Smartphones have become a sort of catch-all for our digital media collections, and it’s not uncommon to have a couple of movies tucked way for those times when you have nothing better to do. If you have a Chromecast, though, you’ll probably need an extra app to get those movies onto the big screen.
The App You’ll Need: LocalCast
As you probably know, you can use Google Photos to get photos and video from your phone to your TV with its built-in casting option. On Android, you can also use this to cast locally stored movies from your phone to your TV by jumping into the Device Folders menu, then finding your movie.
The thing is, this is far from the ideal app for this sort of situation. Sure, it’ll work in a pinch, but in my experience, the video was very choppy, and Google Photos didn’t support a lot of the common codecs you’ll see in ripped and downloaded movies. Thankfully, there’s a much better option available for both iOS and Android: LocalCast.
The app is freely available for both iOS and Android, though it does offer in-app purchases to remove ads and unlock more features. The free app itself is pretty powerful on its own though.
So if you’re looking to stream more than just locally-stored pictures and videos, you can step your casting game up with LocalCast. This is a super useful app that will allow you to cast any media on your device— including pictures, videos, or music—as well as cloud content from Google Drive, Dropbox, and even Instagram (iOS only). It also has network support for casting from network-attached storage, and a built-in web browser for casting videos from the web. This makes it a great choice for movies, because it doesn’t matter where you have them stored.
To make it even more versatile, it also supports casting to a number of devices: Chromecast, Apple TV, Fire TV, Sony and Samsung Smart TVs, Xbox 360/One, or any other DLNA device.
It supports a variety of audio and video formats, but if you have problems, check out LocalCast’s FAQ—it’s possible your video or audio format isn’t supported by LocalCast or by your Chromecast.
How to Cast a Video to Your TV with LocalCast
The interface is pretty straightforward on both iOS and Android, staying true to the respective design guidelines for each platform. The functionality is mostly the same between the two, and it’s pretty intuitive to use—if you’re familiar with your current operating system, then you shouldn’t have any issues using LocalCast.
Once you launch the app, use the cast button in the bottom right corner and choose your casting device. From there, just navigate the app normally and choose the movie you’d like to watch.
On iOS, all the navigation options are at the bottom of the interface (see below left); on Android, everything is tucked into the menu on the left-hand side (see below right). Just find the category that suits what you’re looking for, and stream away. When you’re finished, just tap the cast icon again and disconnect from there.
Aside from offering options to cast nearly any type of media from a variety of sources, LocalCast also has a very unique feature on Android that allows you to cast a video to the TV, and play the audio on the phone. With a pair of headphones, you can use this as a sort of private listening option. It’s very cool.
To use this feature, tap the “Route audio to device” option on the bottom. Once enabled, the audio will play on the device, though it’s noted that it may be slightly out of sync. To fix this, the app offers quick +/- 0.1 second audio syncing. It’s pretty legit.
If you’re into LocalCast after trying it out for a while, you may want to consider jumping on the Pro version of the app. On iOS, this will set you back $4.99 and removes all ads.
On Android, however, it works a little differently. It uses a “pay what you want” model with several different options, including $0.99 a month, one-time payments of $4.92 or $6.57, or yearly offerings of $5.50, $6.88, $10.67, or $21.30. Take your pick.
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Microsoft’s Edge browser receives media-casting support as part of Windows 10’s first big update. Edge can now cast media to MIracast and DLNA-enabled devices. This isn’t compatible with Google’s Chromecast, but it can be used for similar purposes.
Windows 10 already allowed you to cast your entire desktop to a Miracast device or stream media to DLNA devices, but Edge’s new casting support allows you to cast just your browser.
Cast From Edge to Your Screen
RELATED:What’s New in Windows 10’s First Big November Update
To start streaming, just head to the web page you want to stream in Microosft Edge. Click or tap the menu button and select “Cast media to device”. You’ll see a list of nearby MIracast and DLNA devices you can use. Select a device and start casting.
This won’t work with protected media content like Netflix and Hulu. However, it will work with YouTube and many other video websites. It will also work for music-streaming websites, web -based presentations, photo galleries, and all sorts of other media content you might want to stream.
Use Miracast or DLNA to Stream Your Desktop and Other Media
You could also use MIracast to cast your entire desktop rather than rely on Edge’s support. Just open the “action center” — click the notifications icon in your system tray or swipe in from the right. Click or tap the “Project” icon, choose what you want to project, select “Connect to a wireless display”, and select the device.
If you have a DLNA device, you can cast local media files to it. Right-click or long-press a media file, point to “Cast media to”, and select the option.
There’s also a “Cast to Device” button in the Movies & TV app included with Windows 10. Other Windows 10 apps may include a button for this — that’s up to each individual app developer.
Get a Miracast or DLNA-enabled DeviceScreen Mirroring Samsung Smart Tv
Before you can use this, you’ll need a Miracast or DLNA-enabled device. If you don’t see any available devices when you try to stream, you may need to buy one — or enable the feature on a device you already own.
Miracast is a wireless display standard that’s theoretically supposed to be the rest of the industry’s response to Apple’s AirPlay. If you have a Roku or Amazon Fire TV device, you can Miracast from Edge to your TV. You can also purchase dedicated MIracast dongles that plug into an HDMI port. Microsoft’s Xbox One also now has Miracast support thanks to an update, too.
DLNA is an older standard. Your video game console, a TV, or another device you have lying around might support it. But, if you’re looking for a modern device for this purpose, you’re probably better off getting a Miracast-enabled device.
There’s always the option of just plugging in an HDMI cable and hooking your computer up to the TV that way — the old-fashioned wired approach will always work well and won’t have the lag a wireless solution might have.
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It’s a pretty fantastic world we live in these days, especially when it comes to mobile phones. Hours upon hours of entertainment rests at our fingertips, available in virtually any place at any time, all from a sleek little device that fits in your pocket. As convenient and wondrous as smartphones are, though, there’s something to be said for viewing content on a big, flat-screen TV. For those who access more content from their tablet or smartphone than anywhere else, that big screen in the living room can spark some serious size envy.
So why can’t you have your cake and see it too? You can, thanks to the magic of mirroring. A rapidly growing arsenal of devices allows anything on your phone or tablet to be mirrored from your phone’s screen onto your TV. For those looking to marry the second screen with the flat-screen, we put together this list of the best, most convenient, and most affordable ways to do so. We’ve done all the research for you, so dive right in and pick the option that suits you best.
Set-top boxes and streaming sticksApple TV ($150 to 200)
Not to be confused with the mythical stories of the actual television that Apple was long rumored to release, the Apple TV set-top box is a streaming device that competes head-to-head with Roku devices (see below), Amazon’s Fire TV devices, and other streamers. Boasting a wide selection of apps, and an intuitive touch remote, the pricey Apple TV 4K is a solid choice for those entrenched in the Apple ecosystem.
What makes it great for our purposes is AirPlay. Apple’s proprietary wireless protocol suite is a brilliantly simple way to mirror video, audio, and pretty much any other content wirelessly from your iOS device to any display with an HDMI input. It’s done by swiping up from the bottom of the screen and tapping the AirPlay symbol in the quick menu (which looks like a square with a triangle through it). AirPlay mirroring is really just the start, too. Savvy users can find all kinds of interesting ways to use this box as a media or smart home hub. Even if an iPhone is your only piece of Cupertino, California, currency, the Apple TV makes a lot of sense as the mirroring device of choice. AirPlay 2 offers increased functionality, and though it doesn’t offer any new mirroring features, it is rolling out to a host of new TVs (and some older ones) from Vizio, LG, Sony, and Samsung, meaning you soon won’t need an Apple TV at all for iOS mirroring.
Roku ($25 to $100)
Roku’s diverse collection of streaming devices are perennial favorites among reviewers and consumers alike. What really makes Roku fly is its combination of a great interface and a ridiculous selection of apps that numbers well over 1,000. Better yet, while the Roku family (which includes multiple iterations and price tiers) was long bereft of any real native mirroring, the company now offers straight-up screen mirroring for Android and Windows devices.
On your Roku, in the settings menu, you can choose whether mirroring requests are auto-granted or auto-denied, or if you want to be prompted for your permission. You can also add devices to approved and banned lists.
The service is available for Android devices running 4.2 or higher, and Windows devices running 8.1 or higher. Your “hardware must support screen mirroring,” according to Roku, though most devices do in one form or another. For Android devices, Roku notes that there are many terms used for mirroring, including Smart View, Quick Connect, SmartShare, AllShare Cast, Wireless Display, HTC Connect, Screen Casting, and Cast. Once you’ve identified the correct terminology, you can usually enable mirroring from the settings menu under the Network or Display headings.
For Windows 8.1 devices or higher, you can mirror by following the instructions in this Microsoft article. For Windows 10 devices, open the Action Center, select Project, then Connect to a wireless display, and then the Roku device on your network.
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While iOS devices can’t mirror to Roku natively, users can display personal photos, video, and music to the Roku with the Play on Roku feature in the Roku app. In addition, a few popular apps allow you to sling content to the TV through Roku, including Video & TV Cast and AllCast. On iOS, the Netflix app will let you cast to a Roku device. Third-party apps may require more time to set up because platforms require you to download apps to both your destination device and your iOS device. For AllCast, you’ll need to upgrade to the $5 version (otherwise, you will be limited to a few minutes of video playback). These apps also work with Roku TVs, including the affordable TCL 6-Series TVs and other TCL models.
Samsung Video Cast For Pc
This RokuCast Chrome extension looks promising if you really, really want to cast to a Roku from your Mac using Chrome, and you aren’t afraid of a few extra steps and software tweaks.
Finally, at some point in 2019, Roku devices are set to gain AirPlay 2 functionality, which will make them just as friendly for iOS mirroring as an Apple TV.
Amazon Fire TV ($30 to $120)Cast Video From Mobile To Samsung Tv
Amazon’s Fire TV made its debut in April 2014, with several newer (and more powerful) iterations following in the years since. The latest devices include the 4K HDR-ready Fire TV Cube, which offers a bevy of features, including the ability to control most of your home theater gear with only your voice, as well as the Fire TV Stick 4K, which offers a similar, though scaled-down feature set. Like other newer Fire TV devices, the Fire TV Cube and Fire TV Stick 4K also boast support for 4K, HDR, and Alexa.
Early in the Fire TV’s history, Amazon added native mirroring for Android devices via Miracast, though users at first had to have their device tethered to the same Amazon account as their box. Thanks to an update, any user with a compatible device can now get in on the fun. Enabled devices include Android devices running 4.2 Jelly Bean or higher, Amazon’s Fire HDX tablets, and the Fire Phone (if anyone still has one). Older Fire TVs don’t support mirroring. To enable mirroring, go to Settings > Display & Sounds > Enable Display Mirroring. Then connect your desired device from your Android phone or tablet.
Just like the Roku, iOS users will find AllCast as a viable option when it comes to transmitting videos, photos, and other media to the Fire TV from outside the Android mafia. Another (paid) app to try out is Reflector 3, which also works with iOS devices. When Apple announced its new Apple TV Plus service in March 2019, it said that the Apple TV app (with Apple TV Plus support) would be coming to Fire TV devices. It did not specifically say that AirPlay 2 was also destined for Amazon’s devices, but we think there’s a good chance this will happen. If it does, that will be the easiest way to mirror an iOS device to a Fire TV.
DonglesChromecast ($35 or less) and Chromecast Ultra ($69)
Since its debut in 2013, Chromecast has become a go-to device for affordable wireless streaming. Chromecast made a (very minor) update to its HD device for 2018, alongside the Chromecast Ultra, which offers 4K streaming and HDR support in a tiny, dongular (yes, we made that word up) form factor. What makes Chromecast devices special is their ability to bypass your device’s internal resources thanks to Google’s “cast” method of streaming, allowing you to start playback on your mobile device. Just click the cast icon and let the Chromecast take it from there, which lets your phone or tablet (or computer) rest and save battery.
Outside of casting from streaming apps, though, Chromecast and Chromecast Ultra also feature near latency-free mirroring of anything on an Android smartphone or tablet, including games, photos, video, and more. The options combine to make for a host of very cool applications. As of now, Android devices running Android 4.4.2+ offer mirroring with Chromecast; some are “optimized,” while others might not run as smoothly. Make sure your Google Home app is updated, and check here for more help. As a bonus, Chromecast can also mirror anything from a Mac or PC’s Chrome browser by simply clicking the Cast button in the corner of your browser, but performance quality varies.
If you’re an iOS user, Chromecast mirroring isn’t supported for content loaded on your device, but Chromecasts are great for streaming content from tons of popular apps, including YouTube, Spotify, Netflix, Hulu, and Google Play Movies & TV. You’ll need to download the Google Home app first, though.
Read our Chromecast 3rd generation and Chromecast Ultra reviews
Miracast ($40 to 70)
While we generally prefer the methods outlined above in most cases, if you’re an Androidian, third-party Miracast devices from lesser-known companies are also available. Rilf into the 7th sky bandcamp youtube. Miracast is a Wi-Fi certified, high-definition wireless protocol similar to AirPlay. Miracast is unique in that, unlike AirPlay, it does not require a Wi-Fi network. Instead, it sets up its own private streaming network through a protocol that arrived with Android 4.0 called Wi-Fi Direct. The network is accessible from other local devices but is safe from any internet hooligans outside of its short range.
Miracast is versatile and offers a host of mirroring capabilities. While it works with Android devices, it is especially useful for mirroring PCs. Like AirPlay, its Achilles’ heel is relying on your device’s internal resources, which ties it up and drains the battery. Still, if Android (and especially PC) mirroring is your game, Miracast-compatible devices may be worth checking into (though, again, we’d probably just go with one of the devices above).
Some options with solid reputations include the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter and the Belkin Miracast Video Adapter. Miracast is also available for use with the Kindle Fire HD through a few devices, including the popular Netgear Push2TV.
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Gaming consolesXbox One S ($250 to $290 or less), Xbox One X ($500), Xbox One, Xbox 360
Screen mirroring on the Xbox One is, unfortunately, a hit-or-miss proposition thanks to a slew of somewhat unreliable apps. The Xbox doesn’t have any native mirroring capability, so you’ll need to rely on third-party solutions, such as the aforementioned AllCast, or AirServer. Neither app is free (AirServer’s Xbox app costs a whopping $20) and users across the web have had mixed results. The Xbox mobile app offers a lot of neat features, but mirroring isn’t among them.
While mirroring is limited, the best way to stream videos from your phone to your console is with Plex. Plex is available in the Xbox store and takes only a quick search to find. You’ll need to download the Plex app on your Android or iOS phone, then sign up for a Plex account if you haven’t already. In order to take full advantage of the app, you’ll need a paid subscription and you’ll also have to pay a one-time activation fee for your device. If you’re only using Plex to stream files saved directly to your phone or tablet (rather than stored on a Plex server), you can opt out and remain in trial mode instead. Plex is an awesome solution for those with extensive digital libraries, but those who prefer streaming services will need to access them directly from the Xbox.
PlayStation 4 ($290-plus), PS4 Pro ($400), and PlayStation 3 ($100-plus)
Unfortunately, none of Sony’s gaming consoles — including the PS3, PS4 or PS4 Pro — have native mirroring features included. While there is an official PlayStation smartphone app that allows you to control your PS4 and browse the PlayStation Network remotely, that’s about all it can do. Instead, users will have to resort to third-party options. Plex is probably your best bet here, as with Xbox. Other options, like R-play, allow you to do the opposite of phone mirroring, i.e., play games from your PlayStation to your iPhone. If you have an Android phone, there are more complex ways to get R-play, but it’s not yet available on the Google Play store and we cannot vouch for their quality or viability.
TVs
Many newer TVs have mobile mirroring built right in. If you have a newer TV and you noticed an acronym on one of the HDMI inputs labeled MHL, you already have a plug-and-play solution to connecting your Android phone, albeit from a decidedly 20th-century, hardwired connection. MHL stands for mobile high-definition link, and allows you to mirror most content right on your display through an HDMI input. All you’ll need is a cable (you’ll want to make sure it works with your phone’s output) that converts your smartphone’s connection to an HDMI connection. Note: MHL will also power and charge your device while connected, but we haven’t seen a lot of great reviews for the cables in our research, so you’ll need to proceed at your own monetary risk.
Of course, wireless mirroring is much more useful for the couch potato in all of us, and that capability also comes with some of newer TV models. For some time, most of the built-in mirroring options available are proprietary, like Samsung’s AllShare system, which works only with select Samsung Galaxy phones, or LG’s ScreenShare, which is compatible with both Miracast and Intel Wi-Di devices. As we mentioned above, however, that’s changing thanks in part to the addition of AirPlay 2, Apple’s long-proprietary video, image, and audio sharing protocol rolling out in a wide array of new TVs (and some older ones), from Samsung, Vizio, LG, and Sony in 2019.
There are other options available, as well. Many Roku TVs, for instance, work just like the set-top devices when it comes to mirroring. For other TVs, check your settings manual to find out if MHL or wireless mirroring are part of the package (alternately, here is a handy list from Best Buy of some televisions with mirroring capability).
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Broadcasting your Android device's screen on a nearby television is useful when you want to share a video, play a game or show off some photos from a recent trip.
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Google built screen mirroring, referred to by Google as Casting, into Android starting with Android 4.4.2 -- which was released back in 2013, so your current Android devices should all have Casting built in and ready to go. At one point, Google was updating a support page with devices that supported the feature, but the company stopped updating it around the time Samsung released the Galaxy S7. In other words, if you have an Android device that was built in the last three or four years, you should be fine.
In addition to an Android device running Android 4.4.2 or newer, you'll need a Chromecast or a Chromecast-compatible TV or other compatible display device like a Google Home Hub.
So how does one go about casting the screen of an Android device to a TV? It's quite simple, actually.
Before you begin, make sure your Android device is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromecast device. Then, swipe down from the top of your Android device's display to reveal the Quick Settings pane.
Look for a button labeled Cast. (If it's not there, tap on the pencil icon to edit your Quick Settings pane and add it.)
Tap the Cast button and then select the device you want to use. All of your Chromecast devices, including any Google Home speakers for streaming audio, will show up on the list. Select your TV, and then a second or two later your screen will show up on the TV.
Anything you do on your phone will be mirrored on the TV until you turn off Casting via a notification that's displayed as long as you're casting.
First published July 9, 2014.
Update, Jan. 29, 2019: Reflects the current process.
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