Modern smartphones have powerful screens, but their diagonals are often insufficient for viewing high-quality 4K or HDR content. Situations where you want to show a family video or watch a movie from an online cinema on the big screen arise regularly. Fortunately, the ecosystem LG ThinQ and mobile device operating systems make it easy to stream images wirelessly, eliminating the need to search for HDMI cables.
The basic principle of operation is to synchronize devices via a common Wi-Fi routerYour LG TV, equipped with the platform webOS, acts as a receiver, and the smartphone acts as a signal source. Depending on the phone model (Android or iOS) and the year of the TV, methods may vary, ranging from built-in streaming features to using third-party intermediary apps.
In this guide, we'll cover all current connection methods, from standard media transfer protocols to advanced screen mirroring methods. You'll learn how to avoid lag, why audio sometimes drops out, and which router settings can interfere with stable high-definition data transmission.
Preparing equipment and a Wi-Fi network
Before you begin setup, make sure both devices are on the same local network. This critically important condition, without which device discovery is impossible. Users often encounter an issue where the phone sees the router but not the TV because one of the devices is connected to a guest network or is using a 4G/5G mobile network.
Check that your router supports the standard. Wi-Fi Direct or DLNA, which is relevant for modern models. If you have a dual-band router, it's advisable to connect both your phone and TV to the same frequency (e.g., 5 GHz) to ensure high throughput, especially if you plan to watch large 4K files.
⚠️ Note: Some routers have an "AP Isolation" feature that prevents devices on the network from seeing each other. If you're unable to connect, check your router's security settings and disable this feature.
It's also worth updating your TV's software. Go to the settings menu and select Support and press Software update. Outdated version webOS may not support new encryption protocols used by recent versions of Android or iOS.
☑️ Check before connection
Cast from Android via Miracast and Smart View
For Android smartphone owners, the easiest way is to use technology MiracastDepending on the phone manufacturer, this feature may be called differently: Smart View for Samsung, "Cast" for Xiaomi, and "Screen Mirroring" for Huawei and Honor. LG TVs accept this signal natively, without the need for additional apps.
To start broadcasting, pull down the notification shade on your phone and look for the corresponding icon. After scanning the network, your network should appear in the list. LG TVClick it, and the image from your mobile device will instantly appear on the big screen. It's important to understand that this mode is fully mirrored: all notifications and actions will be visible on the TV.
- 📱 Open the Quick Settings panel on Android.
- 📡 Select "Cast", Smart View or Screen Share.
- 📺 Wait until the name of your LG TV appears in the list.
- ✅ Confirm the connection on the TV screen if prompted.
If the image is choppy or has low resolution, the problem may be due to wireless congestion. In this case, try moving closer to the router or switching your TV to the 2.4 GHz frequency, which has a longer range, albeit slower speed.
What to do if the phone doesn’t see the TV?
Make sure the Screen Share app is running on your TV (on older models) or that it's simply in standby mode. Also, try resetting your phone's Wi-Fi by toggling Airplane Mode on and off.
Using the LG TV Plus app to control
Official app LG TV Plus (formerly LG Remote) offers advanced capabilities not only for remote control but also for photo and video sharing. This solution is ideal if standard mirroring methods are unreliable or you need to play a specific file from your gallery rather than the entire screen.
After installing the app on your smartphone and pairing it with your TV (a confirmation code will appear on the TV screen), go to the Media section. Here, you can select video files stored on your phone and play them. The advantage of this method is that the phone acts only as a remote control, allowing you to minimize the app or even lock the screen without interrupting the movie.
The app also allows you to use the feature Magic Mobile Connection, which simplifies the content sharing process. However, it's important to keep in mind that video format support depends on the TV's built-in player. If a file uses an uncommon codec, the TV may not open it and prompt you to install a third-party player (which is more difficult on webOS than on Android TV).
Stream from iPhone and iPad (AirPlay 2)
Apple device owners can count on native support for the protocol. AirPlay 2 in modern LG models. This technology ensures the highest-quality image and sound transmission with minimal latency. For this feature to work, the TV must support AirPlay 2 (2019 models and newer, and some earlier models after an update).
The connection process is extremely simple: open Control Center on your iPhone (swipe down from the upper-right corner or up from the bottom, depending on the model), tap the "Screen Mirroring" button, and select your LG TV. For security, a four-digit code may appear on the TV screen, which you'll need to enter on your smartphone.
| Characteristic | AirPlay 2 (Apple) | Miracast (Android) |
|---|---|---|
| Image quality | High, adaptive | Depends on the signal |
| Latency | Minimum | Medium/High |
| Work in the background | Possible (for video) | Just a screen mirror |
| Compatibility | iOS/macOS | Android/Windows |
It's important to note that AirPlay 2 allows you to stream content from apps that don't officially support Chromecast. For example, you can open a video in Safari or any other browser and send it to your TV. The system automatically optimizes the stream for the best quality.
DLNA and third-party media library apps
If built-in methods are not suitable or playback of specific file formats is required, technologies come to the rescue DLNA and third-party apps. The idea is that the phone acts as a media server, and the TV simply reads the data stream. This is a great way to watch downloaded movies that aren't uploaded to the cloud.
One of the best solutions is the app BubbleUPnP (Android) or nPlayer (iOS). They can stream video files directly to the renderer (TV), bypassing the cumbersome process of screen mirroring. This reduces the load on the smartphone's battery and ensures a more stable picture, as the TV's processor handles the decoding.
To set up DLNA on your LG TV, you need to log in to the app. Photos and Videos or Media PlayerSelect your smartphone from the list of sources. If the devices are on the same network, the phone should be detected automatically. In some cases, you may need to grant access on the phone screen the first time you connect.
⚠️ Please note: LG TV app interfaces and menus may vary depending on the webOS version (3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, and higher). The layout of menu items may be changed by the manufacturer in future updates.
Streaming from browsers and online cinemas
The most popular scenario is watching content from YouTube, Netflix, IVI, or Okko. It's important to distinguish between two methods: casting a browser tab (cast tab) and natively launching an app on a TV (cast video). The latter is preferable, as it plays video directly on the TV, using its internet connection rather than the phone's.
To play the video natively, find the icon Cast (a rectangle with waves) inside the app on your phone. Tap it and select LG TV. The video will start playing on the TV, and you can use your smartphone as a remote control or turn off the screen. This saves battery life and allows you to use your phone for other tasks.
If you don't see the Cast icon, you can use the Google Chrome browser on Android or iOS. Open the website with the video, tap the browser menu (three dots), and select "Cast." Select your device. This will cause the browser to encode the image in real time, which may cause lag on poor Wi-Fi.
Solving problems and delays
Despite the convenience of wireless technology, users often experience audio and video desynchronization or intermittent buffering. This is most often due to airwave congestion or a weak signal. Televisions often have less powerful Wi-Fi modules than modern flagship smartphones.
If the picture is choppy, try temporarily disabling other devices that are actively consuming bandwidth (torrents, game downloads). Restarting the router also helps. In rare cases, resetting the network settings on the TV can solve the problem: Settings → All settings → General → Net → Wi-Fi Connection (delete the network and connect again).
- 📉 Check your TV's internet speed using the built-in browser.
- 🔄 Reboot your router and ISP modem.
- 📶 Make sure your phone hasn't gone into power saving mode, which turns off Wi-Fi.
- 🛡️ Disable the VPN on your phone if it's active - it may be blocking local detection.
In some cases, your phone's antivirus or router's firewall may block the ports required for DLNA and Miracast. Try temporarily disabling your antivirus for diagnostics. If everything works after that, add the devices to the exceptions list.
Why is there no sound on my TV when streaming YouTube?
This most often occurs when the phone switches audio output to a Bluetooth headset or phone speaker, ignoring the TV. Check your audio output settings while streaming. It's also possible that the specific video is protected by DRM, which prohibits audio output via certain protocols, or the app requires an update.
Is it possible to connect a phone to an LG TV without Wi-Fi?
Without a wireless network, you can only use a cable connection. For Android, you'll need a USB-C to HDMI adapter, and for iPhone, a Lightning to Digital AV Adapter. A Wi-Fi Direct connection is only possible for photo/video transfer via the LG TV Plus app, but full internet streaming is not possible without a router.
My LG TV isn't visible in the list of available devices. What should I do?
Make sure your TV doesn't have a password (check in the Screen Share settings). Try temporarily disabling Windows Firewall if you're using your PC as a media server. As a last resort, reset your TV's network settings to factory defaults.
Does broadcasting affect internet speed?
Yes, when screen mirroring (Miracast/AirPlay), the traffic goes from the phone to the router and then to the TV, taking up bandwidth. When running natively (using the Cast button inside the app), the phone only controls the process, and the TV downloads the video itself. Therefore, the load on the phone is minimal, but the shared Wi-Fi channel is still actively used.