How to cast phone on roku tv

Now playing: Watch this: Mirror your Android device to your TV with a Roku

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Looking for an easy way to share videos, music, or photos stored on your smartphone or computer to your TV? Do you also own a Roku? If so, you're in luck. The Roku 3 , Roku Streaming Stick , and now the brand new Roku 2 (2015 model) support screen mirroring. This allows Android and Windows users to easily mirror the content that's on their smartphone or PC to their TV. Here's what you need to know to set it up:

On your Roku

You must first enable screen mirroring on your Roku device. This can be done by clicking on Settings in the left navigation bar, followed by Screen Mirroring.

On Android

Before we jump right in, make sure your Android device is running version 4.4.2 or later. You can check this by going to Settings and clicking About. Your device must also be connected to the same network as your Roku. You can check the network your Roku is connected to in the network section of the settings menu.

To begin mirroring on a stock Android device, go to Settings, click Display, followed by Cast Screen. Then tap the Menu button in the top right corner of the screen and check the Enable Wireless Display box. Your Roku should now appear in the Cast Screen section.

If it doesn't show up, back out to the Settings and reopen Cast Screen. Once you see your Roku box or stick appear on the screen, simply tap on it to connect. Now whatever you see on your mobile device is exactly what will be displayed on your TV.

The method is slightly different on devices from Samsung, HTC, LG and other Android manufacturers. For example, on the Galaxy S5 you will find the Screen Mirroring option under the Connect and Share section of the settings menu. On other Android devices you should find a screen mirroring option in the Settings menu or Display subsetting, as long as the device is running Android 4.4.2 or higher.

Some Android apps such as Netflix, HBO Go and YouTube can also be projected to your screen, similar to how the Chromecast works. Simply tap the cast icon in the top right corner of compatible apps and select your Roku box or stick.

On Windows 8.1 devices

Roku's screen sharing feature is also compatible with Windows 8.1 tablets and computers. To set it up, head to Settings, click PC and Devices, followed by Devices,then Add Device. When your Roku appears on the drop-down menu, tap on it to connect.

On Windows Phone

Only select Windows Phone devices, such as the Nokia Lumia 1520 and HTC One M8 Windows Phone edition , support Miracast, the standard Roku uses for screen sharing. On a compatible device, head to Settings, scroll down to Project My Screen and select your Roku device to begin screen sharing.

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• When you cast to Roku, you're quickly queuing up content from your phone to play on your TV.
• First-time set-up for the process of casting to Roku requires a few steps.
• Casting plays content from supported channels and is not the same as screen mirroring.

You may already know of the conveniences of casting video from your phone to your TV using a Google Chromecast device.

But did you know you can also cast content to a Roku? Casting to a Roku is as simple as tapping an icon, once you set it up.

It may look like a long process, but it's really quite short.

Setting up your devices

Set-up is required the first time you use the cast feature on Roku. Rest assured, you won't need to repeat these steps each time you want to cast video from your mobile device.

1. Verify your mobile device and Roku are accessing the same network. Casting to Roku will only work if both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

2. Ensure the app you want to use is installed on your mobile device and on Roku. The Roku version of the app you want to use (example: Netflix) must be installed on Roku before you can cast to it.

How to cast content to Roku

Casting to Roku is a straightforward process. There are just a few more steps to go.

1. On your mobile device, open the app you want to use and choose the video you want to cast to your TV.

2. Tap the casting icon from inside the app.

3. Choose your Roku when prompted to select a device.

4. The appropriate Roku channel will launch automatically and playback will begin.

Tips and tricks

Casting is only available on supported Roku channels. You will know a Roku channel is supported when you see the casting icon next to a video on your mobile device. However, some mobile apps wait to display the casting icon until after playback has begun.

During casting, content playback can be controlled using the Roku remote or your mobile device. If you choose to control playback with the Roku remote, your mobile device is free to handle other tasks or use another app. You can even shut down your mobile device if you would like.

The difference between "casting" and "screen mirroring" on Roku

The term "casting" is sometimes used interchangeably with "screen mirroring." Casting and screen mirroring to Roku are not, in fact, the same feature. Casting on Roku is limited to supported channels and does not display your mobile device's screen on a TV.

Personal photos, videos, and music on your mobile device cannot be shared using the cast function. You'll instead need to use the Play On Roku option in the free Roku mobile app to listen and view this content to your TV.

Casting to Roku is a quick way to share video from your mobile device. While there are a few limitations, the feature can be handy and save you a few clicks on the Roku remote (no more onscreen keyboard "typing" one letter at a time). Casting will be quite a bit faster after the initial set-up process.  

Related coverage from Tech Reference:

• How to turn off any Roku device

• How to add channels to your Roku device in three ways

• 'Is Twitch on Roku?': No, not anymore — here's how to watch Twitch on your TV without using Roku

• How to factory reset a Roku device

• 'Can you clear the cache on a Roku?': No, but here's how to resolve playback issues

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