Modern models of TV equipment with support for the Smart platform are a godsend for the user. Everyone wants to watch their favorite TV series and movies on the big screen. However, a similar effect can be achieved with the most ordinary device at your disposal. The main thing is to know how to connect your phone to your TV via USB.
This type of synchronization is significantly different from connecting via HDMI or Wi-Fi. The TV will not be used as a second screen. The connected smartphone will turn into a regular memory drive.
Via USB
In this case, the connection is made through a standard USB cable, which you use to charge your Android.
As a rule, most devices today are supplied with a cable and a block into which this same cable is inserted. So, your task is to find a USB input on the TV (usually on the back or side), and insert the cable with the connected phone there. It can be either MicroUSB or MiniUSB.
A notification with a new device will appear on your screen. The system will offer to connect your smartphone as a storage device. You agree to this notification and are taken to the file system of your phone. Here you will see all the files, both on SD and in the internal memory of the device. Launch any movie or music file to play it on your TV. Please note that all rar, zip and other third-party file types available on a computer will not open on the TV! Multimedia files only.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
If you can’t watch the movie, you need to check the flash drive itself.
There is a situation when, when you connect a flash drive, the message “Problems with the USB device” is displayed on the screen. In this case, resetting your TV to factory settings may help. You can also check the flash device for viruses, which can also cause a similar problem.
Recently, conflicting versions of flash devices have become widespread. The more advanced USB 3.0 model has nine pins, which means it will not be readable in a USB 2.0 connector designed for four pins
To avoid mistakes, you need to pay attention to the color design of the sockets and plugs - flash drives made using the latest technologies are marked in blue
Copying files to modern flash drives is quite fast. Therefore, once you have configured the connection of this device to the TV using one of the methods described above, you can get a good alternative to watching movies on a computer or laptop from the World Wide Web.
Via Wi-Fi
This method will be relevant only for those users whose TV has built-in support for wireless technology.
Thanks to this option, connecting your phone is much more convenient, and you can manage files from a distance. For example, you can sit quietly on the couch and choose movies to watch or music to listen to. To connect, it is necessary that the built-in Wi-Fi module be present both on the TV and on your mobile phone. If your TV has Smart TV technology, then Wi-Fi Direct is definitely there! As a rule, Smart TV is found in all latest generation TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, and other manufacturers.
- Go to the “Settings” of your Android smartphone and select Wi-Fi there.
- Next, click on the “Advanced” tab and find Wi-Fi Direct.
- On your TV, also go to “Settings” and find the same wireless technology there, and then activate it.
- You turn on Wi-Fi on your smartphone, and the system automatically searches for available connection points on your TV. Once your phone's hotspot is found, the devices will be paired and connected to the shared network.
If your TV does not have a Wi-Fi module, you can purchase it separately. It will be inserted via an HDMI port, so you should think carefully about whether it’s worth it? After all, this is an additional cost, and the HDMI port will be busy.
What you need to connect a laptop to a TV using a wire
How to connect a laptop to a TV receiver
Wired local connections are among the simplest and with just a few steps you can watch a movie on a big screen. There are several options for connecting a laptop to a TV; the most commonly used ones include the use of Video Graphics Array and HDMI cables.
Is it possible to connect a laptop to the TV wirelessly?
Synchronizing modern devices is simple; you only need to connect the gadgets to a common router via Wi-Fi wireless connection
Products from different manufacturers are connected almost identically; it is important to carry out the initial settings correctly
Wireless option
Via RCA (tulip)
This method is suitable for those users who have old TVs.
They usually have RCA support (a cable with three branches of different colors). Each plug performs a separate task - transmits sound and video. But even an old TV can be connected to your Android smartphone. To do this, you need an HDMI to RCA adapter, as well as HDMI support in your smartphone. The adapter will cost about 700 rubles. On one side you insert RCA, on the other you connect HDMI. There is also an input on the side for connecting power, but the cable for it is provided along with the adapter. As a rule, the connection to your smartphone can be done either via HDMI Micro or HDMI Mini.
The adapter will have two modes: NTSC and PAL. The first is used if you have an American TV, and the second is more suitable for European ones, since they have a higher resolution. You can simply switch modes and see for yourself which one will look better. But keep in mind that this method does not guarantee a clear image, given that RCA technology cannot boast of this, and all sorts of adapters are used.
Via HDMI
Actually, in the paragraph above we already mentioned HDMI technology, which can connect Android to plasma.
But, if you have a new generation device, then no RCA is needed! Simply insert the HDMI cable into the socket and connect the cable directly or via an HDMI Mini adapter to your smartphone. Please note that by default the cable is not provided with the smartphone, so you will have to buy it separately! To connect, take a cable with HDMI on one end and HDMI Mini on the other. You insert the first into the socket on the TV, and the second into your tablet or smartphone on Android. Many phones of the latest generations even have a separate item in “Settings” for changing HDMI parameters. For example, you can choose resolution, zoom and other equally important settings.
In most cases, the system automatically detects the device and duplicates the smartphone screen on the screen. But some models require confirmation.
Preparing to connect
Before attempting to establish a connection between devices, there are a few things you should be sure of.
Firstly, the TV must be relatively new, since an HDMI or VGA connector is required to establish a connection. These formats are supported only on relatively modern TV devices. If there are no such connectors, then this connection method cannot be implemented on this TV.
Another connection method would be to switch through a special adapter for a wireless connection. This device is equipped with both HDMI and VGA outputs. For example, this article will consider the Q-Waves Wireless USB AV adapter
Via MHL or SlimPort
If your Android does not have an HDMI input, you can use other adapters that will allow you to connect your phone to the plasma.
One of the most common connection methods is MHL technology. The connection is made through the familiar and popular microUSB input. It is available on almost all phones. At the second end of the cable there will be an HDMI input. You simply insert one end into the TV and the other into the socket on your phone where you would normally plug your charger. Just keep in mind that for correct display you need to insert HDMI into the exact socket next to which the MHL logo will appear. In this case, the picture will be displayed correctly and duplicated on the TV screen, which, in turn, will also be charged. Don't forget to disable screen rotation, otherwise it will also rotate on the TV.
Important! Before purchasing a cable, be sure to check with the sellers whether it will fit your phone model, since some models have their own distinctive features.
Another alternative is SlimPort. As a rule, it has recently been actively found in devices such as Asus, ZTE, and some LG models. Its main difference from MHL is that it supports almost all video output standards: VGA, HDMI. You can use this adapter to connect the device not only to a TV, but also to a monitor.
Its configuration and varieties may be different:
- Firstly, it can be a simple HDMI adapter, where on one side it connects to the TV, and on the other to the charging socket of the smartphone.
- Secondly, there is SlimPort with several outputs at once, for example, the same VGA. In addition to the input and output, there is a separate charging socket on the side, since the phone will not be charged from the TV through this adapter! Although it consumes much less energy than MHL.
With such adapters, you can easily connect your smartphone to a TV, projectors and screens, and you can charge the device. At the same time, FullHD image output is supported with a resolution of up to 1080p, depending on the type of adapter.
Apple connection
Unlike Android smartphones, Apple technology will require fewer steps. In general, the procedure for synchronizing an iPhone with TV is the same. Regardless of the TV manufacturer, the method will work, and even the main competitors of the Apple brand Samsung support USB data transfer technology.
The principle is simple - to transfer data, use the cable supplied with the iPhone, the devices are connected to each other, the user waits until the TV detects the storage medium. Next, press the Source button on the remote control and select the signal source – USB output.
As is the case with Android phones, you can view videos, photos and play music via USB from an iPhone. You cannot enable online broadcasting or display the screen image on your desktop.
