Your phone and TV might live in different corners of your living room, but they’re a surprisingly powerful duo when you bring them together. Over the years, I’ve stumbled upon a handful of ways these two screens can really complement each other. Don’t just take my word for it, though; try a few out and see if I’m onto something.
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Use Your Phone as a Remote Control
TV remotes have a mysterious habit of disappearing right when you need them. But your phone is usually within arm’s reach, if not already in your hand. Most smart TVs come with a companion app that allows you to use your phone as a remote. For example, Samsung has SmartThings, LG uses ThinQ, and Android TVs work with the Google TV app.
The setup is easy: download your TV manufacturer’s official app, ensure your phone and TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, and follow the on-screen prompts to pair them. Once they’re linked, you’ll get the usual remote features, plus some sweet extras, such as voice search, a proper keyboard for typing (finally!), and quick access to your favorite streaming apps.
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Now, typing a full web address with a TV remote (without clicking left, then up, and then accidentally hitting “Delete”) will feel like a breath of fresh air.
4
Cast Photos and Video
If you’ve just returned from a trip and are itching to show off your best photos, but the thought of everyone huddled around your tiny phone screen just feels cramped, casting to the TV comes to the rescue.
As long as your phone and TV are riding the same Wi-Fi wave, it only takes a couple of taps to beam your photos or videos straight to the big screen. On Android and iOS, just hit the Cast icon in Google Photos (or any app that supports casting) and pick your TV from the list.
3
Mirror Your Screen
Casting is great, but if you want your TV to show exactly what’s happening on your phone screen, use screen mirroring. However, your smartphone and smart TV need to support screen mirroring. Depending on your phone brand, you’ll use features like Smart View (Samsung), Screen Mirroring (iPhone via AirPlay 2), and many other Android phones can do it through the Google Home app. These are a bit more flexible than simple casting, especially when the app you’re using doesn’t support direct casting.
With mirroring, anything you see on your phone, such as apps, games, maps, and even web pages, will be displayed on your TV. The use cases are endless, from giving a live presentation to playing mobile games or navigating a recipe app while cooking and keeping the instructions up on the TV screen.
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Control Playback for YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime
Here’s a sneaky-good feature I use almost every day: I can control YouTube and streaming apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video on my TV directly from my phone, even after the video has already started playing.
If both your phone and TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, open the YouTube app on your phone. Most of the time, a pop-up will appear asking if you want to connect. If it doesn’t, no worries, just tap the cast icon (usually in the top right corner) and pick your smart TV from the list. This basic casting flow works similarly on both Netflix and Prime Video: open the app, tap the Cast icon, and select your TV. You can scroll through titles, adjust playback, or skip episodes without interrupting what’s playing on the big screen.
1
Use Your Phone as a Gaming Controller
Your phone can double as a gaming controller for your TV, especially if you’re rocking an Android TV or a Samsung TV with Gaming Hub. On Android TV, apps like the Google TV app, Boosteroid Gamepad, or Remote Gamepad can turn your phone into a functional wireless controller. If you use a Samsung phone, you can take advantage of the SmartThings app, which includes a downloadable Virtual Gamepad (from the Play Store) that pairs seamlessly with Samsung TVs.
One standout option that skips all the Wi-Fi handshakes and setup rituals and gets you right into the action fast is AirConsole. It’s a multiplayer game platform where your phone becomes the controller.
All you need to do is fire up the AirConsole app or website on your TV, hit the START PLAYING NOW button, then do the same on your phone (Android | iOS). You’ll get an on-screen code to sync up, and you’ll be set to pick from a whole bunch of multiplayer games. Remember, you can play with your friends, so they can all connect their phones, too. It’s not exactly console-level precision, but for party games, trivia nights, or casual arcade fun, it’s more than enough.
If there’s a favorite way you use your phone and TV together that I didn’t cover, feel free to share in the comments—I’d love to hear about it! Otherwise, give one of these ideas a try. You might be surprised how quickly it becomes part of your everyday setup. And hey, next time the remote disappears, remember you have a backup plan.
