How to connect Android phone to projector via HDMI cable? You need a USB-C to HDMI adapter to make it possible. The primary video connector of an Android phone is USB-C so in order to interface with an HDMI device an adapter is required.
Android smart devices, particularly Android phones, are amazing. They can practically do anything. They act like sci-fi handheld computers that serve as your personal Library of Alexandria as well as your music player, camera, videogame handheld console, and phone in one device.
The size is limiting, however. The screen can be quite inconvenient when viewing movies you’ve downloaded or movies you’re streaming via subscription services like Amazon Prime, YouTube, and Netflix.
How to Connect an Android Phone to a Projector via HDMI Cable
In regards to how to connect your Android phone to a projector via HDMI cable, it’s all about adapters. As any Android phone owner—whether it’s Samsung or Huawei—knows, a smartphone is too small to allow for an HDMI port.
You need to make do with either the USB-C or microUSB option then link it to an adapter cable or converter box in order to allow your projector to mirror your Android screen and (possibly) stream services like Netflix and Hulu unto its big screen.
Wired Connection for HDMI
A wired connection to an HDMI port with a smartphone that only accepts USB-C requires an adapter. You can also go with microUSB depending on your Android phone. Just use the right adapter cable in order to connect the phone directly to an HDMI cable and the projector’s HDMI port.
You can’t stick an HDMI connector directly on an Android phone but you can use a USB-C to HDMI adapter when push comes to shove. Another supported standard among Android phones is MHL, which can also connect to HDMI ports (more on this later).
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USB-C to HDMI Adapter
The latest Samsung phones and many of the newest Android models use USB-C in order to charge the phone up. This can double as a video connection as well. Get a USB-C to HDMI cable adapter in order to connect your phone directly to the HDMI port of your projector.
These adapters are available all over Amazon.com. It’s the most straightforward method of connection to. You don’t need to do anything aside from connect the Android phone’s USB-C port to the projector with the special cable.
Just don’t forget to set the projector to the correct HDMI input in order to read the correct media player (which in this case is the Android phone).
Watch out for the weakness of USB-C to HDMI adapters—they tend to lack power compared to a direct USB-C to USB connection. Wired methods like the MHL, on the other hand, can power up the device during connection.
Mobile High-Definition Link or MHL
The Mobile HD Link (MHL) uses HDMI cables specially designed for Android device to projector or HDTV integration. Older Android phones make use of this standard before USB-C became the universal standard for all mobile devices (even including Apple mobile devices as of late).
Unlike USB to HDMI connections that don’t allow you to power up or USB-C to USB-A connections that require you to pick between charging only, transferring files, transferring photos, or canceling the prompt, MHL cables allow powering your device while delivering digital audio and video.
The MHL to HDMI or microUSB cable is also available on Amazon. As long as your projector supports HDMI and your Android supports MHL, you’re good to go with the right cable. To connect to MHL, you only need the right cable.
No need for extra steps for setting everything up. Just switch the input to the right HDMi port in use on your projector and you should get a mirror or shared screen of your Android display soon enough.
How to Connect Android Phone to Projector Wirelessly via Chromecast
A Google Chromecast wireless connection is the easiest method to connect your projector to your Android phone. However, the projector should be “smart” or “advanced” enough to use the Google Chromecast device and app in the first place.
Alternatively, you should connect an Android TV box unto your projector to make it a smart device then connect to your Android phone via Chromecast. Then again, if you already have a TV box, why would you need the phone for your media-playing needs?
Connect Chromecast on Your HDMI Port
Just like with the Android TV box, just plug your Chromecast stick unto the HDMI port. This way, you can wirelessly streaming your Android device screen unto it. Chromecast will display the contents of your phone unto the projector.
Make sure your phone has the Chromecast app though. Also double-check if you’ve disabled power saver mode on your phone. This mode can reduce stream quality while it’s turned ojn.
Download Chromecast or the Google Home App
If you don’t already have the Google Home App or Chromecast App installed on your phone, just download and install it from the Google Play Store. Open the Google Home App then tap the “Accounts” tab on corner at the bottom-right.
After selecting from the app the “Accounts” tab, scroll down and tap the “Mirror Device” option. This is your screen-sharing or screen-duplication option for Android devices. It displays your Android phone screen on the big screen via projector.
Finishing Up
Tap “Cast Screen/Audio” then select Chromecast in order to connect to the phone. Tap “OK” even if you see a warning saying that your phone isn’t optimized for screencasting or mirroring. After the connection has been established, streaming should begin.
Fair warning though. HDCP content protection present in all HDMI connections, even wireless one via Chromecast, will still apply. This means that unless you can find the right app for your projector, it’s probably not possible to mirror-cast Netflix from your phone to your projector.
YouTube streaming and downloaded movies are all fair game though.
Expectation and Reality
When connecting your Android smartphone to a projector, it allows you to share your screen to an audience because you’re projecting it on a big screen. There are multiple ways to go about connecting your phone to a projector using HDMI.
If you lack a projector, you can connect the phone to an HDTV instead. Projectors are better for a big audience because of its big screen. The projection can start at 100 inches in size and it can only go bigger from there. They’re ideal for data presentations or media playback for this reason.
References:
- Ben Stockton, “How to Connect Your Android Device to a Projector“, HowtoGeek.com, October 17, 2019