How Does Screen Mirroring From iPhone, iPad, Mac or Android To TV Work? (2024)

Have you ever wondered what screen mirroring actually is and how does it work? Our experts at AirBeamTV come to the rescue!

Screen mirroring, also known as screen casting or screen sharing, is a remarkable technology that wirelessly duplicates the display of your portable device, such as an iPhone or an Android smartphone onto a bigger screen. With it, you can effortlessly enjoy photos, videos, apps and more on a large TV screen!

But how exactly does screen mirroring work? And how can it revolutionize your home entertainment? Read on and find out! Want to learn about screen mirroring yourself? Try out AirBeamTV apps for free today! We have apps for, Android devices as well as MacBooks. What’s more, the apps are compatible with all Smart TV models such as Samsung, LG, Sony as well as many other popular Smart TV brands.

What Is Screen Mirroring?

Screen mirroring for iPhone, iPad or Mac, also called wireless screen mirroring, is a technology that lets you stream or cast videos, photos and apps to a Smart TV screen. This is an amazing option if you want to enjoy photos or videos from your phone on your TV with your whole family or friends without crowding around a tiny screen.

You can also use screen mirroring to scroll apps such as TikTok without straining your eyes. Or, how about watching Disney Plus on TV and catching up on your favorite series on the big screen? Maybe you’d like to comfortably watch Instagram Live or a Twitch stream on TV? It’s all possible thanks to screen mirroring!

In order to use screen mirroring, you will need a receiver device (a TV) and a sender device (a smartphone, a tablet or a laptop).

Once you have that, you can either commence screen mirroring using an app such as AirBeamTV, or use an HDMI cord with an adapter. The first option requires no extra hardware, all you need to do is download a free-to-try app and set it up in less than a minute. It also works on WiFi so it’s not limited by cable length, but by signal strength!

How Does Screen Mirroring Work Technically?

A senior AirBeamTV developer explains screen mirroring like this:

Screen Mirroring Developer Quote:

1. The app detects TVs available in the local network. Using various detection protocols (different for various TVs).
2. The app provides a stream link (URL) and asks the selected TV to play it. Using various communication protocols (different for various TVs).
3. The TV starts playing the video stream from the given link (URL).
4. The app generates the video stream with the screen content and system audio in real-time.
5. The HTTP server embedded in the app serves the generated video stream data to the TV.

Simplified, for completely non-technical people:

1. The screen mirroring app asks the TV to play its video stream.
2. The app generates the video stream with the screen content and system audio.
3. The TV plays this stream.

How Does Screen Mirroring Work on iPhone?

You can screen mirror your iPhone to any TV really. It doesn’t matter which television brand or model you have.

When you want to show what is on your iPhone screen on a TV, you can use the AirBeamTV app to do so. The app works by mirroring your iPhone screen to a nearby television or monitor. This allows everyone in the room to see what is on your screen, making it ideal for presentations or watching media together.

In order to use the app, you simply need to connect your iPhone to the television or monitor, via WiFi or media-streamer (like Chromecast, Fire TV or Roku). Of all the media streamers on the market, our developers think Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K Max is the best.

For step-by-step instructions on how to screen mirror your iPhone to a Samsung TV, please follow our guide on How to Screen Mirror iPhone to Samsung TV.

In our experience, this device delivers the highest quality and least technical issues. In no time at all, you can turn any TV into a smart TV with this Firestick.

Once connected, you will be able to enjoy the AirBeamTV app and start sharing your screen. The app is available from the Apple App Store and has a free-trial.

Screen Mirroring Apps

Best Screen Mirroring App

By using AirBeamTV Screen Mirroring apps, you don’t need any unsafe cables or expensive hardware. Enjoy everything wirelessly. Easily watch all your favorite content on your big TV.

Also, we will never record your screen into files and we don’t send any content to a server. We only temporarily store data in the memory of your phone or computer before it is streamed to TV. Upon streaming, the content is removed from memory.

Tip: On the brand page of your Smart TV we explain in more detail how to install and use our app.

• Screen Mirror Apps for iPhone or iPad
• Screen Mirror Apps for Mac or MacBook

Will Screen mirroring Work Without WiFi?

Screen mirroring is a technology that allows you to share your screen with another device. In order to use screen mirroring,you need to have a Wi-Fi connection. Without it screen mirroring will not work. This is because the technology relies on wireless network to establish a connection between devices. So if you’re wondering whether you can use screen mirroring without WiFi, the answer is no – it does not work without it!

Do you have a Samsung TV that is not connecting to WiFi? Click the link and learn how to fix the issue.

In case you’re not sure how to connect Philips TV to WiFi, we have an easy-to-follow guide for that as well!

Does Screen Mirroring Use Bluetooth?

While bluetooth is a popular method for wireless connectivity, it is not used for screen mirroring. Instead, screen mirroring typically uses either WiFi or a wired connection. WiFi connections are typically faster and way more reliable than bluetooth, making them the preferred option for most users.

Is Screen Mirroring Safe?

Screen mirroring is a safe way to share your screen with another device. That being said, it’s perfectly understandable if you have concerns. Here’s what our senior developers have to say about it:

When you use this method, your device doesn’t have to be physically connected to the other device. All you need is a wireless connection and AirBeamTVs app. This means that you can share your screen with anyone, anywhere.

Plus, there’s no risk of losing any data. When you use screen mirroring, your data is securely stored on your device. The copy of your screen that is beamed to your TV is immediately deleted once it hits the big screen. AirBeamTV does not store your data!

Can Screen Mirroring Be Hacked?

The senior developer of AirBeamTV answers this question as follow:

In theory everything can be hacked. But feels unlikely for a few reasons:

• Hacking is difficult and very time consuming. But, why would someone hack you to see your content…?
• Screen mirroring happens inside your local network. Unless your modem is explicitly configured to allow connections from outside, your local network is not reachable from outside. Even if it is configured, it’s probably very limiting, doesn’t allow access to any devices on your local network.

First of all, the way screen mirroring works is it can only pair devices connected to the same wireless network. For example, in an AirBeamTV app, you can only see Smart TVs connected to the same WiFi your Mac or iPhone is using. A hacker would have to use it as well, which means they would have to sit outside your window, tapping away at their computer, trying to get in on your movie night. Maybe easier to just ask for an invitation next time?

Second of all, they would have to pretend that the device they’re hacking with is a TV. The way AirBeamTV’s apps are set up is that they can only connect to Smart TVs. Even in case of our Mirror Phone To Mac app that mirrors iPhone screen onto Mac, you need a special app-generated code. Learn more about MacBooks from our ultimate macOS guide!

Hacking devices while screen mirroring is extremely hard and low-reward. That being said, it’s still a good practice to not do any sensitive activities, such as finalising transactions while you’re screen mirroring. Also, if you don’t already have one – get yourself a password for your WiFi!

Why Screen Mirroring Lags?

Our apps generate a video stream with your screen’s content. It sends this stream to a TV and asks to play. Every TV plays it in its own way, which is unfortunately outside of our control. Most TVs buffer the stream to play it smoothly. This TV buffering introduces a delay on the TV screen.

Is Airplay The Same As Screen Mirroring?

AirPlay mirrors the device screen with a very low latency. This is great if latency is important for you. E.g. if you are doing something interactive, such as gaming. However, it can also turn out to be a problem, especially if you are watching a movie. Due to the low latency, you are likely to experience many video interruptions with AirPlay. Especially if your Wi-Fi network is not very strong.

One of the common WiFi problems is poor signal. Prevent this by using a WiFi repeater. In our opinion, this WiFi extender Booster from NetFun is currently the best choice out there. When we first tested this device, we immediately experienced a faster internet connection, which accelerated our daily work.

AirBeamTV apps are playing the video stream with a higher latency, which allows to absorb many network issues, and keep playing the video smoothly. This often provides a better movie watching experience than AirPlay screen mirroring.

Where is Screen Mirroring on Android?

There are several ways to mirror Android to TV. AirBeamTV offers the best screen mirroring experience for Android devices. With AirBeamTV, you can watch movies, TV shows, and play games on your big screen, without ever having to worry about wires or cables.

AirBeamTV uses the latest in wireless technology to ensure that your screen is always clear and sharp. In addition, AirBeamTV offers a variety of features that make it easy to use, including the ability to mirror your screen in portrait or landscape mode.

Best of all, AirBeamTV offers a free-trial on the Google Play Store where it’s available for all Android phones & tablets. So if you’re looking for the best screen mirroring experience for your Android device, be sure to check out AirBeamTV.

What is Screen Mirroring Called on Samsung?

Smart View is the screen mirroring feature on Samsung devices that allows you to share your screen with a compatible TV or streaming device. You can use Smart View to share your phone or tablet’s screen with your TV, and you can also use it to control your TV using your device’s touchscreen. Smart View is a great way to share photos, videos, and other content with your family and friends.

Here’s how to use Smart View:

1. Connect your Samsung device to the same Wi-Fi network as your compatible TV or streaming device.
2. Open the Smart View app on your device and select your TV from the list of available devices.
3. Once you’re connected, you’ll be able to see your device’s screen on your TV.

You can then use your device’s touchscreen to control your TV, or you can use the Smart View app to cast content from supported apps like Netflix and YouTube.

What Are Screen Mirroring Benefits?

• Enjoy videos, photos, presentations, apps and other content on the big screen.
• Wireless (when using screen mirroring apps).
• Prevents eyestrain.
• Increase productivity.
• Engage colleagues.
• Safe
• Control the content you share with a simple tap on your phone.
• Screen mirroring apps have the latest technology and are future-ready.

How much latency is typically experienced during screen mirroring, and does this affect the usability for real-time applications like gaming?

Typically, a minimal amount of latency can be experienced, which might affect real-time applications such as gaming or live presentations. However, advancements in technology have led to significant improvements. It is generally found that for most content viewing, such as movies or slideshows, the latency is barely noticeable. Users interested in gaming or using real-time interactive apps should check the specifications and performance capabilities of their mirroring solution to ensure it meets their needs.

Does using screen mirroring significantly increase the power consumption of the iPhone or iPad, leading to faster battery depletion?

Regarding power consumption, it is acknowledged that screen mirroring can lead to an increase in the battery usage of iPhones or iPads. The extent of power consumption varies based on several factors, including the duration of mirroring and the type of content being mirrored. It is advisable for users to keep their devices plugged into a power source during extended mirroring sessions to avoid battery depletion. This practice ensures that the enjoyment or work is not interrupted by power issues.

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