I connected my phone to my smart TV and this is wh...

Your smart TV can do a lot more than provide you with endless hours of scrolling through streaming services. Any smart TV, new or old, is essentially a computer, one that has a variety of ports. While these tend to be driven by the need to connect high-end soundbars or the latest gaming consoles, they also provide a chance to connect to plenty of other devices for less obvious reasons and uses.

One way to unlock hidden potential and hack your smart TV is through its USB and HDMI ports. And one of the devices you can connect to this way is your smartphone. Here’s why it might be useful for you to hook these two together.

Enjoy your personal catalog on the big screen

Apple / Pocket-lint

Connecting your phone to your smart TV via a USB connection is essentially connecting a hard drive to your computer. Your TV will recognize the new device and treat it like a drive holding a number of files of different types. If you have images or videos on your phone that you want to view on your TV, you can just connect them to a cable and browse your files. It’s pretty much the same operation as connecting your phone to your laptop.

This is a handy alternative if anyone doesn’t have a chance to cast or mirror. While these features are increasingly common on both new smart TVs and phones, if you aren’t up-to-date on either, then a wired route will be your only option. This is also the preferred option if you have difficulty connecting to Wi-Fi, or aren’t using the wireless capabilities of your TV.

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Charge up your phone with the TV’s power

Draw from an easy energy source

A benefit of connecting your smartphone to your TV involves charging. The USB port essentially acts as a power source for connected devices; that’s why many streaming sticks hook up directly to the USB slot in the back of your TV (although not the robust Google TV Stream, which is too powerful). Power can be extracted from the port, and that means plugging in your phone will charge it as well.

Be mindful that the charging process may not be especially fast. However, depending on your setup at home, it may be convenient. It can be especially helpful if you’re traveling abroad and can’t seem to find the right adapter to plug into an outlet. When you’re out of luck, juice, and options, your TV’s USB port can do the trick.

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Faithful phone screen mirroring

The right cable provides reliability

While there are a couple of options available for those connecting to the USB port on the TV, you can unlock some more opportunities with a cable that connects your phone to the HDMI port of the TV, either a USB to HDMI or Lightning to HDMI. With this connector, you can enjoy true screen mirroring that doesn’t rely on Wi-Fi. With a cable, you’re granted fast and reliable transmission of data that will reduce any lag or stutter that might happen when you cast over your network.

This is useful for those who may not have the best Wi-Fi support, and it’s certainly helpful if your network is too crowded. There’s plenty of reasons why you might want to mirror your phone screen, from showcasing your own files such as photos and videos to more easily accessing certain websites and social media platforms. Just keep in mind you’ll need to rotate your phone to a landscape orientation to get the proper effect on your TV; unless, of course, you have Samsung’s fancy Sero lifestyle TV.

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Transform your phone for more versatility

For those Samsung adherents, if you have a compatible phone and smart TV, you may be able to turn your devices into an efficient work operation. A USB-C to HDMI cable connecting your phone and TV will allow you to use DeX, Samsung’s interface that basically transforms your phone or tablet into a desktop.

DeX tends to be geared toward productivity and work functions, and its viability isn’t necessarily for everyone; you may need to test it out for a while to see if it works for you. Essentially, though, your phone will be set up on the TV screen like a desktop, allowing similar operations and use. With a keyboard and mouse, you can use your phone like you would a desktop or laptop, allowing you to type and browse more efficiently.

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