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How to Connect Any Phone or Tablet to Your TV Using USB
Whether you want to enjoy Netflix, share photos, or even use it for work, hooking up a cable between your phone and TV can be tricky. It is possible, though. You just need the right cable.
Why Use USB to Connect Phones, Tablets, and TVs?
While mirroring your phone screen wirelessly is convenient, a direct connection—via USB—is always going to be the better deal. There's lower latency and input lag, which is essential for gaming and even streaming. Also, if you're in a situation where Wi-Fi isn't an option, or a weak signal, a wired connection is your best option.
To connect your phone or tablet to a TV, you can use one of the following methods:
-
Android devices
- USB-C cable with DisplayPort
- USB cable with MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link)
- USB cable with SlimPort
-
iPhone/iPad
- Lightning cable (iPhone and iPad)
- USB-C with DisplayPort/HDMI (iPhone 15 or later; M1 iPad Pro or later)
How you connect your phone to the TV depends on your specific device and operating system. Although all methods are similar, the process differs slightly for connecting an iPhone versus an Android device.
Similarly, your connection method varies depending on your needs. Simply viewing photos on a compatible television requires your charging cable and mobile device. But for screen mirroring, you'll need a USB adapter.
Note that for USB connections between a phone and TV, the model of the TV shouldn't matter. The steps below outline how to connect your phone to a TV, which applies to Samsung, LG, and many other manufacturers. Better still, the same steps can connect a phone to a non-smart TV (otherwise known as a dumb TV).
How to Connect Android Phones and Tablets to TVs With USB
You have two options for connecting Android phones and tablets to your TV:
- USB-C cable with DisplayPort support
- USB cable with MHL
- USB cable with Slimport
1. Connecting Your Android Phone to a TV Using a USB-C to HDMI Cable
The USB Type-C port on your average Android smartphone isn't just for charging and data transfer. It also includes support for the DisplayPort standard, enabling USB-C to HDMI screen mirroring on your phone or tablet's display to a TV.
Simply connect the USB-C cable to Android, then connect this to a suitable docking station with HDMI out, like this Baseus Laptop Docking Station, or a USB-C to HDMI adapter.
2. Connecting Your Android Phone to TV Using USB With MHL
MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link) is one of the most common solutions for connecting a phone to an HDMI TV with a micro-USB cable. This technology allows MHL-compatible devices, such as smartphones and tablets, to connect to televisions and projectors. You can browse a list of MHL-enabled devices on the official MHL website.
To use the Mobile High-Definition Link, you will need:
- MHL-enabled phone
- USB to HDMI MHL adapter or cable
- HDMI cable
- Power cable
Although this is the general setup, the specific cable you'll need varies. For example, this MHL device from Cable Matters uses micro-USB. Complete an internet search for "MHL cable [your device name]" to find a list of compatible cables.
To connect your phone to a TV using a USB cable and MHL, first hook up your phone via an MHL adapter. The adapter will require power either from a USB port on the cable or an external source.
Although MHL initially required a power connection, MHL 2.0 makes this non-essential. Still, since MHL does draw power from the mobile device, it's wise to connect a power cable. Next, connect your phone to your television with the MHL cable. After that, you should see your phone screen on your TV; it's plug-and-play.
Overall, Mobile High-Definition Link is one of the best solutions for connecting an Android phone to a TV using a USB cable.
3. Connecting Your Android Phone to TV Using USB SlimPort
If you have an older phone, you can connect your phone to a TV with a SlimPort cable. While similar to MHL, SlimPort offers different outputs but uses a micro-USB connection. Whereas MHL is limited to HDMI, SlimPort outputs to HDMI, DVI, DisplayPort, and VGA. This makes it better suited to various displays, including older monitors and TVs with no digital inputs.
Unlike MHL, SlimPort does not draw power from mobile devices. You'll need the following to connect a phone to your TV using a SlimPort adapter:
- SlimPort-compatible phone
- A micro-USB SlimPort cable or adapter
- Appropriate video cable for your display (HDMI, DVI, DisplayPort, or VGA)
Begin by plugging the SlimPort adapter into your phone. Then, attach the SlimPort adapter to your display using the proper cable. You should then be able to view your phone's screen on a TV. Like MHL, it's plug-and-play.
4. How to Connect Your Android Phone to the TV with USB But Without HDMI
What if the TV you want to connect your phone to doesn't have HDMI? It is still possible to connect an Android phone to an old display, but you'll need dedicated adapters to switch formats and possibly chain them together.
- USB to VGA Adapter: To connect your phone to a VGA TV or display, you'll need just a USB to VGA adapter.
- Phone to RCA AV: For RCA connections (red, white, and yellow) you'll need a USB-C to RCA adapter, which greatly simplifies the process.
- Phone to SCART: Connecting your phone to a SCART TV also requires a dedicated HDMI to SCART adapter along with a USB to HDMI adapter. Chain the connection as follows: phone > USB to HDMI adapter > HDMI to SCART adapter > SCART to TV.
I know; that was a lot of ways to connect your Android device to a TV with USB. One of them will definitely work!
Can You Connect an iPhone or iPad to a TV With a USB?
Yes and no. It depends entirely on what model of iPad and iPhone you have.
- The iPhone 3 to iPhone 14, as well as the iPad Mini and iPad Pro, will have a Lightning connector, so you'll want a Lightning digital AV adapter for HDMI outputs or the Lightning to VGA adapter if you have an older VGA display.
- Starting with the iPhone 15 or newer and the M1 iPad Pro, it will be USB-C, so a USB-C to HDMI adapter is in order.
- Then there are the older iOS devices, like the iPad 3 and earlier, with 30-pin ports, which require a 30-pin VGA adapter to connect with a display.
Once you've plugged in your adapter, simply hook up the video output to your display. Then, your phone screen will mirror the TV. Apple's official Lightning adapters contain an additional Lightning port for charging while viewing content on a second screen.
How to Transfer Files From Phone to TV Using USB
While the most common way to connect a phone to a TV using USB is for screen mirroring, there's another option. Instead of screen mirroring, you can connect it as a storage device for viewing pictures and videos on your TV. However, this will require a compatible monitor, TV, or projector. Most modern displays should accept USB storage.
Of the various USB-to-TV connection options, this is the easiest. Since it only requires a phone, USB cable, and TV with a USB input, it's simple to set up. Which specific cable you need depends on your phone.
On an iPhone or iPad, use a Lightning cable (or 30-pin for older devices) or USB-C for newer models. Alternately, Android users need a micro-USB or USB-C cable. The USB cable that came with your phone or tablet should work fine.
USB to TV: Connecting to View Photos
Modern Android devices don't support USB Mass Storage, so your TV won't view your device as a true external drive. This assumes that your TV or monitor features a USB input capable of displaying files from a connected storage device.
Simply connect your cable to your phone, then to the TV. With the standard USB end of the cable connected to your display, change the input on your TV to USB.
On Android, you'll likely need to change your USB settings to Transfer files or Transfer photos (PTP). To do this, drag down your notifications from the top of the screen when connected. In the menu, tap the USB is charging this device notification to change it.
Be aware that this doesn't work with all TVs. In some cases, the USB ports are purely for firmware updates.
How to Connect a Samsung Phone to a TV With USB and DeX
Samsung's flagship handsets are among the most popular Android devices, making connecting your Samsung television, monitor, and smartphone incredibly simple. For pure screen mirroring, you'll need a USB-C to HDMI cable.
To connect a Samsung Galaxy S, Note, or Fold to your TV, hook up a USB-C to HDMI adapter. Plug the USB-C male into the USB-C charging port on your Samsung Galaxy device. Then run the HDMI cable into your TV.
However, most modern Samsung devices also support DeX, offering a desktop experience running on your handset to bridge the gap between mobile and desktop. You can run all the same Android apps; however, you can access your phone's gallery and basically get everything on the big screen. You're basically using your Samsung device as a PC with any compatible TV or monitor.
Since this is proprietary technology, the method for connecting a DeX-enabled Samsung phone to a TV differs from standard hookups. In some cases, you'll need a dock to use DeX. In others (such as the recent Galaxy Note phones), you can use a USB-C to HDMI cable, which is more useful than a dedicated dock. However, note that if you're using a dock, you will also need a power cable to power the dock and charge your device.
Knowing how to connect a mobile device to a TV via a USB cable is useful when no wireless connection is available. While a USB to TV connection varies by device, connection type, and display inputs, it's thankfully simple to set up. However, don't forget that wireless casting is usually more convenient.
