Watch NetFlix On Big Screen- Learn How To Connect Netflix To TV From Phone

Last night, I went over to my friend’s place for dinner. The idea was to meet his six-year-old daughter and help her practice the dialogues of Thumbelina, as she’s playing the character in her school’s upcoming annual function. The moment I reached their place, the little bundle of joy was excited to show me the character she was going to play. She turned on Netflix on her father’s phone and began imitating Thumbelina. 

This was when I told my friend and his wife that the phone screen is not meant to play movies on NetFlix. Apart from the harmful effects of phone screens on children and adults, the experience is not as great as on the bigger screen. That’s when I told the little Thumbelina to stop squinting to see what’s going on in the movie and let me magically connect the NetFlix on her phone screen on the TV with just a few taps. Just that moment, I became a Prince for my friend’s daughter.

Connecting Netflix to TV from your Android phone or iPhone is a straightforward process using Chromecast. While Chromecast is a built-in feature in the newest TV models by Sony, Philips, Toshiba, etc., you can also connect the Chromecast dongle as an accessory to your TV.  Another way to connect NetFlix from your phone to your TV is by using the NetFlix 2nd screen. You may also use the HDMI cable to mirror your phone’s screen to your TV if your TV is not connected to the WiFi.

In this article, we shall discuss different ways to connect NetFlix from your phone to the TV.

NetFlix: A Great Home Companion

NetFlix: A Great Home Companion

NetFlix has made our lives easier. Not only does it save us from spending money buying tickets for the movie at the cinema, but it also acted as our savior when coronavirus almost stopped the world and forced us to lock ourselves in our homes. Well, I could not have survived the lockdown without Netflix. With the rise in the cases of people complaining about disturbed mental health, NetFlix helped us kill a lot of the time we would have spent overthinking otherwise. 

A few reasons why you should consider investing in a NetFlix subscription if you haven’t till now are given below:

  • NetFlix Is Advertisement-Free: NetFlix has been around for over two decades. By this point, when most other competitors have injected advertising into every nook and cranny, Netflix doesn’t make you sit through 30 seconds of cringe-inducing marketing. 
  • NetFlix Offers More Than Just Movies And Series: You would be surprised to know that I follow more niche content on NetFlix than the known series and movies, and it is this content that keeps me hooked. 
  • NetFlix Boasts About Original Content: Over the past few years, Netflix has drifted away from licensed content and gotten more inclined toward producing its content. While I agree that the original Netflix series are hit-and-miss at times, NetFlix has improved its content quality significantly over the years. Some of their documentaries, original series, horror movies, and sci-fi shows are quite binge-worthy. 
  • Multiple Viewers Can Benefit From One Subscription: The NetFlix account allows you to create up to five profiles and doesn’t limit the number of devices you can install and use the app. NetFlix only limits the number of screens you can watch Netflix on simultaneously. The basic NetFlix plan lets you stream on only one device. However, with a standard or premium NetFlix account, you can access NetFlix on two or four devices.
  • Netflix Has An Easy To Access Library And A Great User Interface: Netflix’s recommendation algorithm is stellar. It’s like NetFlix is your ex who knows what you would play after binge-watching season 4 of Stranger Things. But that too without any tantrums! How cool is that!

How To Connect NetFlix To TV From Phone?

If you are a NetFlix buff like I am, you would know that the experience of watching your favorite shows on your TV’s big screen is unmatchable. When I finally connected NetFlix from my friend’s phone to their TV, the little Thumbelina jumped with joy and imitated her role with so much excitement. 

If your TV has access to Wi-Fi, there are two ways you can connect NetFlix from your Android or Apple device to your TV. In this section of the article, I will discuss both of these methods.

Connect NetFlix From Phone To TV Using Chromecast

Connect NetFlix From Phone To TV Using Chromecast

The first way you can connect Netflix on your TV from your Android phone or iPhone is using the Chromecast just like you can cast steam or cast VLC videos. Chromecast, formerly called Google Cast, comes as a built-in feature in the newest TV models of Phillips, Polaroid, Toshiba, Sony, etc. However, if your TV does not have a built-in Chromecast, you can connect a Chromecast dongle to your TV.  

If you are looking for how to stream NetFlix from phone to TV using the Chromecast, follow the given steps.

Step 1: Open the Netflix application on your mobile device and ensure you are signed in.

Step 2: Select the Cast icon Chromecast Icon in the screen’s upper or lower right corner.

Step 3: You will see a list of Chromecast devices nearby. Select your device from the list.

Step 4: Select the TV show or movie you want to play.

The great part about using the Chromecast to connect NetFlix on your TV from your Android phone or iPhone is that you can use your phone to control the content being played. You can fast forward, rewind, pause, and change your mobile device’s audio subtitle settings. This works great for somebody like me who has immense love for big screens.

Connect NetFlix To TV From A Phone using Netflix 2nd Screen

Connect NetFlix To TV From A Phone using Netflix 2nd Screen

If you do not have Chromecast on your TV or are looking for an alternate way to connect your Android phone or iPhone to your TV, you may consider using NetFlix 2nd screen to watch your favorite show on the TV. This method is different from simply playing the NetFlix on your TV because it allows you to control the content from your mobile phone. Hence,  you can handle operations like fast-forwarding, rewinding, changing the audio or subtitle settings, etc., from your mobile device. 

Here’s how you can connect NetFlix from your phone to your TV using the NetFlix 2nd screen.

Step 1: Connect your Android phone or iPhone to the same Wi-Fi network as your TV.

Step 2: Launch the Netflix application on your mobile device and your TV.

Step 3: Sign in to the same Netflix account on both devices.

Step 4: Select the Cast icon Cast Icon in your mobile phone screen’s upper or lower right corner.

Step 5: Select the device you want to watch your TV show or movie on.

Step 6: Select the TV show or movie you want to watch and press Play.

When the connection is being made, the Cast icon in the Netflix mobile app will flicker for a bit, and once the connection is made, the icon will turn white. If you encounter issues with using NetFlix 2nd Screen, you can go through some suggested troubleshooting steps to solve 2nd screen issues by NetFlix. 

Connecting NetFlix To TV From A Phone Without WiFi

If your TV is not connected to the WiFi, you can also connect NetFlix from your phone to your TV using an HDMI cable. This method will not only let you access NetFlix on your TV but also mirror anything that you see on your mobile phone to your big screen. In this section of the article, I will discuss how to mirror your Android phone and your iPhone to your TV using an HDMI cable.

How To Stream NetFlix From Android Phone To TV Without WiFi

How To Stream NetFlix From Android Phone To TV Without WiFi

Android devices can connect directly to the TV using an HDMI cable and display the content being played on the mobile device on the TV. The cable used in the connection depends upon the mobile input port.  Since most newer Android phones have Type C or Type D ports, they will require an HDMI cable with a USB-C or a Micro HDMI port. 

Once you have the HDMI cable, follow the steps to mirror your Android phone to your TV.

Step 1: Plugin the USB-C or the Micro HDMI end of the HDMI adaptor to your Android Phone.

Step 2: Plugin the other end of the HDMI cable into the HDMI port of your Smart TV

Step 4: Set your TV on HDMI mode.

Step 5: Launch the NetFlix app on your Android phone and play the desired content.

Once you are done with the above process, you will be able to duplicate your Android phone screen on your TV. However, you may notice a difference in how streamed and downloaded titles will display on the TV screen. It is noteworthy that you cannot charge your phone if the HDMI cable is connected, so ensure charging it before the connection is made to avoid any hiccups.

How to Mirror Netflix from iPhone to TV Without WiFi?

How to mirror Netflix from iPhone to TV without WiFi?

If your Smart TV is not connected to the WiFi, you may be disappointed for not being able to connect NetFlix from your Apple device screen to the TV. However, you can do it using an HDMI cable. To carry out this process, you would require a lighting-to-HDMI adapter. More information on the lighting-to-HDMI adapters is available on Apple’s support site.  A lightning-to-HDMI adapter enables you to connect your iOS or Mac device directly to your TV, so you no longer have to worry about how to connect NetFlix to your iPhone to your TV without WiFi. I have discussed the process earlier in my article about using AirPlay on LG Smart TV. 

Follow the given steps to connect NetFlix from your iPhone to your TV.

Step 1: Plugin the lightning end of the lightning to HDMI adaptor to your iOS or Mac device.

Step 2: Connect the other end of the adapter to your HDMI cable.

Step 3: Plugin the HDMI cable into the HDMI port of your Smart TV

Step 4: Set your TV on HDMI mode.

Step 5: Launch the NetFlix app on your iPhone and play the desired content.

Once you have connected your iPhone to your TV using an HDMI cable, whatever you play on the NetFlix on your Apple device will duplicate on your TV screen. However, you may notice a difference in how streamed and downloaded titles display on the TV screen.

Troubleshoots If NetFlix Won’t Connect From TV to Phone

If you are looking for how to play Netflix from your phone to TV but cannot make a successful connection, you may try the following troubleshooting steps to fix the issue for you. 

Restart Your Wi-Fi

You can restart your WiFi by unplugging the router from the power and plugging in after 1-2 minutes. This step will fix any minor issues with your WiFi and start your internet connection afresh.

Power Cycle Your TV

Power cycle your TV by turning it off from the power button and unplugging it from the wall outlet. Restart your device after waiting for about 1 minute. This step will force stop an unresponsive application or system on the TV.

Power Cycle Your Phone

Power cycling your phone does the same to your phone that power cycling the TV does to the TV. Simply turn off your phone from the power button and turn it on after 1-2 minutes.

Soft Reset The Chromecast Device

If your TV has an external Chromecast dongle connected to it, soft-reset it by disconnecting the dongle from the TV and reinserting it after 1-2 minutes.

Clear The NetFlix App Caches

Clear the catches from the NetFlix application on your phone and on the TV. You can find the options in the Applications Settings section of your devices.

Reinstall The NetFlix App

Go to the NetFlix app icon on your TV and phone and select uninstall on both. This step will uninstall the application from your devices. Once done, reinstall the applications on both the devices, sign in, and try making the connection.

FAQs

Q1. I read some articles about using AirPlay to mirror the iPhone Screen to play the NetFlix on TV, but I cannot do so. How to mirror Netflix from iPhone to TV using AirPlay?

Answer – NetFlix earlier allowed mirroring the iPhone screen on TV using the AirPlay feature. However, the feature is now unavailable, and you can no longer use AirPlay to mirror your Apple screen to your TV. NetFlix has clearly mentioned on their website that Airplay is no longer supported for use with Netflix due to technical limitations.

Q2. Can I watch NetFlix on my TV from my phone if my TV is not connected to the WiFi?

Answer – You can mirror your phone to your TV using an HDMI cable. If you are an iPhone user, you will need a lightning-to-HDMI adapter to carry out the process. The steps for the same are mentioned in the article.

Q3. If my TV does not have the built-in Chromecast, can I still connect NetFlix from my phone to the TV?

Answer – If your TV does not have the built-in Chromecast, you can either use a Chromecast dongle or use the NetFlix 2nd screen to connect NetFlix from your phone to the TV.

Conclusion

Watching NetFlix on your mobile phone while snuggling in your blanket may sound comfortable, but watching NetFlix on your TV screen is life-changing. Apart from being a great experience, NetFlix on the big screen also helps you relieve your eyes of the stress of looking at the mobile screen. I hope the article must have helped you learn how to connect NetFlix to TV from your phone. The steps given in the article are tested by me and help provide a successful connection in most cases. 

If you have more questions about how to connect NetFlix from phone to TV, write to me in the comment section.

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