How to Stream to Roku From Your Phone
One of the main advantages of Roku streaming devices and TVs is that they support a wide range of apps and services, but you’re not limited to apps that can be installed directly through the streamer. You can also stream content to your Roku directly from your iPhone or Android device.
As long as your Roku and your phone are on the same Wi-Fi network, connecting is pretty easy. This means you can show off photos and videos on the big screen, and stream audio and video from apps that aren’t installed on your Roku (or that are signed in with a different user account).
How to Stream from Android to Roku
Android is Android, so the process for downloading content on Roku may vary between devices and depending on what manufacturer your phone was made by. Roku devices support the Chromecast standard to some extent, but compatibility may vary between smartphones and different streaming apps.
In many popular Android apps, including Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, and Spotify, you’ll see a Chromecast button somewhere in the playback window (it looks like a square with concentric arcs inside). Click on it and select your Roku from the pop-up menu, and the audio or video should continue on the large display while the playback controls remain on your phone.
However, this feature isn’t supported everywhere: for example, you can’t mirror your Pixel phone’s screen to Roku at the moment. If you swipe down from the top of the Pixel display with two fingers and select Cast , you’ll see the usual Chromecast and Google TV devices, but you won’t see your Roku listed.
For some reason, Samsung decided that its phones should be able to mirror their screens to Roku devices. Swipe down with two fingers from the top edge of the screen, then tap Smart View , and your Roku should appear in the list of available devices. Click on it to mirror the screen. This feature isn’t very fast for playing videos without some timing issues, but it works well for showing photos or other apps.
While Android devices can be frustratingly inconsistent, the platform usually has one or two third-party apps that you can turn to in a pinch. If you’re struggling to get what you want on your Roku, give Castify (it’s free, but you can pay to remove the ads). This should help you bring content from most audio and video applications to the big screen.
How to Stream from iPhone to Roku
As with macOS , if you want to connect your iPhone (or iPad) to Roku, Apple’s AirPlay standard is your best bet. Almost every streaming app supports this protocol, and you can also use it to mirror your iPhone’s screen and show pictures and videos from the Photos app.
However, you need to do some preparation. First of all, you’ll need to set up your Roku to accept AirPlay connections. From your Roku’s main Settings screen, select Apple AirPlay and HomeKit : The top option lets you simply turn AirPlay on or off, but you can also choose how easy it is to connect to other devices.
Tap Require Code and you can choose whether a PIN is required to connect just the first time or every time (this code will appear on the TV screen and will need to be entered on the iPhone). If you want even more protection against unauthorized iPhone connections, select “Use Passcode Instead” and set a custom password that you’ll need to use AirPlay on this Roku.
Once all of this is done, and as long as your iPhone is on the same Wi-Fi network as your Roku, you should be able to connect. To mirror your iPhone’s screen on a larger display, open Phone Control Center by swiping down from the top right, then tap the Screen Mirroring button (two boxes): You should see your Roku listed and you can tap the device. name to send iPhone screen to TV.
To stream audio and video, look for the AirPlay button in most iOS apps: it looks like an arrow pointing upward into concentric rings (audio) or a rectangle (video). Again, after your iPhone scans for compatible devices, you should see your Roku available as a choice. Playback stops on your iPhone and continues on Roku.