How To Connect My Iphone 5 To My Tv

Download Article

This wikiHow teaches you how to see your iPhone's screen on a TV. If you have a Smart TV or streaming device that supports AirPlay 2 (such as an Apple TV), you can easily connect your iPhone to the TV over Wi-Fi. If not, you can use a standard HDMI cable with an HDMI to Lightning adapter that plugs into your iPhone's charging port.

1
Make sure your TV supports AirPlay. As long as you're using a Smart TV that supports AirPlay 2 (or you have an Apple TV or other streaming device with AirPlay support), you can easily connect your iPhone to your TV.^[1]
- If the TV (and streaming device, if you have one) is not already turned on, turn it on now.
2

Connect your iPhone to the same Wi-Fi network as your TV. AirPlay requires Wi-Fi to work, so both your TV (or streaming device) and your iPhone must be on the same wireless network.
3
Open the Control Center on your iPhone. The steps to do this are slightly different depending on your iPhone model:
- If your iPhone doesn't have a separate round Home button at the bottom, swipe down from the top-right corner of the home screen.^[2]
- If your iPhone does have a separate round Home button at the bottom, swipe up from the bottom edge of the home screen.
4

Tap Screen Mirroring on the Control Center. It's the tile that has two overlapping squares inside. Your iPhone will begin scanning for compatible AirPlay devices.
5
Tap your TV or streaming device to connect. Your iPhone's screen should now appear on your TV's screen.
- Depending on your TV model, you may see a number on the screen that you'll need to enter on your iPhone. Enter the number when prompted to complete the connection.
- When you're ready to stop mirroring your screen, re-open the Control Center and tap Stop Mirroring.

1
Get an adapter. Your iPhone doesn't have the right port(s) to be able to plug a cable directly from the TV into the phone itself—you'll need a special adapter that plugs into your iPhone's charging port. This adapter will have a Lightning connector (the port on your iPhone) on one end, and either an HDMI or VGA connector on the other.
- Most TVs have HDMI inputs, so you'll usually need an HDMI to Lightning adapter. Apple makes one called Lightning Digital AV Adapter, but any HDMI to Lightning adapter will do.
- If you're connecting to an older TV or a computer monitor, you may also see a VGA port—it's larger and shaped like a trapezoid, and may also be labeled "PC-input" or "D-sub." The quality will not be as good as using HDMI, and the sound won't come through the TV, but you can still use it if you want to buy a VGA to Lightning adapter.
- If you have an iPhone 4, you'll need a 30-pin to HDMI adapter (or 30-pin to VGA adapter for non-HDMI TVs).^[3]
2

Get an HDMI cable. Any HDMI cable will do—one end will plug into your TV, and the other end will plug into the HDMI end of your iPhone adapter.
3

Connect the HDMI adapter to your iPhone. One end of the adapter has a Lightning connector, which will easily fit into your charging port.
4
Connect one end of the cable to the adapter and the other to a port on the TV. HDMI and VGA ports are typically on the back and/or side of your TV. If there are multiple ports (common), each port will have its own number (e.g., HDMI 1, HDMI 2, etc.).
- The number on the port will correspond with the HDMI source you'll need to switch to using your TV's remote control.
- If your iPhone and TV are not turned on, power them both on now.
5

Press the Input or Source button on the TV remote control. A list of sources or inputs will appear on the screen.
6
Select the HDMI port to which your iPhone is connected. If there is more than one HDMI port, make sure you choose the source with the number of the port you used. Once selected, you'll see your iPhone's screen on the TV.
- If you're using the VGA port, the input may be called VGA, Computer, Laptop, or similar.
- Any app you open on your iPhone will display on your TV.

Add New Question

Question

Will an Apple TV work if I don't have a computer?

Yes. You do not need a computer of any sort to own or use an Apple TV. They work on their own and can be set up without any other devices, except for a monitor to see the display.
Question

How can I do this without any plug-ins?

Try using the Sunshine app. I was able to use it to connect my iPhone to a smart TV without cable.
Question

How do I mirror ESPN from an iPhone 6 plus to a TV?

Go to the home screen, swipe up and you will see "AirPlay Mirroring" - click on that, then go on the ESPN app (make sure your TV is on while you are doing that).
Question

Is it possible to connect to the TV using only the charger cable?

It depends on the TV. Certain TVs may receive it as a mass storage device if you connect it in this manner.
Question

How can I connect an iPhone 6 to a TV using a USB cable?

If your TV has a USB port, unplug the Lightning cable from your charger base. Your Lightning cable has a USB on the end--plug that into the TV.
Question

How do I connect my iPhone 6 to my TV to watch movies?

If you have an Apple TV, swipe up from the bottom of your screen, then select Apple TV, then select Mirroring. If you don't have Apple TV but have Chromecast, or similar, you will have to go into the individual apps.
Question

Can I play games using an iPhone as a joystick for an analog tv?

If both screens show the same thing, then yes. All you have to do is make sure it's a game on the iPhone. Otherwise, it won't work.
Question

My iPhone was working with an HDMI cable and now it won't work. What should I do?

Try a new or different HDMI cable to see if that is the problem.
Question

Where can I purchase the adapter?

Try the Apple Store (online or brick and mortar), eBay, Amazon, or a local electronics store.
Question

Can I use my iPhone as an Apple TV remote? I don't have a regular remote for the Apple TV.

Yes, you can. Download the remote app from the app store and connect it to your Apple TV box.

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

As long as you're using HDMI, the sound from your iPhone will come through your TV's audio source. If you use a VGA cable, you won't be able to transmit the audio through the TV.
While streaming video to your TV from your iPhone, use the iPhone to pause, fast forward, rewind, and other video app-related tasks. Your TV remote will not work for this purpose.

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Video

About This Article

Article SummaryX

* HDMI: Plug an AV Adapter into your phone. Connect the adapter to an HDMI cable. Plug the cable into your TV. Turn on your TV and switch to the correct input. More ↓

Did this summary help you?

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 3,028,999 times.

Is this article up to date?