Connecting your Phone and Projector

Whether you are a business professional, movie fan, teacher, or student, you would have to connect your phone to the projector on numerous occasions. Since there are multiple ways of connecting, this article will throw ample light on them.

You can connect your mobile phone (iPhone or Android) to a projector via wires and adapters such as USB-C, MHL to VGA, HDMI to HDMI, USB-C to HDMI, and, USB-C to USB-C. When it comes to wireless methods, they include Wi-Fi Direct, Chromecast, Miracast, and Apple Airplay. Although there are different types of projectors, it should not affect your phone’s ability to connect to the former. In this article, we will discuss all wireless methods as well as wired connectivity methods which include adapters, cables, and ports. More than that, you will also find here how you can connect to your old projector that lacks modern features. Let’s find out how to connect phone to projector.

Wired Methods of Connecting

First thing first, you must check the model of your projector and determine what features it does have that allow it to connect to the phone. The easiest way to do this is by consulting its user manual. There will be two ways of connecting it to the phone. They can either be wireless or by cables. Moreover, both these options have further sub-options of connecting to the phone depending on what features your projector comes with and your mobile phone.

In the current digital world, a wireless connection is the easiest and simplest way of connection. This does away with the need for wires that most people would want to wish away if they have an alternative. However, if luck stops favoring you and you don’t have a wireless option, your only resort then is a wired connection. Furthermore, cables are more reliable as compared to the wireless connection. In this section, we will outline cabling methods that you can choose when you don’t have wireless options.

What you must keep in mind is that these wireless and wired methods are for Android phones not for your Apple mobile products. Let’s begin.

1: HDMI (MHL)

Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) is a connection of specially designed HDMI cables. As we would discuss later, modern smartphones use USB-C ports. And MHL cables use MicroUSB. One more thing that is an additional feature of the MHL is that you can charge your phone in addition to being mirrored on the display of your projector. However, you must bear in mind that generally, projectors come with HDMI ports. And your device must feature an HDMI connection that also supports MHL. Therefore, if your projector lacks an MHL-enabled HDMI port, you cannot connect your smartphone with your projector. Besides that, your phone must also support MHL.

Due to this, you should use this option once all your alternatives are not available. This process may seem a bit difficult, you just need a correct adapter and cable.

2: USB-C to USB-C

If your projector does have a USB-C port, it will be an ideal scenario because this is the easiest way of connecting your phone to your projector except for wireless technology. It also facilitates charging. Not only can you charge your smartphone with it, but it also mirrors your device on the screen. What you need to do for this is to buy a USB-C to USB-C wire and slot it into your projector and then phone. After this, straight away you will be promoted to display mirroring options.

3: USB-C to HDMI

The majority of new phones come standardly with a USB-C port. You may be thinking that this port is for charging purposes. However, this is not the case because you can use a universally inexpensive USB-C to HDMI cable to this port to connect your projector and smartphone. However, what you should keep in mind is that you cannot charge your phone and connect to the projector simultaneously. The lack of power that runs through the cable makes this impossible. And if you want to charge your phone while it is still connected to your projector, then USB-C to MHL or USB-C option is available.

Besides that, not all gadgets that have a USB-C port support the display function. Some of them may only charge your phone. So you should remember these things when you go shopping for adapters and cables.

4: HDMI to HDMI

Although this type of connection is not very common in smartphones, you can find devices that have micro and mini HDMI ports. More often, tablets come with this type of connection. As far as projectors are concerned, they feature a typical Type-A HDMI port and multiple HDMI ports. Acquire the correct cable if your phone features a micro or mini HDMI port.

5: USB vs. HDMI

The majority of people may be unaware of the fact that you can transmit audio and videos with USB 3.0 which makes it very similar to HDMI. The latest smartphones come with USB-C ports which is a furtherance of USB 3.0 because it does support USB 3.1, and 3.2. Furthermore, the USB-C ports are reversible and small which means you can plug them in any way. They can transmit data very fast up to 10 Gbps and relay power. You can imagine this can be beneficial in several ways. Among these benefits, connecting your phone to the projector is the most important.

6: USB-C to VGA (older projectors)

If your projector is not new and does not have USB-C or HDMI, it most probably will have a VGA port. This was the standard display port that all digital video devices supported. For getting this configuration, what you need is to buy a USB-C to VGA adapter. In addition to this, you should have a VGA to VGA cable which most people have. After this, you just have to connect the cable and adapter to your projector and smartphone. If applicable, you, then, must switch the corresponding VGA display port. On top of that, these USB-C to VGA adapters supports Apple products too.

Wirelessly Connecting your Phone to your Projector

The above section is dedicated to wired methods of establishing a connection between your projector and smartphone. Let’s now cover wireless ways in which you can achieve the same effect. Generally speaking, there are three primary ways of considering when it comes to wireless connections. Along with that, there is an additional method for those users that have a Samsung phone.

1: Chromecast Adapter

All Android devices now feature the Chromecast function. Some smart Android TVs have Chromecast built-in, but projectors lack this feature. Therefore, you have to buy a Chromecast adapter. Chromecast adapters utilize an HDMI connection, which is ideal for the latest models of projectors. However, if your device does not support HDCP or HDMI, buy an additional adapter. It works in the same way as you are connecting your Chromecast to your television. After plugging it into the HDMI port of your projector, you must set it up via your mobile phone.

Besides buying a Chromecast device, you can also connect it to any display device such as TVs, and monitors. Now you can enjoy your favorite movies and TV shows on your home projector. 500 dollars’ worth projector is best for you if you want to buy it for movies at home.

2: Miracast

Through Miracast, you can transmit content and data from one phone to another projector or display. It is similar to Wi-Fi Direct and Android came to its support officially. But, this announcement remained until the release of Android 6 Marshmellow. However, Android still works on some Android devices and mobile phones. Therefore, it is easy and simple to use with your phone and third-party apps.

Third-Party Apps

For using the Miracast technology, you need to get an app that supports Miracast like Castto. You can install this app on the Google play store for free. In addition to this, you can also any other app that uses this technology. After installing the app, open it and follow the prompts in order to mirror your phone display on your projector. However, bear in mind that newer devices may not support it because Android does not officially support it anymore. If you are unable to connect with this method, Wi-Fi direct method is something you should try.

3: Wi-Fi Direct

Wi-Fi direct is undoubtedly the primary method of connecting your smartphone with your projector. To make things easier for you, you can use it without installing any third-party apps. In order to use this method, your projector must support Wi-Fi direct. Therefore, you must consult your projector’s manual guide to confirm if your device has this option. If your projector has this option, go to switch or settings that says “device/screen mirroring,” and switch to that setting.

As far as the Wi-Fi connection of your smartphone is concerned, it can be slightly different based on the model you have. A generalized procedure to connect your smartphone to your projector has been outlined below.

• Swipe down the setting from the top of your phone
• Go to the Settings menu
• Search for Internet and Network or Connections
• Click on the Wi-Fi menu
• Enable your Wi-Fi connection
• Access Wi-Fi Preferences or Advanced Options
• Click on the Wi-Fi Direct prompt

After this, your phone will look for available Wi-Fi devices. Upon finding your projectors on the list of available devices, click on the option of connect. Now you have successfully connected to your projector with your smartphone through Wi-Fi.

Samsung Specific (Smart View)

This method is specific to those persons who own newer Samsung smartphones. Newer phones by Samsung come with a feature that they call “Smart View.” It works in the same way as Chromecast, Miracast, and Wi-Fi Direct. Once you have enabled it, it will search for nearby Chromecast devices, and screen mirroring devices.

Make sure that you have correctly switched over your projector to the display mirroring option. Enable Smart View after swiping down on your Samsung device or phone. Follow any additional prompts and instructions if there are any.

Connecting an iPhone with a Projector

The above methods are not for iPhone users. Therefore, we have separately outlined methods of connecting your iPhone with a projector. They are as follows:

1: Authorized Apple Cables

Apple comes up with very strict guidelines and policies when it comes to attaching third-party software or hardware to their products. So, they go further to make sure every method you use works fine. For establishing a connection to any device that supports HDMI, Apple recommends purchasing a Lightning to HDMI cable or adapter. After this, the process is very simple. Connect your adapter to your HDMI cable and phone to the adapter and the projector.

2: Wirelessly (Airplay)

Very much like Samsung’s Smart View, Apple comes with its own Airplay function. Since this function has been built into Ios, you don’t need to install additional apps. Make sure you have set your projector to display mirroring as was discussed above. And if your projector is unable to support mirroring, you need to buy a casting device.

Go to Settings and search for Wi-Fi on your Apple devices. Search for your casting devices among the list of available devices. Click on the name of your devices and key in a password if required. Then swipe up from the bottom of your iPhone after going back to the main screen. This will allow you to mirror your Apple device onto your projector. And if your projector supports mirroring, the Apple Airplay would pick up the former as a standalone device. You can now connect your Apple iPhone with your projector.