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How to Connect an Android Phone or Tablet to an External Display

Learn how to connect an Android phone or tablet to a TV, monitor or projector by checking wired video support or using Google Cast.

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First check whether your exact Android model supports wired video output. If it does, connect it to a TV, monitor or projector with a compatible USB-C-to-HDMI or USB-C-to-DisplayPort cable or adapter. If it does not—or you prefer a wireless connection—use Google Cast when your display or a connected receiver supports it. Depending on the device, the result may be screen mirroring, media playing from a supported app, or a separate desktop-style session.

Choose the connection that fits your device and display

Connection What you need What appears on the display Key limitation
Wired USB-C video A phone or tablet that supports video output, a compatible cable or adapter, and a matching display input. Mirroring or, on some supported devices, a separate desktop-style experience. A USB-C connector alone does not mean the device can send video. Check the exact model’s specifications or support instructions before buying an adapter. Google’s wired instructions, for example, cover Pixel 8 and later.
Wireless Google Cast A Cast-compatible display or receiver, Wi-Fi, and a Cast-enabled app or supported screen-casting feature. Supported app media, or the full screen on devices and routes that offer screen casting. App support and network settings affect whether the destination appears and what you can send.

Connect with a cable

  1. Check your exact model. Look up the phone or tablet’s official specifications or support page and confirm it supports wired display output. Do not assume that USB-C means video output is available. Google documents wired projection for Pixel 8 and later; that example does not establish compatibility for other Pixel models or Android devices.
  2. Match the cable or adapter to the display. For an HDMI TV or monitor, use a compatible USB-C-to-HDMI cable or adapter. For a DisplayPort display, use a compatible USB-C-to-DisplayPort route. The device and display must both support the connection; a connector that physically fits is not proof of compatibility.
  3. Connect the phone or tablet and display. Select the corresponding input on the display if needed, then follow the prompt on the Android device. On the documented Pixel flow, a dialog appears and you select “Mirror display.” Prompts and available options vary by model and software. See Google’s Pixel connection steps.

For Samsung DeX

Some supported Samsung Galaxy models offer DeX, a Samsung desktop-style experience. The Galaxy S23 series manual describes connecting to a TV or monitor with a USB Type-C-to-HDMI adapter and following the DeX instructions on the phone. That manual applies to the models it covers; check your particular Galaxy model’s documentation rather than assuming all Galaxy devices support DeX.

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Connect wirelessly with Google Cast

Google lists Chromecast, Google TV Streamer and TVs with Google Cast among compatible destinations. If your TV does not have Cast built in, a supported receiver connected to it can provide a Cast destination. Google’s casting instructions explain the supported setup.

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  1. Connect the Android phone or tablet and the Cast destination to the same Wi-Fi network.
  2. Open an app that supports Google Cast and tap its Cast button. The button’s location varies by app.
  3. Choose the TV or receiver from the list of available destinations.

This sends supported content from the app; it is not automatically the same as mirroring everything on the device. App and destination support determine what can be cast.

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Cast the full screen on a supported Pixel

Google documents this path for Pixel: open Settings → Connected devices → Connection preferences → Google Cast, choose an available device, then select whether to cast a single app or the entire screen. Menu names and availability can vary by device and software. Check Google’s Pixel instructions for the documented route.

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Understand the display mode before you start

  • Mirroring: The external display copies what is shown on the Android screen.
  • App casting: A supported app sends its media to a Cast destination. This does not necessarily show the entire phone screen.
  • Desktop-style use: Some devices can provide a separate session or windowing environment. Google says connected-display desktop windowing is not available on all devices; where supported, it can be used with a keyboard and trackpad and lets you arrange windows across displays. Samsung DeX is one manufacturer-specific example. Google’s connected-display guidance describes the experience and its availability caveat.

Troubleshoot a display that does not appear

For a wired connection

  • Recheck that the exact Android model supports wired video output; USB-C alone is not enough.
  • Confirm the cable or adapter matches the display input and is compatible with the device.
  • Make sure the TV or monitor is set to the input used by the cable, then follow any on-screen prompt on the Android device.

For Google Cast

  • Confirm the phone or tablet and Cast destination are on the same Wi-Fi network.
  • Check that the app supports Cast, or use the device’s documented screen-casting route if you need to project the whole screen.
  • Guest, hotel and public Wi-Fi may block device discovery when access-point or client isolation is enabled. Google identifies different Wi-Fi networks and isolation as causes of missing destinations or setup problems. See Google’s network troubleshooting guidance.
  • If playback stutters or quality is poor, Google advises checking the distance between devices and the Wi-Fi channel. Google’s troubleshooting steps cover these checks.

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