How To Connect Android Phone To Non Smart TV? Complete Guide

Don’t know how to connect Android phone to non smart TV? The easiest way to screen mirror anything from your phone to your TV is via a dongle device.

In this post, we’ll describe exactly how it can be done and discuss all other alternatives to help you connect your Android phone to a non-smart TV.

To connect an Android phone to a non-smart TV, you can either use a dongle, such as Chromecast and Amazon Fire TV stick or use HDMI conversion. You could also explore your TV’s functions for potential screen mirroring features!

Let’s first check these 3 general ways of connecting your Android phone to a non-smart TV in some more detail.

How To Connect Android Phone To Non Smart TV?

Connecting a phone to an older TV that doesn’t support smart functions is really dependent on your equipment.

Some people prefer using various dongles, that have screen mirroring functions, meant for mobile devices in general.

We will first take a look at how to connect an Android phone to non-smart TV via TV dongles, such as Google Chromecast or Fire TV stick.

Connect Android Phone To Non-Smart TV Via Dongle

For this way of mirroring your Android phone’s screen, regardless of how old is your non-smart TV, it must be equipped with an HDMI connector.

Most of the mirroring dongles require both, sound and video transfer that an HDMI connection could offer.

Here are some of the dongles preferred by the community, that have the screen mirroring option and would work with a non-smart TV:

• Roku Streaming Stick+
• Chromecast & Google TV
• Apple TV 4K
• Manhattan T3-R
• Amazon Fire TV Cube/Amazon Fire TV Stick
• Nvidia Shield TV

If you have any of the following, then you will be able to screen mirror your Android phone to your TV, using the dongle’s services. Let’s learn how to do it in the steps down below.

Step #1 Prepare Your Configuration

This preparation step is where you set up your configuration for potential screen mirroring.

1. Connect the dongle to the HDMI on the back of your TV.
2. Hook the device to the power supply (if needed).
3. Turn on both, your TV and the dongle.
4. Enter the configuration menu.
5. Head over to the source menu and select the corresponding HDMI source

Note: A dongle can be supplied with power, either from a USB slot on the back of your TV or directly into a power outlet/strip/divider.

Step #2 Find Screen Mirroring Feature

The variety of dongles offers different menus and settings, to begin with.

You must navigate to that feature, which is generally located in the “Wireless” tab, in the dongle’s app.

Since screen mirroring is meant for wireless connection between your phone and TV, you should be able to find the feature in the according tab.

The Google Home, as well as Firestick, have their own platforms, that will wirelessly work with the dongle, connected to the back of your TV.

Once found the feature, proceed with the next step to get connected.

Step #3 Connect Your Android Phone

Chromecast for example has the screen mirroring feature located on the bottom of the “Device” page, labeled as “Cast My Screen”.

You will have to accept the prompt and your phone’s screen will be visible on your TV for as long as you want.

Same with Firestick, you must head to the “Device” settings and look for a button labeled as “Start Screen Mirroring”.

Accept the same way as you do with Chromecast and the screen mirroring should become active.

If you’re having trouble locating the mirror feature on your streaming dongle, you can always check online if it supports screencast and where to find it.

Connect Android Phone To Non-Smart TV Via HDMI

Except for your general dongle screen mirroring, there is another workaround to help you learn how to connect Android phone to non smart TV.

That is using an HDMI cable conversion, from a slot on your phone to the back HDMI slot of your TV.

The newest Android phones are charged using a USB Type-C cable, that you can use to convert to HDMI.

You will need a specific cable of course, which you can get from a tech store near you for ~15$.

Follow the steps down below to connect your Android phone to non-smart TV via an HDMI cable:

1. Grab the USB Type-C to HDMI cable and plug the first end to your android phone.
2. Connect the other end of the cable onto the back of your TV.
3. Head over to the source menu of your TV and select the HDMI port where your phone is connected.

This is one of those methods where you have to rely on the compatibility of your Android device.

Older units might not support similar HDMI functions but it is worth the try since you will get a clear view of your Android phone on the non-smart TV screen!

Connect Android Phone To Non-Smart TV Via Console

If a third-party dongle or direct HDMI connection did not cut it for you, there is one more way to connect your Android phone to a non-smart TV. You’re going to need a console.

Alert: In this example, we’ll use a PlayStation 4, but it can also be done with Xbox.

Follow the steps below to hook up your Android phone to a non-smart TV using a console:

1. Download the Plex application on your phone.
2. Search for Plex in the PS4/Xbox app store.
3. Login or register on both devices.
4. Open the app on your phone and press Grant Permission.
5. Go to the Setting > System.
6. Check Show camera roll media, Advertise server, and Network discovery.
7. Go to the PS4 home screen and you’ll see your smartphone on the top-right.
8. Stream content from your phone by selecting the folder and the Play.

Note: Remember that both your console and smartphone should be connected to the same WiFi, otherwise the Plex app would not be able to connect.

To connect your Android phone to a non-smart TV, you can either use a dongle or HDMI cable. To use a dongle, simply connect it to one of the HDMI slots on your TV and install the dongle app. Apply the screen mirroring function and start casting your phone.

To use a cable for screen mirroring, grab an HDMI that is conversed to USB Type-C and connect it to your phone.

Plug the other end to the TV and select the corresponding source in the TV menu. Lastly, you can stream content from your phone using a console such as PS4 or Xbox.

Read Next: Does A TV Use A Lot Of Electricity?

Bottom Line:

Now that you know how to connect Android phone to non smart TV, we hope you were able to cast your phone’s screen.

The mirroring from the phone is a feature that requires its equipment in order to be fulfilled and for most older TV models it might be impossible nowadays.

However, we hope that our post was helpful and if you’re having any other inquiries with the mirroring feature, don’t forget to check our blog.