How to stream video from your iPhone to your TV via Wi-Fi: All the methods for 2026

Broadcast video from iPhone on the big TV screen through Wi-Fi — a convenient way to enjoy content wirelessly. But not everyone knows that there are several methods for this, each suitable for different situations. Some use built-in functions Apple AirPlay, some people find universal solutions more convenient, like Google Chromecast, and the owners Smart TV can do without additional devices.

In this article, we will look at all the current methods of wireless video transmission with iPhone to your TV—from standard to lesser-known. You'll learn how to set up a connection in 2 minutes, which apps can help with compatibility issues, and why video sometimes lags even on high-speed Wi-Fi. You'll also find a comparison table of methods based on speed, quality, and hardware requirements.

1. AirPlay: The standard method for the Apple ecosystem

AirPlay - proprietary technology Apple, which allows you to broadcast your screen iPhone to compatible devices over a local network. This is the most reliable method for owners Apple TV or Smart TV with AirPlay 2 support (for example, Samsung QLED 2018+, LG OLED 2019+, Sony Bravia 2020+).

To start broadcasting:

• 📱 Connect iPhone and TV to one Wi-Fi network (Important: Guest network or different subnets will not work).
• 🔍 On iPhone open Control center (swipe down from the top right corner on models with Face ID or up from the bottom edge on old ones).
• 🖥️ Click Screen mirroring (or Screen Mirroring) and select your TV from the list.
• 🔒 When connecting for the first time, you may be asked to enter a code that appears on the TV screen.

If your TV does not appear in the list of devices, check:

• 🔄 Is the TV firmware updated (in the menu) Settings → Support → Software Update).
• 📶 The Wi-Fi signal is stable (AirPlay is sensitive to delays - at speeds below 10 Mbps lags are possible).
• 🔌 AirPlay mode is enabled on the TV (on Samsung: Settings → General → Apple AirPlay).

⚠️ Attention: On some models Xiaomi TV AirPlay support is implemented via third-party firmware and may be unstable. Please check the manufacturer's official documentation before purchasing.

2. Smart TV with built-in apps: YouTube, Netflix, TV+

If you don't need to duplicate the entire screen, but only broadcast video from a specific service (for example, YouTube, Netflix, Apple TV+), you can do without AirPlay. Most modern Smart TV have built-in versions of these applications with the function sending content from a mobile device.

How does this work:

1. Open an application (for example, YouTube) on iPhone and on TV.
2. In the mobile app, find the broadcast icon (usually in the upper right corner next to the search button).
3. Select your TV from the list of devices.
4. The video will start playing on the big screen, and iPhone can be used as a remote control.

The advantages of this method:

• 🎯 Without delay: The video is streamed directly over the Internet, not through a local network.
• 📱 Battery saving: iPhone is not loaded with video decoding.
• 🔒 Safety: no Wi-Fi data transfer required (useful for public networks).

If the required application is not on the TV, you can install it through the application store (for example, LG Content Store or Samsung Apps). On Android TV (For example, Sony Bravia or Xiaomi Mi TV) full version is available Google Play Market.

3. Google Chromecast: a universal solution for any TV

Google Chromecast - a compact device that connects to a TV via HDMI and allows you to stream content from iPhone via Wi-Fi. Unlike AirPlay, it works with any TV (even older ones without Smart features) and supports most streaming services.

What you will need:

• 📦 Device Chromecast (any version, but Chromecast Ultra or Chromecast with Google TV support 4K).
• 📶 Shared Wi-Fi network for iPhone And Chromecast.
• 📱 Application Google Home (available in App Store).

Step-by-step setup:

1. Connect Chromecast to the TV and turn it on.
2. In the appendix Google Home on iPhone click Add a device and follow the instructions.
3. Once set up, open a supported app (eg. YouTube or Netflix) and click the broadcast icon.
4. Choose yours Chromecast from the list.

Make sure your TV has an available HDMI port|Check your router's 5GHz support|Check compatibility with your apps|Evaluate your need for 4K (for Chromecast Ultra)

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⚠️ Attention: Some applications (eg. Apple TV+ or Amazon Prime Video) block the broadcast on Chromecast Due to DRM restrictions, only AirPlay or the built-in TV app will help in this case.

For broadcast entire screen (and not just videos from apps) iPhone There is a workaround:

1. Install the application Streamer for Chromecast or Replica from App Store.
2. Connect to Chromecast via the app.
3. Screen duplication will begin with a delay of ~1-2 seconds.

4. DLNA/UPnP: An Alternative for Local Files

If you need to broadcast video from the gallery iPhone (for example, home recordings or downloaded movies), and AirPlay or Chromecast are not available, the protocol will help DLNAIt allows you to transfer media files to compatible devices over a local network without screen mirroring.

How to set up:

• 📺 Make sure your TV supports DLNA (there should be a section in the menu Network → DLNA or Media server).
• 📱 On iPhone install a media server application, for example:
  • VLC for Mobile (free, supports all formats).
  • Infuse (paid, with advanced codecs).
  • 8player (universal for DLNA and Chromecast).
• 🔗 In the app, select the file to play and send it to the TV via the menu Send to... or Cast to.

DLNA limitations:

• ❌ Not all video formats are supported by TVs (for example, .mkv or HEVC may not be reproduced).
• ❌ No playback synchronization - pause on iPhone will not stop the video on TV.
• ❌ Quality depends on the speed of Wi-Fi (if <5 Mbps artifacts are possible).

5. Third-party apps: AirPlay alternatives

If the built-in methods do not work (for example, you have an old TV without Smart functions or Chromecast), you can use specialized applications. They usually work on the principle of "server on TV - client on iPhone" and support broadcasting of both individual files and the screen.

Popular solutions:

Example of setup ApowerMirror:

1. Install ApowerMirror on iPhone and a computer connected to the TV.
2. Launch the app on both devices and connect them to the same Wi-Fi network.
3. On iPhone Select your computer from the list of devices.
4. Screen iPhone will be duplicated on the PC, and from there it will be output to the TV via HDMI.

⚠️ Attention: When using such apps, video may be transmitted through the developer's external servers. Avoid transmitting sensitive content and check app reviews. App Store.

6. Problems and solutions: why video is slow or not streaming

Even with proper setup, problems can still arise. Here are the most common ones and how to solve them:

• 🐢 The video is lagging or slowing down:
  • Check your Wi-Fi speed (it should be at least 15 Mbps for Full HD).
  • Switch the router to a frequency 5 GHz (less busy than 2.4 GHz).
  • Close background apps on iPhoneconsuming traffic.
• 🚫 The TV does not appear in the list of devices:
  • Reboot the router and both devices.
  • Make sure your TV is in discovery mode (e.g. AirPlay or Miracast).
  • Update your TV firmware and iOS on iPhone.
• 🔊 No sound during broadcast:
  • Check if the sound on your TV or in the app is muted.
  • IN Control center on iPhone Make sure the sound is directed to the TV (icon Audio output).
  • Restart the broadcast.

Critical error: If your TV no longer appears in the AirPlay list after updating iOS, reset your iPhone's network settings (Settings → General → Transfer or Reset → Reset Network Settings). This will delete all saved Wi-Fi and VPN connections, but often resolves compatibility issues.

7. Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

To determine the optimal broadcast method, evaluate your priorities:

Recommendations for selection:

• 🏆 Best quality: AirPlay on Apple TV 4K or Samsung QLED.
• 💰 Budget option: Chromecast + application Google TV.
• 📁 For local files: VLC + DLNA or Infuse.
• 🎮 For games: AirPlay only (minimal latency).

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Settings → Wi-Fi → [your network] → Configure DNS → Manual → 8.8.8.8