How To Screen Mirror From An iPhone

To screen mirror from an iPhone: 1. Connect the iPhone and the TV (or streaming device) to the same Wi-Fi network. 2. Open Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen. 3. Tap the Screen Mirroring button — two overlapping rectangles. 4. Select your TV from the list. 5. If the TV shows a passcode, enter it on the iPhone, and your whole screen appears on the TV. This works with any AirPlay-compatible receiver: Apple TV boxes, most current Roku devices, and recent smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, and Vizio. Below is what to do on each type of TV, what to try when your TV is not AirPlay-compatible, and how to fix the usual hiccups.

What You Need Before You Start

• An iPhone running a recent version of iOS. AirPlay 2 screen sharing works on iPhones running iOS 12.3 or later, per Roku's compatibility documentation — which in practice means any iPhone from the last several years.
• An AirPlay-capable receiver. That is any Apple TV HD or Apple TV 4K, most current Roku players and Roku TVs, or an AirPlay 2 smart TV. Many Samsung, LG, Sony, and Vizio models from recent years include AirPlay 2 — look for an AirPlay section in your TV's settings, or check the manufacturer's compatibility list.
• Both devices on the same network. Mirroring fails silently when the phone is on 5GHz Wi-Fi and the TV is on a guest network or ethernet VLAN — same network, full stop.

Mirror To An Apple TV Or AirPlay 2 Smart TV

1. Swipe down from the top-right corner of the iPhone to open Control Center.
2. Tap Screen Mirroring.
3. Choose the Apple TV or smart TV from the device list.
4. Enter the four-digit AirPlay passcode shown on the TV if prompted.
5. To stop, open Control Center again, tap Screen Mirroring, and choose Stop Mirroring.

Apple documents the full flow in its AirPlay streaming and mirroring guide. One useful distinction: if you just want to play a single video, use the AirPlay icon inside the video app instead of full-screen mirroring — the video streams directly to the TV at full quality while you keep using the phone for other things.

Mirror To A Roku

Most current Roku streaming players and Roku TVs support AirPlay 2 — Roku's Select and Plus Series TVs support it across the board, and Roku's AirPlay support page lists the requirements by model and Roku OS version.

1. On the Roku, go to Settings > Apple AirPlay and HomeKit and make sure AirPlay is set to On.
2. Update the Roku first if you do not see that menu: Settings > System > System update.
3. On the iPhone, open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, and pick the Roku.
4. Enter the code shown on the TV, and mirroring begins.

While you are set up, our guide to watching The Roku Channel covers the free content side of Roku, and if you are an Apple household, Apple TV+ has a native Roku app — no mirroring required.

Mirror To A Fire TV

This is where iPhone owners hit a wall: Fire TV Sticks do not support AirPlay natively. Amazon has built AirPlay into its Fire TV smart television sets — the Omni and 4-Series TVs among them — and Amazon's help pages cover linking an Apple device to those sets. For a Fire TV Stick or Cube, install a third-party AirPlay receiver app such as AirScreen (free, in the Amazon Appstore): open the app, then use Screen Mirroring from the iPhone's Control Center and select the receiver it creates. It works well for photos, slides, and casual video, though a native AirPlay TV will always be smoother.

No Smart TV? Use A Cable

The zero-Wi-Fi fallback is Apple's Digital AV Adapter: a USB-C to HDMI adapter for newer iPhones (or Lightning to HDMI for older ones) plus any HDMI cable. Plug in, choose the HDMI input on the TV, and the iPhone mirrors instantly — no network, no passcodes, no lag worth mentioning. It is the most reliable option for hotel TVs and conference rooms, where Wi-Fi mirroring is usually blocked.

Troubleshooting iPhone Screen Mirroring

• TV not showing in the list? Confirm both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network, and turn off any VPN on the iPhone — VPNs hide the phone from local devices.
• Mirroring option missing on the TV? Update the TV or Roku firmware; AirPlay arrived via software update on many sets.
• Choppy or lagging picture? Move both devices closer to the router, or switch the phone to the 5GHz band. Screen mirroring is far more bandwidth-hungry than in-app AirPlay streaming.
• Black screen in some apps? Netflix and several other streaming apps block screen mirroring for copyright reasons. Use the TV's native app for that service instead.
• Passcode keeps reappearing? On Apple TV or Roku you can change AirPlay security settings to only require the code the first time a device connects.

FAQ

Can I mirror my iPhone without Wi-Fi?

Yes, two ways: the HDMI adapter described above, or peer-to-peer AirPlay to an Apple TV, which works even when there is no router involved — keep Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on on both devices.

Why is there no sound on the TV?

Check the ring/silent switch and volume on the iPhone — muted phones mirror muted audio — and make sure the TV input's volume is up.

Is screen mirroring the same as casting?

No. Mirroring clones your entire screen, notifications and all. Casting (or in-app AirPlay) sends just the video to the TV and frees up your phone. For movies and shows, casting is almost always better; for photos, presentations, or apps with no TV version, mirroring is the tool. Our companion guide, How To Mirror Your Phone To A Smart TV, covers the Android side as well.

Can I mirror to an older, non-smart TV?

Yes — either with the HDMI adapter, or by plugging an AirPlay-capable streamer (Apple TV or a current Roku) into any TV with an HDMI port.