However, on Android, there are several free alternatives to Chromecast available. Join us below in learning the different ways of how one can mirror their Android screen on to their TV without the aid of Chromecast.
Requirements of Casting
In order to cast your Android phone on to your TV without Chromecast, you’ll need the following things:
An Android phone running Android 4.2 or higherA smart TV with Miracast compatibilityA decent high-speed internet connection with good upload and download speeds.
Additionally, make sure that your phone and your smart TV are connected on the same Wi-Fi network. Miracast should also be enabled on your TV. If Miracast is not supported on your device, please check out detailed guide on how to fix that.
Method 1: Casting Natively
1. Using the built-in cast feature
As previously mentioned, the cast feature is now a built-in attribute of the Android OS. However, depending on your device’s manufacturer, the name of this feature and how it’s accessed can vary. On most devices, the casting feature can be found under the ‘Connections‘ section in the ‘Settings‘ menu, typically labeled as ‘Cast. However, Samsung‘s case is different as its cast feature cannot be found in the device settings. Samsung’s cast feature is known as Smart View and is accessed through the notification panel.
2. Casting using Samsung’s Smart View
Here are the steps to cast through Samsung’s Smart View, exclusive to Samsung devices:
3. Using the in-app cast feature
Some popular streaming apps have added a built-in cast feature so that you can enjoy your favorite movies, TV shows, or videos on a big screen. YouTube and Netflix are example of such apps. However, through this method, you can only cast that specific app. Regardless, here’s how to cast your favorite YouTube videos: If you’re trying to stream YouTube from your phone to your TV in order to avoid ads, check out our guide on how to get ad-free YouTube on Android/Google TV.
Method 2: Casting Using a Third-Party App
Another way to cast your phone’s screen on to your TV is to make use of third-party apps available on the Google Play Store. There are a lot of apps to choose from but the best are BubbleUPNP, AllCast, Cast to TV, etc. Below are the steps to cast using the Cast to TV app:
Method 3: Casting Using Phone-to-HDMI Adapters
Technically speaking, this method is not exactly casting. However, since the aim of this tool is to achieve the same goal as casting, we’ve decided to include it. Phone-to-HDMI adapters are extensions that allow you to connect a HDMI cable and establish a connection between your TV and phone. A key advantage of using this adapter is that it allows screen sharing without the need for Wi-Fi. It also doesn’t require your TV to be a smart TV with Miracast support; all you need is an HDMI slot. Fortunately, HDMI slots are extremely common and can be found on virtually all TVs. In fact, you can also connect a laptop or Apple device using this method to mirror their screens.
Casting Off
Casting is a fantastic tool for presentations, movie nights, or photo slideshows. While Chromecast simplifies the process and offers a host of other features, it might be a bit pricey for some. This is where cost-effective alternatives come into play, enabling you to cast to any available display without relying on Chromecast.
