Modern smart home ecosystems are blurring the boundaries between devices, allowing the smartphone to become a universal entertainment control center. The integration of a mobile gadget and a TV opens up opportunities not only for simply switching channels, but also for fully broadcasting multimedia content, games and photos on the big screen. Equipment owners LG are in an advantageous position, as the company offers a wide range of software solutions for linking with Androiddevices.
The setup process may vary depending on the model of your TV and the version of the operating system on your phone. Some people prefer to use built-in functions Smart Share, while others prefer third-party applications from Google Play. We will analyze all available methods, from official utilities to advanced screen mirroring methods, so that you can choose the best option for your tasks.
First, make sure that both devices are connected to the same wireless network. This is a fundamental requirement for the operation of most data transfer protocols, such as DLNA or Miracast. Without a common IP address on the local network, the phone simply “will not see” the TV, no matter how much you try to find the device in the list of available ones.
Official LG ThinQ application for control and broadcasting
The main tool for interacting with smart TVs of the Korean brand is the application LG ThinQ. It replaces the physical remote control and allows you to navigate through menus, enter text using your smartphone's keyboard, and launch apps directly from your phone's screen. The functionality of the utility is constantly updated, adding support for new communication standards.
After installing the application from the store Google Play you must go through the pairing procedure. Launch the app on your smartphone and click the add device button. The system will automatically scan the local network and find your TV LG. A request to confirm the connection with a unique code will appear on the TV screen, which must be entered in the appropriate field on the mobile device.
Inside the interface ThinQ you will find a tab for managing content. Here you can select a photo or video from your phone gallery and send it to your TV. The “Screen Cast” function is also available, which duplicates the image from the smartphone to the TV display in real time. This is convenient for showing presentations or viewing content from applications that do not have built-in Cast support.
⚠️ Attention: When connecting for the first time, the application may request permission to access the local network and geolocation. Without granting these rights, scanning devices on a Wi-Fi network will be blocked by the Android security system.
It is important to note that the quality of the video stream directly depends on the speed of your router and the number of connected clients. If you experience delays or audio desync, try disconnecting other devices from Wi-Fi or switching to band 5 GHzif your router supports dual-band operation.
Using the built-in Smart Share and Screen Share feature
Many models TVs LG, especially those released in recent years, have built-in support for technology Miracast, which is often called Screen Sharein the TV menu. This function allows you to broadcast an image without installing additional software on the TV, using only Android system tools.
To activate the standby mode on the TV, go to the signal sources menu or find the application Screen Share in the list of installed apps. Select Receiver or Public to make the TV broadcast a detection signal. On your smartphone, go to the screen settings and find the item “Broadcast”, “Wireless display” or “Smart View” (the name depends on the phone manufacturer).
After finding the TV in the list, click on its name. The image from your smartphone will instantly appear on the big screen. This method is ideal for gaming or watching videos from browsers that don't have a "Cast" button. However, it is worth considering that with such a connection, the smartphone screen must remain on, which quickly consumes battery power.
☑️ Preparing for wireless broadcast
Technology Miracast works at the Wi-Fi Direct driver level, creating a direct connection between devices. This means that even if the Internet goes down, the broadcast will continue as long as the devices are within range of each other. However, for the initial handshake and obtaining IP addresses, having a working router is often necessary.
Third-party applications to expand capabilities
If standard tools do not provide the required functionality or stability, third-party solutions from the store come to the rescue. Google Play. There are many applications that emulate the operation of protocols on TVs, allowing you to broadcast content from any source. One of the popular solutions is the application. It allows you to open websites with video inside the app's built-in browser and send the stream directly to the TV, bypassing buffering on the smartphone itself. This reduces the load on the phone's battery and frees it up for other tasks while watching. AirPlay or Chromecast on TVs LG, allowing you to broadcast content from any source.
One of the popular solutions is the application TV Cast for LG Smart TV. It allows you to open websites with video inside the app's built-in browser and send the stream directly to the TV, bypassing buffering on the smartphone itself. This reduces the load on your phone's battery and frees it up for other tasks while you're browsing.
Another option is to use universal remotes, such as Universal TV Remote. They often work via an infrared port (if your phone has one) or via Wi-Fi, supporting thousands of equipment models. Such applications are useful if your original remote control is lost, and you urgently need to change the channel or change the volume.
| Application name | Main function | Requires installation on TV | Advertising support |
|---|---|---|---|
| LG ThinQ | Full control and broadcasting | No (built into WebOS) | No |
| TV Cast for LG | Broadcasting video from the browser | No | Available in the free version |
| AirScreen | Emulation AirPlay/Chromecast | Yes (installed on TV) | Yes |
| BubbleUPnP | Media file streaming (DLNA) | No | No |
⚠️ Attention: Free versions of third-party applications often contain intrusive advertising or have session time limits. Carefully read the terms of use before installation to avoid unexpected blocks while watching a movie.
When choosing third-party software, pay attention to the rating and number of downloads. Developers often change monetization policies, and what worked for free yesterday may require a subscription today. For stable operation of the DLNA protocol, make sure that your TV's network settings allow access to content from external devices.
Broadcast from YouTube and streaming services
The easiest and most popular way to watch video - use the built-in function Google Cast in applications like YouTube, Netflix or Kinopoisk. Almost all modern Smart TVs from LG have a pre-installed module for receiving such signals.
Open the application on your smartphone and find the rectangle icon with Wi-Fi waves in the corner of the video player. Click on it and select your TV from the list. The video will start playing on the TV, and the phone will turn into a control panel: you can pause, rewind or adjust the volume without interrupting viewing.
The advantage of this method is that the video stream goes directly from the server to the TV, without loading the Wi-Fi channel with data transfer from the phone. This ensures maximum picture quality, up to 4K HDRwithout freezes. You can also minimize the YouTube app and use other apps on your phone while the movie is playing on the big screen.
What to do if the cast button doesn't appear?
If the Cast icon doesn't appear, check if the YouTube apps on both devices are updated. Also make sure that you are logged into the same Google account on your TV and smartphone - this is often required to correctly detect devices on the local network.
Sometimes it happens that the TV does not appear in the list of available devices, despite the network being configured correctly. In such cases, rebooting the router or forcefully stopping the YouTube application on the TV through the app management menu in the settings helps. WebOS.
Connection problems and solutions
Despite the development of technology, users often encounter difficulties setting up a connection. The most common problem is that devices are on different subnets. This often happens if you have a dual-band router, and the phone is connected to 5 GHz, and the TV to 2.4 GHz, while the client isolation function or guest network is activated.
To solve the problem, go to the router settings and make sure that both bands are broadcasting the same network (same SSID name) or disable client isolation. Also check the firewall settings on your TV: sometimes anti-virus modules WebOS block incoming connections from unknown devices.
If the broadcast is interrupted or the image “scatters” into pixels, the problem lies in an unstable Wi-Fi signal. Try moving your phone closer to your router or using a Wi-Fi repeater to improve coverage in the area where your TV is located. As a last resort, for stationary devices it is better to use a wired connection via an Ethernet cable.
Rebooting the router solves 80% of problems with device detection. Just turn off the router's power for 10 seconds and turn it back on before trying to connect again.
You should also take into account that older TV models may not support modern video codecs broadcast from a smartphone. In this case, the image will be black, but the sound will not work, or the connection will not be established at all. Check the specifications of your model LG on the manufacturer's official website.
Wired connection and alternative methods
When wireless technologies fail or maximum stability is required, you can use wired methods. Although modern smartphones do not have video outputs, the use of adapters USB-C to HDMI allows you to connect the phone directly to the TV, turning it into a monitor.
To do this, you will need an adapter that supports the standard MHL or DisplayPort Alt Mode. Connect the adapter to your phone and the HDMI cable to an available port on your TV. Switch the TV signal source to the appropriate input HDMI. The image from the smartphone will appear on the screen automatically.
This method guarantees zero latency, which is critical for mobile games or working with documents. However, it ties you to the location of the TV and requires an outlet to power the adapter, since the technology consumes a lot of energy.
⚠️ Attention: Not all smartphones support image output via USB-C. Budget models often only have a port for charging and data transfer. Check the specifications of your device before purchasing an expensive adapter.
An alternative is to use media players, such as Chromecast or Android TV Boxconnected to the TV LG via HDMI. In this case, you control not the TV itself, but an external set-top box, which often has more recent software and better support for data transfer protocols.
A wired connection via an HDMI adapter is the only way to get a picture without compression and delays, but it is less convenient in everyday life due to the presence of wires.
Why does the phone not see the LG TV in the list devices?
Most often the reason is that the devices are connected to different Wi-Fi networks (for example, guest and main). Also check if the client isolation mode is enabled on the router, which prevents devices from seeing each other on the local network.
Is it possible to control the TV if the smartphone screen is turned off?
When using the screen mirroring function (Screen Share/Miracast), the phone screen must be turned on. However, when broadcasting through the YouTube app or LG ThinQ (media server mode), you can lock the phone and the video will continue to play on the TV.
How to improve picture quality when broadcasting wirelessly?
Use the 5 GHz Wi-Fi band instead of 2.4 GHz, as it is less congested and provides higher bandwidth. Also close unnecessary applications on your phone that consume Internet traffic.
Does broadcast work without the Internet?
Yes, if Wi-Fi Direct or Miracast technology is used. To work, you only need a router as an access point; a connection to the global Internet is not necessary if the content is stored locally on the phone.