USB-C/Lightning → HDMI).
3. Local network: create an access point on your phone and connect your TV to it (not available on all models).

They won't work without Wi-Fi. Google Cast, AirPlay And DLNA.

Why does the sound cut out when transmitting over Wi-Fi?

Reasons and solutions:

• Weak router signal: connect your phone and TV to 5 GHz or use Mesh system.
• Interference from other devices: In your router settings, change the Wi-Fi channel to a less busy one (for example, 149 instead of 36).
• Bandwidth Limits: disable it on the router Bandwidth Control or increase the media limit.
• Buffering issues: in the application (for example, Spotify) increase the streaming quality to Very high.

How to listen to music from iPhone on TV without Apple TV?

Options for iPhone:

• Use AirPlay compatible TV (the list of models is on the website) Apple).
• Connect to TV Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K - he supports AirPlay.
• Install the application on your TV AirScreen (available for Android TV And Samsung Tizen).
• Use Google Cast via browser (open Apple Music V Chrome and press Cast).

If the TV is old, the only thing left is wired connection through HDMI or AUX.

What is the best app for streaming music to TV?

The choice depends on the task:

• Minimum delay: SoundWire (Android) or AirMusic (iOS).
• Support all formats: BubbleUPnP (DLNA).
• Versatility: LocalCast (works with Chromecast, DLNA, AirPlay).
• For streaming services: built-in Google Cast V Spotify/YouTube Music.

Is it possible to listen to music from my phone on my TV via USB?

Technically yes, but with some caveats:

• If you connect the phone via USB to TV, most models recognize it as storage device (you can play files .mp3 via the built-in media player).
• Sound from applications (eg. Yandex Music) be transmitted there won't be - only files from memory.
• On Samsung And LG This may require you to enable Media Device Mode (MTP) in the USB settings on your phone.

USB is not suitable for full audio transfer from applications; use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.