Connect phone to TV
How to Connect Your Phone to a TV Without Wi-Fi
To connect a phone to a TV without Wi-Fi, the most reliable way is a USB-C to HDMI cable: it mirrors your screen with sound and no lag, and needs no router or internet, but your phone must support DisplayPort Alt Mode. Without a cable, many smart TVs accept Miracast screen mirroring over Wi-Fi Direct, which links phone and TV directly with no router. You can also run a Chromecast from your phone's hotspot, or play files from a USB stick.
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Hotels, offices, a holiday rental, a relative's house with no internet: plenty of places have a TV and no usable Wi-Fi. "Without Wi-Fi" can mean two different things, though. Sometimes there's no internet at all; sometimes there's a network you can't join or that blocks devices from seeing each other. The good news is that showing your phone on a TV doesn't need the internet. Here are the four real ways to connect your phone to a TV without Wi-Fi, from most to least dependable.
Option 1: A USB-C to HDMI cable (most reliable)
A cable is the simplest way to connect a phone to a TV without Wi-Fi, because it needs no network of any kind. Plug a USB-C to HDMI cable or adapter into your phone and the TV's HDMI port, pick that input on the TV, and your screen appears with sound through the TV, typically at 1080p or 4K, with no lag.
The catch is hardware. The phone has to support DisplayPort Alt Mode, video out over USB-C. Galaxy S8 and newer S models, Note 8 and newer, Z Fold, the Galaxy A90 5G, Pixel 8 and newer (on Android 16), Xperia 1 and 5, ROG Phones and several Motorola Edge models do. Most Galaxy A phones, the Z Flip, Pixel 7 and older, Redmi, POCO, OnePlus and budget phones don't. See the full list of phones that support HDMI output.
- Check your phone. Look it up in the list above, or open the USB-C to HDMI app, which gives a verdict for your model before you buy a cable.
- Plug the cable in. HDMI end into the TV, USB-C end into the phone. Unlock the phone.
- Select the HDMI input. Press Input or Source on the TV remote and choose the port you used.
- Add power for long sessions. If your adapter has a USB-C PD port, connect your charger to it so the phone stays charged.
The full walkthrough is in how to connect your phone to a TV with USB. Mirroring over a cable like this is often called wired cast.
Option 2: Mirror your phone to the TV without Wi-Fi using Miracast
Many smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Hisense, Roku TVs, Fire TV and others) support Miracast, the standard behind Android's built-in Screen mirroring or Samsung's Smart View. Miracast uses Wi-Fi Direct: the phone and TV create their own link, so on many TVs you don't need a router or internet. Your phone's Wi-Fi radio has to be on, but it doesn't have to be connected to any network.
To try it, turn on screen mirroring on the TV (sometimes called Screen Share, Screen Mirroring or Miracast in the input menu), then open Screen mirroring or Smart View in your phone's quick settings and pick the TV.
The honest downsides: support varies. Some phones have removed or hidden Miracast, Google TV and Android TV devices often don't accept it, and some TVs only mirror when both devices share a network. Expect a little lag and lower picture quality than a cable, and it may drop if there's a lot of radio interference.
Option 3: Cast to the TV without Wi-Fi using your phone's hotspot
Casting to a Chromecast or Google TV needs both devices on the same network, but that network can be your phone's hotspot. This is the usual answer for "cast to TV without Wi-Fi" when you carry your own Chromecast.
- Turn on the hotspot on your phone.
- Connect the Chromecast or Google TV to that hotspot (set it up once from another phone or the TV's network settings).
- Cast from apps on the phone as usual.
Two things to know. Some phones won't cast to a device connected to their own hotspot, so a second phone running the hotspot is more dependable. And streaming apps like YouTube pull the video from the internet, so that uses your mobile data. Photos and videos stored on your phone don't need internet to cast, though; the USB-C to HDMI app can cast your local photos and videos to Chromecast or Google TV, DLNA smart TVs and TV browsers over whatever local network they share.
Option 4: Play files from USB storage
If what you want is to watch a downloaded movie or show photos, you may not need mirroring at all. Copy the files to a USB stick and plug it into the TV, which opens them in its built-in media player. Some TVs can also browse a phone plugged in with its charging cable once you choose File transfer on the phone. It works on almost any TV, but it only plays files: no apps, no live screen.
Which way to connect phone to TV without Wi-Fi?
| Method | Needs | Mirrors full screen? | Quality / lag | Main catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USB-C to HDMI cable | Phone with DP Alt Mode, cable | Yes | Best, no lag | Many phones lack video out |
| Miracast / Wi-Fi Direct | TV and phone that both support Miracast | Yes | Good, some lag | Support varies by phone and TV |
| Hotspot + Chromecast | Chromecast or Google TV, hotspot | Casting; mirroring possible | Good for video apps | Streaming apps use mobile data |
| USB stick | TV with USB port | No, files only | Full file quality | No apps, no live screen |
Tip: Traveling? Pack a USB-C to HDMI adapter with a PD port if your phone supports it. Hotel and office networks often block casting between devices, and a cable doesn't care.
Mirror phone to TV without Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
Can you connect your phone to the TV without Wi-Fi and without Bluetooth? Yes, with a cable. Bluetooth isn't used for video at all, so you can leave it off. Without Wi-Fi and without a cable, there's no way to mirror a screen: Miracast still uses the Wi-Fi radio, just without a router. If you want to avoid wireless entirely, a USB-C to HDMI cable is the only option, and only on phones with DP Alt Mode.
Black screen in streaming apps? Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+ may block or black out video when mirrored or sent over HDMI on some phones, because of copy protection. A different method or cable won't change that app's choice.
Questions people ask
How can I connect my phone to my TV without Wi-Fi?
Use a USB-C to HDMI cable if your phone supports DisplayPort Alt Mode. Otherwise try Miracast screen mirroring, which works without a router on many TVs, or a Chromecast on your phone's hotspot.
Can I cast to my TV without Wi-Fi?
Chromecast-style casting needs a shared network, but your phone's hotspot can be that network. Local photos and videos then cast without internet; streaming apps use mobile data.
Can I mirror my phone to my TV without internet?
Yes. Screen mirroring never needs internet. A cable needs nothing at all, and Miracast connects phone and TV directly over Wi-Fi Direct on many models.
How do I connect my phone to my TV without Wi-Fi or Bluetooth?
Use a USB-C to HDMI cable, which needs no wireless at all. It works only on phones with video out over USB-C. Otherwise, copy files to a USB stick and play them on the TV.
Does a USB-C to HDMI cable need Wi-Fi?
No. The video goes straight through the cable, so it works anywhere there's a TV with an HDMI port.