Modern mobile devices have powerful screens and multimedia capabilities, but their display is not enough to watch a movie in a group or show photos on a large screen. Smartphone owners are often looking for a way broadcasting content to a larger monitor, and TVs from the South Korean company LG are ideal for this task thanks to their wide support for wireless protocols. Connecting your gadget to a TV provides access to streaming services, games and personal media files without having to transfer them to a flash drive.
There are several basic synchronization methods, each of which has its own advantages and limitations. The choice of a specific method depends on your model, the version of the Android operating system and the year of manufacture of the TV. In this article we will analyze in detail both wireless technologies, such as smartphone, version of the Android operating system and year of manufacture of the TV LG WebOS. In this article we will take a detailed look at how wireless technologies such as Miracast i DLNA, and a wired connection via an interface HDMIso that you can choose the best option for your situation.
Wireless screen casting via Miracast
Technology Miracast is the de facto standard for duplicating the screen of mobile devices on TVs without using a router. In the LG ecosystem, this feature is often called Screen Share or simply “Broadcast”. The principle of operation is to create a direct Wi-Fi connection between the phone and the TV, which ensures minimal delay in video signal transmission. This is ideal for playing games or watching videos from applications that do not support the standard DLNA protocol.
To get started, you need to make sure that both devices are on the same network or have Wi-Fi Direct modules enabled. On the TV remote control, press the button Input or the house icon to go to the launcher and select the application Screen Share. In the menu that opens, select the “Broadcast from a mobile device” mode, after which the TV will go into connection standby mode.
On the smartphone side, the algorithm of actions may differ slightly depending on the manufacturer’s shell. Typically, you need to open the notification shade and find the “Broadcast”, “Smart View” (for Samsung) or “Wireless Monitor” option. After scanning the available devices, your TV will appear in the list LG. Tap on it to establish a connection.
- 📱 Make sure Wi-Fi is turned on on your phone, even if you are not connected to your home network.
- 📺 On a TV, the Screen Share app should be active when searching.
- 🔒 If a PIN is required, it will usually appear on the TV screen the first time you try connection.
⚠️ Attention: When using Miracast, the smartphone battery drains much faster due to the constant operation of the wireless communication module and encoding the video stream in real time.
If the picture on the TV looks stretched or does not fill the entire screen, go to the TV picture settings and select the “Fit to screen” or “16:9” mode, disabling automatic scaling.
Using DLNA technology to view media files
Unlike full screen duplication, the protocol DLNA is intended exclusively for transferring media files: photos, music and videos. This is a more energy-efficient method, since the TV itself decodes the stream, and the phone only acts as a controller. Most modern LG TVs have a built-in media player that supports this standard, which allows you to view content from your phone's gallery directly on the big screen.
To use this feature, connect your phone and TV to the same Wi-Fi network. Open any DLNA-enabled player application on your smartphone, for example VLC for Android or a standard gallery. In the application menu, find the “Broadcast” item or the wave screen icon. Select your TV from the list of available devices.
After selecting a file to play, it will begin to be broadcast on the TV screen. It is important to understand that playback control (pause, rewind) is carried out from the smartphone. The TV in this mode works as a passive signal receiver.
Why can video slow down with DLNA?
Delays often occur due to a weak Wi-Fi signal or high bitrate of the video file. Try moving closer to the router or lowering the video quality in the application settings.
It is worth noting that not all video formats are supported by the TV’s built-in player. If the file does not play, the problem may be in the codec, not in the connection.
Connecting via HDMI cable and adapters
A wired connection remains the most reliable way to transmit high-resolution images without delays. To connect a smartphone to a TV LG via port HDMI you will need a special adapter, since modern phones do not have a full-size video output. The type of adapter depends on the connector of your smartphone: USB Type-C or outdated Micro-USB.
It is critical to check the technology support MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link) or Slimport for your specific smartphone. Not all devices with a Type-C connector can transmit video signals; Some ports are for charging and data transfer only. If your phone supports video output, just connect a USB-C to HDMI adapter, insert the HDMI cable into the TV and select the appropriate signal source using the button Input.
| Phone connector type | Required adapter | Power support | Signal stability |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB Type-C (with DP Alt Mode) | USB-C to HDMI | Often additional. power | High (4K 60Hz) |
| Micro-USB (with MHL) | MHL adapter | External power required | Medium (1080p) |
| USB Type-C (no video) | Not supported | - | Absent |
When using active adapters, additional power may be required. High-quality adapters often come with an additional USB cable for connecting to a power outlet or USB port of the TV.
A wired connection via HDMI guarantees the best picture quality and no delays, which is critical for dynamic games and viewing 4K content.
Broadcasting via YouTube and Netflix applications
The most popular The scenario for using the “smartphone-TV” combination is launching videos from online services. Applications YouTube and Netflix use their own transmission protocol, which does not load the phone's processor and does not require duplicating the entire screen. This allows you to minimize the application on your smartphone and continue doing other things while the video plays on your TV.
For this feature to work, both devices must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Open the application on your smartphone, find the video you want and click on the broadcast icon (a rectangle with Wi-Fi waves) in the upper corner of the player. In the list that appears, select your LG TV.
The TV will automatically download the video stream from the Internet, and the phone will only send control commands. The quality of playback in this case depends on the speed of the Internet and the capabilities of the TV itself, and not on the power of the smartphone.
⚠️ Attention: The broadcast function may not work if client isolation (AP Isolation) is enabled on the router, which prevents devices on the same network from seeing each other.
Setting up a network and troubleshooting visibility problems
A frequent problem when trying to connect is the situation when the TV simply does not see the phone in the list of available devices. In 90% of cases, the reason lies in the home network settings. Make sure both devices are connected to the same router. If you have a dual-band router, check to see if the devices are on different frequencies (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), although modern routers usually route traffic between them correctly.
It's also worth checking your smartphone's firewall and antivirus settings, which may be blocking local connections. On LG TVs with the system WebOS sometimes you need to confirm permission to connect in a pop-up window that appears on the screen when you try to connect from a new device.
If all else fails, try rebooting the router by unplugging it for 10-15 seconds. This will clear the network table cache and often solves problems with detecting devices on the local network.
☑️ Network diagnostics
Specifics of working with different versions of Android and WebOS
The interface and available features may vary significantly depending on the software version. On older LG TVs with the Netcast 4.0 platform or earlier versions of WebOS (1.0-3.0), built-in support for Miracast may be missing or unstable. In such cases, it is recommended to use external adapters, for example Google Chromecast or AnyCast, which connect to the HDMI port and add the missing functionality to the TV.
New versions of Android (10, 11, 12 and higher) have improved video compression algorithms for wireless transmission, which reduces the load on the Wi-Fi channel. However, smartphone manufacturers often change the names of functions: for Xiaomi it is “Broadcast”, for Samsung it is “Smart View”, for Huawei it is “Projection”. The essence of the process remains the same, but the path to the menu may differ.
⚠️ Attention: The interfaces of WebOS and Android systems are updated regularly. The location of menu items and names of functions may change in new firmware versions. Always check the current user manual for your specific model.
For owners of older smartphones without support for wireless image output, the only option is to use a cable or purchase an external dongle adapter.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why doesn’t the LG TV see my phone when searching for devices?
Most often the problem is that the devices are connected to different Wi-Fi networks (for example, one to the main one, the other to the guest one). Also check to see if detection is disabled in your TV settings. Try rebooting both devices.
Is it possible to connect your phone to a TV without Wi-Fi?
Yes, this is only possible when using a wired connection via an HDMI cable and an appropriate adapter. Miracast and DLNA wireless technologies require a Wi-Fi module, although Miracast does not require the Internet; Wi-Fi adapters are sufficient.
Is sound transmitted to the TV when a phone is connected?
Yes, when using Miracast, HDMI or broadcasting via YouTube, the sound automatically switches to the TV speakers. When using DLNA, audio is also played on the TV. If there is no sound, check the volume settings and whether the “Phone Only” mode is enabled in the broadcast menu.
How to disconnect your phone from an LG TV?
To disconnect the connection, just turn off the phone screen, press the “Home” button or select “Disconnect” in the broadcast menu on your smartphone. On your TV, you can simply switch the signal source to another input or close the Screen Share application.