How to Cast Your Phone to a TV Without a Fire Stick or Chromecast

You don't need a Fire Stick, Chromecast, or Android TV box to watch NetflixKing on a bigger screen — if your TV and phone support screen mirroring, which most do by default, you can cast directly with no extra hardware. Here's how, across the most common setups.

Check if your TV already supports it

Most smart TVs sold in the last several years support Miracast or a manufacturer-specific equivalent (Samsung's Smart View, LG's Screen Share) — wireless display standards built into the TV itself, with no app or streaming box required on the TV side.

Method 1: Built-in Android screen mirroring

• Make sure your phone and TV are on the same Wi-Fi network — this is required for every method below.
• On your Android phone, open Settings and look for "Cast," "Screen Cast," "Smart View," or "Wireless Display" — the exact name varies by manufacturer, but nearly every Android phone has one of these.
• Select your TV from the list of available devices. Your TV may show a one-time permission prompt — accept it.
• Open NetflixKing on your phone as normal — whatever's on your phone screen now mirrors to the TV.

Method 2: Samsung Smart View

• Swipe down for Quick Settings and tap Smart View.
• Your phone scans for nearby Miracast-capable displays — select your TV when it appears.
• Accept the connection prompt on the TV.

What to expect from mirroring vs. a dedicated device

Screen mirroring sends your entire phone screen to the TV — including notifications, so consider enabling Do Not Disturb first. It also typically introduces slightly more input lag than a native app running directly on a TV box, which matters more for interactive apps than for passive video playback. For daily use, installing NetflixKing directly on a Fire Stick, Mi Box, or Android TV device gives a smoother, purpose-built experience — see our device comparison guide if you're considering that route instead.

If mirroring won't connect

• Double-check both devices are on the exact same Wi-Fi network — mirroring doesn't work across different networks or when one device is on mobile data.
• Some routers isolate devices from each other for security ("AP isolation" or "client isolation") — if mirroring consistently fails to find your TV, check this setting in your router's admin panel.
• Restart both the TV and phone's Wi-Fi if the TV isn't appearing in the device list at all.

A simple way to decide which approach fits you

If you're an occasional viewer who mainly watches on your phone, mirroring is free and requires nothing extra. If NetflixKing is becoming your main way of watching TV, a dedicated device removes the mirroring lag and the notification interruptions — worth the one-time cost of a box at that point.