How to Mirror Full Android Screen onto a PC or TV: Best Screen Mirroring Apps and Methods
Smartphone screens seem to be getting bigger by the year, but nothing beats media on the big screen, and it definitely makes using your phone a much cooler experience. We've already covered how you can connect your Android phone to your TV in order to send/stream files and do basic casting. In the following guide, we'll show you how to mirror your Android's exact screen onto any external display, TV, projector, or PC in real-time.
Most devices running Android 4 and above should have native screen casting capabilities, but some devices are more suited for screen mirroring than others. Google has released a list of devices that have been optimized for screen casting. With that said, even if you don't have an “optimal” device, you should still be able to mirror your screen using at least one of the methods or apps listed below:
What You'll Need
1. First you'll need a device that's capable of receiving the incoming screen mirroring signal from your Android device. This would include one of the following:
A PC with Wi-Fi connectivity. Some apps can be used to mirror your screen to the PC, which can then be connected to a larger external monitor or TV via an HDMI cable.
OR
A media streaming device like Chromecast, Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Nexus Player, Apple TV, etc. These WiFi-capable adapters can be connected to a TV, monitor, or projector via the HDMI port.
OR
A Smart TV with built-in WiFi connectivity and Miracast capabilities. If your TV is not a Smart TV and is not equipped with the Miracast wireless display standard, you can use an adapter like the Push2TV to make it Miracast-enabled, or just go with one of the mother methods.
OR
An Xbox 360 or Xbox One along with a Miracast-equipped mobile device.
OR
Any DLNA device that connect to your TV or monitor via HDMI. There are too many media streaming devices to name, and there are even generic options on Amazon as well.
2. A device running Android 4 or later with the Google Play Store installed.
Now that you're equipped, here's a handpicked list of the most efficient and enjoyable ways to mirror your Android screen. Keep in mind there are literally dozens of different ways to do this, but these are the basic and most common methods:
1. Miracast Wireless Display Feature
Miracast is a built-in technology that is included in many TVs, monitors, smartphones, and other devices. If your TV isn't already equipped with Miracast, you can simply attach a Miracast adapter/dongle like the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter or Netgear Push2TV to add this capability. It uses Wi-Fi Direct to create a direct connection between the devices without having to go through a router.
Unfortunately, Google discontinued native Miracast support in devices shipped with Android 6 (Marshmallow) and up – probably to encourage Android users to use Chromecast instead. Even so, this is still the most convenient option for phones that came pre-loaded with KitKat and Lollipop, as those devices still include the wireless display option within their Settings menus. However, there is a workaround for bringing back the wireless display feature in Android 6 Marshmallow, so that may be worthy a try, particularly if you're using a Nexus 6.
The primary advantage of using this method is that you don't need an internet connection or a media streaming adapter like Chromecast to mirror the screen of your Android wirelessly – just your phone and a Miracast-enabled TV.
Guide on Using Miracast to Mirror your Android's Screen:
2. Using Chromecast with Google Home
If you're willing to buy a Chromecast or you already have one, then using the Google Home app to mirror your screen would probably be the easiest option. In fact, Google has created a guide on using Google Home to cast to Chromecast, so it would be best to follow the instructions found there. Or you can watch the video below to see how it's done since there are really only a few steps once you've installed the Google Home app:
Screen Casting to Chromecast with Google Home:
3. Using MirrorGo or a Similar App to Mirror to PC
Since most people already have access to a PC, this would be the most commonly ideal option that doesn't require you to buy any additional hardware. Plus, if your PC has an HDMI port and you have a large monitor or TV that also has an HDMI connection, you can easily connect your PC to the external display for mirroring to the big screen. It's also very straightforward – just install the MirrorGo Android Recorder desktop client on your PC and then install the MirrorGo app on your Android device. Once that's done you can follow the app's simple instructions to mirror your Android's screen onto the PC's external display via WiFi or USB. Several other apps on this list use the same technology to mirror onto a PC, so you may want to compare them (see sections 6 and 7) before deciding on MirrorGo.
Note: The first time you run MirrorGo you will need to connect your phone to your PC via USB and enable USB debugging. Here's a detailed video on how to get it up and running:
Using MirrorGo to Mirror onto PC Screen:
4. Using LocalCast to Mirror to Chromecast, Roku, AppleTV, and Other Devices
The benefit of using the LocalCast app is that it can work with just about any streaming device. Whether you have a Roku, AppleTV, Chromecast, Nexus Player, Smart TV, XBOX One, XBOX 360, PC, and any other device that utilize DLNA communication standards. Furthermore, it provides the ability to zoom, rotate, and pan the phone's screen while mirroring. It also supports the use of wireless headphones and is capable of interfacing with KODI media center to bring your Android's content into your TV's media library and vice versa. The LocalCast app boasts more than 5 million users and is said to be the #1 casting solution on Android so it's definitely worth checking out.
Using LocalCast with Chromecast:
5. Screen Mirroring with the Xbox One and Xbox 360
If you have a device that came pre-loaded with Android 4.2 (KitKat) or Android 5 (Lollipop) then it should natively support Miracast screen mirroring, which means you should be able to directly cast to the Xbox One and Xbox 360. Even if you don't have Miracast capabilities, you can still cast media like videos, photos, and music to your Xbox One or Xbox360 via third-party app like BubbleUnp. Here are a couple of videos showing you how to mirror your android screen onto an Xbox One and Xbox 360:
Android to Xbox One or XBOX360 Screen Mirroring with Microsoft's Wireless Display App:
Casting Media Content onto an XBOX 360 from Android without Miracast:
6. Mobizen Screen Mirroring
Mobizen is one of the most popular Android-to-PC screen mirroring option. Of course, you can connect your PC to an external monitor or TV via HDMI to mirror to the big screen if desired. After installing the Mobizen Screen Recorder app on your Android you can either install the desktop client or use their web app to access your device's screen on your PC. However, if you want the phone to be displayed in full screen mode you'll need to upgrade to the Pro version, which costs $3.99/month and allows for call/SMS notifications, recording the mirrored screen, on-screen drawing, adjustable transparency, and iOS Airplay mirroring. Adversely, Mobizen can also be used to control your PC from your Android screen, which we recently mentioned in our guide on sending/receiving SMS from your Android phone using your PC.
Video showing the Main Features of Mobizen Screen Mirroring:
7. Other Screen Mirroring Apps Worth Trying Out
Although you should be able to make mirroring work with one of the above methods, you may also want to try out some of the alternative apps listed below to find the one that best suits your preferences.
Share Your Screen Mirroring Method
If you have a favorite app or method that you didn't see on this list, feel free to share it in the comments section.
