Screen mirroring fails for one of two reasons, and they need different fixes: either your phone and TV speak different casting languages, or they're not on the same network. iPhones use AirPlay; Androids use Google Cast or Miracast — and a TV has to support your phone's method. Sort that out first, because no amount of restarting fixes a compatibility mismatch.
First, match the method to your phone
- iPhone / iPad → AirPlay. The TV (or a Roku/Apple TV/Fire TV/Chromecast attached to it) must support AirPlay 2. From the iPhone Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring and pick the TV. (If an AirPlay target like a Sonos speaker won't show up, the same band/network checks below usually explain it.)
- Android → Google Cast or Miracast. Apps with a Cast icon stream to a Chromecast/Google TV. For full screen mirroring, Android uses Miracast ("Smart View" on Samsung, "Cast" / "Wireless projection" elsewhere) to a Miracast-capable TV. If the Cast target never appears at all, the Chromecast can't-find-device fix covers that specific failure.
- The mismatch trap: an iPhone can't Miracast, and many TVs don't do AirPlay. If your TV doesn't support your phone's method, you need a streaming device that does (or the wired adapter below) — that's the whole problem in a lot of cases.
Then fix the network
If the method's right but it still won't connect:
- Same Wi-Fi network — and same band. The phone and TV must be on the same network. A phone on 5 GHz and a TV on 2.4 GHz (or on a separate guest network) often can't find each other. Put both on the same SSID.
- Turn off VPN and AP/client isolation. A VPN on the phone, or "client isolation" on the router, blocks the two devices from seeing each other. Disable both for mirroring.
- Restart everything. Toggle the phone's Wi-Fi off/on, restart the TV (unplug 30+ seconds), and reboot the router. A stale network state is a common cause.
- Enable mirroring on the TV. Some TVs have screen mirroring off by default or behind an input/app — check the TV's settings or input list for "Screen Mirroring," "Smart View," or "AirPlay," and turn it on.
The fix that always works
If wireless mirroring keeps fighting you, go wired. A USB-C-to-HDMI adapter (newer Androids and iPads) or a Lightning-to-HDMI adapter (older iPhones) plugs the phone straight into the TV's HDMI port — no network, no compatibility guessing, no lag. It's the reliable fallback when AirPlay or Miracast won't cooperate.
FAQ
Why won't my iPhone screen-mirror to my TV? The TV (or attached streamer) has to support AirPlay 2. If it doesn't, use an AirPlay-capable device or a Lightning/USB-C-to-HDMI adapter.
My Android won't mirror — what's wrong? Either the TV isn't Miracast-capable, or you're on a different Wi-Fi band/network. Match the network, and use Smart View/Cast to a compatible TV.
It used to work and now it won't. Usually a network change — phone on a different band, a new VPN, or guest-network isolation. Put both on the same SSID and turn off the VPN.
Is there a way that always works? Yes — a wired USB-C or Lightning to HDMI adapter. It bypasses Wi-Fi and compatibility entirely.