Connect an Android Phone to a TV With a USB-C to HDMI Cable

To connect an Android phone to a TV with a USB-C to HDMI cable, plug the HDMI end into a free HDMI port on the TV, plug the USB-C end into the phone, then select that HDMI input with the TV remote. Your phone's screen appears on the TV within a few seconds, as long as the phone supports video output over USB-C. The steps below cover what you need, how to pick the right input, and how to get a clean TV layout instead of a mirrored phone screen.

What you need

• An Android phone that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode. This is the part most people miss. Check your model in the compatibility database before buying anything.
• A USB-C to HDMI cable, or a USB-C to HDMI adapter plus a regular HDMI cable. The cable buying guide explains the difference.
• A TV, monitor, or projector with a free HDMI input.
• Optional: a USB-C hub with HDMI and Power Delivery if you want to charge during a long movie.

No Wi-Fi, no account, and no pairing is needed. The cable does everything.

Step by step

1. Turn on the TV and note which HDMI port is free. The number is usually printed next to the port, for example HDMI 2.
2. Plug the HDMI end of the cable into that port. If you are using an adapter, connect the HDMI cable to the adapter first.
3. Take your phone out of any thick case, then plug the USB-C end firmly into the phone. It should go all the way in.
4. Unlock the phone. Some phones hold back video output while the screen is locked.
5. Press Source or Input on the TV remote and select the HDMI number you used.
6. Wait five to ten seconds. The phone screen appears on the TV.
7. Rotate the phone to landscape when watching videos so the picture fills the width of the TV.

On Samsung Galaxy phones you may see a prompt asking whether to start DeX or mirror the screen. Either works. DeX gives you a desktop layout, mirroring copies the phone screen.

Choosing the right HDMI input

Most confusion at this stage comes from the TV, not the phone.

• The Source or Input button on the remote opens a list of inputs. Pick the one matching the port label.
• Some TVs hide inputs with no signal. If your port is not in the list, the TV has not detected the phone yet. Reseat the cable and wait.
• Some TVs rename inputs, so HDMI 1 may appear as "Game" or "Set-top box". The name does not matter, only the number.
• The port marked ARC or eARC is normally for a soundbar, but it also works as a regular input.

If the TV shows "No signal" after 15 seconds on the correct input, the phone is not sending video. Go through the troubleshooting guide before trying more cables.

Mirroring vs a clean TV layout

A plain cable gives you raw screen mirroring. Whatever is on the phone appears on the TV, which sounds ideal but has some rough edges:

• Portrait content shows as a narrow strip with black bars on both sides.
• Notifications, the status bar, and the keyboard all appear on the TV.
• Incoming messages pop up in front of everyone.
• The phone's screen timeout can blank the TV mid-slideshow.
• Swiping through photos means everyone watches you swipe.

The app takes a different approach. Instead of copying the phone screen, it renders a proper TV layout on the HDMI output: full-width photos, video with clean playback controls, music with album art. The phone screen becomes the remote. Nothing you do on the phone, including reading a message, appears on the TV.

Using the app to cast photos and videos

1. Install the app from the app page and open it.
2. Connect the USB-C to HDMI cable. The built-in checker confirms that your phone supports wired output.
3. Choose Photos, Videos, or Music.
4. Pick an album or a file. The TV shows it in a TV layout while the phone shows thumbnails and controls.
5. Swipe on the phone to move between photos, or use the on-screen controls for video and music.

Because it plays local files, everything works offline. Holiday photos, recorded videos, and downloaded music all play without an internet connection.

Hotel TV tips

Hotel TVs are the most common place people need a cable, and they have some quirks.

• HDMI ports are often on the side of the TV or behind a small panel. Some rooms have an HDMI socket on a media panel by the desk that is wired to the TV.
• Bring your own cable. Reception rarely has one.
• Many hotel remotes have a Source button, but some hotels lock the input menu. If you cannot change the input, ask reception. They can usually unlock it or move you to a room with a free HDMI socket.
• Do not rely on hotel Wi-Fi for wireless casting. Guest networks isolate devices from each other, so Chromecast, Miracast, and browser-based casting usually fail. A cable ignores the network entirely.
• Hotel TVs are often 1080p. If the picture flickers at 4K, switch the app to 1080p output.

Keeping the phone awake and charged

With plain mirroring, the phone's screen timeout will eventually blank the TV. Either raise the timeout in Display settings or use the app, which keeps the output alive while casting.

A plain cable does not charge the phone. For an evening of video, a hub with a Power Delivery port lets you plug in your charger at the same time. Plug the charger into the hub, not the phone.

Sound

HDMI carries audio along with video, so the TV plays the sound automatically. If you get a picture but no sound, the usual culprit is Bluetooth headphones grabbing the audio. The no sound guide walks through the fixes.

If nothing appears on the TV

Check three things in this order: the phone supports DP Alt Mode, the cable is a standard USB-C to HDMI cable rather than a DisplayLink or MHL adapter, and the TV is on the right input. If the phone is not supported, the app's Browser Cast feature can still send your photos and videos to the TV over your home Wi-Fi, no cable required.