How to Cast Phone to TV
Want to watch videos from your phone on a bigger screen? This guide shows you how to cast phone to TV wirelessly — no cables, no dongles, no hassle. Works with both Android and iPhone.
What You Need to Cast Phone to TV
Casting a phone to a TV sends the video stream directly from the web to your television, so your phone acts as a remote control rather than mirroring the entire screen. All you need is:
- An Android phone or iPhone with CastBrowser installed (Google Play or App Store)
- A TV or streaming device (Chromecast, Roku, Fire TV, or any Smart TV)
- Both devices connected to the same Wi-Fi network
How to Cast Phone to TV (Step-by-Step)
Download CastBrowser on Your Phone
Install CastBrowser from the Google Play Store for Android or the Apple App Store for iPhone. The app is completely free — no subscription and no account required.
Connect Phone and TV to the Same Wi-Fi
Your phone and TV (or streaming device like Chromecast or Roku) must be on the same Wi-Fi network. CastBrowser uses your local network to discover nearby devices automatically.
Browse to a Video
Open CastBrowser and navigate to any website with video content. The built-in browser works just like Chrome or Safari — type a URL or search for what you want to watch. CastBrowser detects videos on the page automatically.
Tap the Video and Cast
When CastBrowser detects a video, tap on it to see quality options (SD, HD, or higher when available). Then tap the cast icon and select your TV from the device list. The video starts playing on your big screen instantly.
Control Playback from Your Phone
Your phone becomes the remote control. Play, pause, seek through the video, and adjust volume — all from the CastBrowser app. You can even keep browsing for the next video while one is playing on the TV.
Which TVs and Devices Can You Cast To?
CastBrowser works with virtually every modern TV and streaming device:
Chromecast
All Chromecast generations, Google TV, and TVs with Chromecast built-in
Roku
Roku TVs, Streaming Sticks, Express, Ultra, and Premiere
Fire TV
Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Cube, and Fire TV Edition Smart TVs
Smart TVs (DLNA)
Samsung, LG, Sony, Panasonic, Philips, Hisense, TCL, and more
Casting vs Screen Mirroring — What's the Difference?
Many people confuse casting with screen mirroring. They're not the same thing, and the difference matters for video quality and battery life.
Casting (CastBrowser)
- + Sends the video stream directly to the TV
- + Full quality, no compression
- + Low battery usage on your phone
- + Use your phone normally while watching
- + Built-in ad blocker
Screen Mirroring
- - Mirrors your entire phone screen
- - Lower quality due to compression
- - Drains battery quickly
- - Phone is locked to the mirrored content
- - Shows notifications and private info on TV
Cast Phone to TV on Android
On Android, CastBrowser supports all major casting protocols. Download it from the Google Play Store, open any website, and cast detected videos to Chromecast, Roku, Fire TV, or any DLNA-compatible Smart TV. Android users also benefit from background casting — the app continues streaming even with the screen off, and you can control playback from the notification panel.
For a detailed Android walkthrough, see our Android casting guide.
Cast Phone to TV on iPhone
CastBrowser for iPhone gives you the same casting experience. Install it from the App Store and cast web videos to Chromecast, Roku, Fire TV, and DLNA Smart TVs. Unlike AirPlay (which only works with Apple TV and AirPlay-compatible TVs), CastBrowser works with virtually every TV and streaming device on your network.
For the full iPhone walkthrough, see our iPhone casting guide.
Supported Video Formats
CastBrowser detects and casts videos in 20+ formats, including live streams:
Why Use CastBrowser to Cast Phone to TV?
- Works with any website: Unlike apps tied to specific services, CastBrowser works with any site that has video content.
- Automatic video detection: No need to copy URLs or fiddle with settings — CastBrowser finds videos for you.
- Universal device support: Chromecast, Roku, Fire TV, DLNA Smart TVs, and Web Receiver — all in one app.
- Built-in ad blocker: Enjoy a cleaner browsing experience — blocks ads, popups, bad redirections, and trackers.
- Completely free: No subscription, no hidden fees, no account required.
- Cast local files too: Beyond web videos, you can cast videos and audio files stored on your phone.
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
- TV not showing up: Make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. Restart your phone and TV, and disable any VPN.
- Video not detected: Play the video on the webpage first, then check CastBrowser's video list. Some sites require a few seconds of playback before detection.
- Buffering or lag: Switch to a 5GHz Wi-Fi band if available, lower the video quality, and close other apps using bandwidth.
- Casting stops when phone screen turns off: On Android, disable battery optimization for CastBrowser in your phone's settings.
- Audio but no video (or vice versa): Try a different video quality option, or restart the cast session.
Alternative: Use Web Receiver
If you are having trouble with Chromecast, DLNA, or other casting methods, CastBrowser also includes a Web Receiver feature. Open a web browser on your TV (like the built-in browser on your Smart TV or any device with a browser), navigate to the link CastBrowser gives you, and the video will play directly in the browser on your TV. This works with any TV or device that has a web browser — no special hardware or casting support required.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I cast my phone to my TV wirelessly?
Install CastBrowser on your Android or iPhone, connect both your phone and TV to the same Wi-Fi network, browse to any website with video content, and tap the cast icon to send the video to your TV. CastBrowser supports Chromecast, Roku, Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, and DLNA devices.
What is the difference between casting and screen mirroring?
Casting sends the video stream directly to your TV, so your phone acts as a remote control — you get full video quality, low battery usage, and can use your phone normally. Screen mirroring duplicates your entire phone screen to the TV, which compresses the video, drains battery faster, and locks your phone to the mirrored content.
Can I cast phone to TV without Chromecast?
Yes. CastBrowser supports casting to Roku, Fire TV, Samsung Smart TVs, and any DLNA-compatible Smart TV — no Chromecast needed. It also includes a Web Receiver feature that works with any TV that has a web browser, so you can cast without any special hardware.
Is CastBrowser free?
Yes, CastBrowser is completely free on both Android and iPhone. There are no subscriptions, no hidden fees, and no account required. Download it from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and start casting immediately.
Why is my TV not showing up when I try to cast?
The most common reason is that your phone and TV are on different Wi-Fi networks. Make sure both are connected to the same network. Also try restarting both devices, disabling any VPN on your phone, and checking that your TV's network settings allow external connections.
Cast Phone to TV for Free
Download CastBrowser and start casting web videos from your phone to your TV in seconds.