How To Mirror Android To Roku

Have you ever tried to show your awesome vacation photos to your family, but everyone had to squish together to see them on your phone’s tiny screen? Or maybe you’ve wished to watch your favorite YouTube videos or Netflix shows on something bigger than your phone? Well, guess what? You don’t always need a bunch of cables to see your phone’s screen on a TV.

Here’s some really cool news for those who have a Roku at home. You can totally forget about those tangled cables! If you’ve got an Android phone and a Roku, they can become best friends. That’s right, you can actually ‘mirror’ your phone’s screen onto your Roku. This means whatever you see on your phone can appear on your TV – like magic! Want to know how? Keep reading, and I’ll show you step by step how to make your phone and Roku work together for an amazing big-screen experience.

Screen Mirroring Prerequisites

Ever wondered how to get everything from your Android phone – like your favorite tunes, cool photos, fun videos, and even web pages – up on your big TV screen without any wires? That’s what Roku’s screen mirroring feature is all about! But before you start, there are a couple of things you need to check on both your Roku and your Android phone or tablet.

1. Checking Your Roku: Is It Ready for Mirroring?

First up, let’s make sure your Roku can actually do this cool mirroring trick. Most Rokus can, but some, like the Roku Express 3700 or Roku Express+ 3710, can’t. Not sure which model you have? No problem! Here’s how you can check:

• Turn on your Roku and go to the main menu (that’s the Homepage).
• Scroll down to ‘Settings’ and select it.
• Now, choose ‘System’ and then ‘About’. Voilà! You’ll see your Roku’s model info right there.

Fun fact: Roku Express models 3900 and 3930, as well as Roku Express+ models 3910 and 3931, are all set for screen mirroring. But remember, the 3910 model only does this magic through the HDMI output.

2. Android Check: Can Your Phone Join the Party?

Next, let’s see if your Android is ready for this. Most Android devices with OS version 4.4.2 or later are good to go. Here’s how you can find out your version:

• Grab your Android phone or tablet and open the ‘Settings’ app.
• Scroll to find ‘System’ or ‘About phone’ and give it a tap. There, you’ll find the OS version.

And here’s a pro tip: If you’re not sure where to look, just search for ‘Software’ in your Settings. That’ll get you to the right place in no time!

How to Enable Mirroring to Roku Devices

Ever wanted to see your phone’s screen on your big TV? Whether it’s photos, videos, or even games, you can do it easily with your Roku device. Let’s dive into how you can mirror your Android screen to Roku. Whether it’s for a fun video or showing off your latest mobile game high score, here’s how you can do it.

1. Using Your Phone’s Built-In Mirroring Feature

Got an Android phone with version 4 or newer? Great news! Your phone probably already has a mirroring function built-in. Different phone brands might have different ways to access this feature, but don’t worry, it’s usually pretty easy.

Let’s take Samsung phones as an example (but remember, most brands work similarly):

1. Quick Settings: Swipe down from the top of your screen twice to open your control center.
2. Smart View: Look for an option called ‘Smart View’ and tap on it.
3. Connect: Follow the on-screen instructions – tap ‘Next’, then ‘Continue’.
4. Choose Your TV: Select your Roku TV from the list to start mirroring your screen.

2. Using the Roku App for Screen Mirroring

If you want to show off your home movies, music, or photo gallery from your phone, using the Roku app is the way to go. Here’s how you can set it up:

1. Same Wi-Fi: First, make sure your Android and Roku are on the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Get the Roku App: Install the Roku app on your Android, and log in to your Roku account.
3. Connect to Roku: In the app, tap on ‘Devices’, then choose your Roku device from the list.
4. Pick Your Media: Tap on ‘Media’, and then choose whether you want to play Music, Photos, or Videos.
5. Play: Select the files you want to show, and hit the play button.

Just like that, you can share anything from your Android to your Roku. However, if you’re aiming to watch something like YouTube videos on your TV, you’ll need a different method.

3. Casting from Android Apps to Roku

Casting is like a magic trick that lets you send videos from apps on your phone straight to your TV. Different apps have their own ways of doing this, but the steps are generally pretty similar. Let’s use YouTube as an example:

1. Wi-Fi Connection: Make sure both your Android and Roku are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Open the App: Launch the YouTube app (or any other app you want to cast from) on your Android.
3. Play & Cast: Start playing a video. Look for a little casting icon (it looks like a little TV with Wi-Fi waves) in the upper right-hand corner and tap on it.
4. Choose Roku: Select your Roku device from the list that pops up.

And there you go! The video on your phone will start playing on your Roku TV.

4. Using Third-Party Apps for Full-Screen Mirroring

Sometimes you might want to share your entire phone screen, not just videos from apps. That’s where third-party apps come in handy. They let you mirror anything and everything from your phone to your TV.

For our guide, let’s talk about an app called ‘Screen Mirroring for Roku’. Here’s how you can use it:

1. Download the App: Go to the Google Play Store, find the ‘Screen Mirroring for Roku’ app (or any other mirroring app you like), and install it.
2. Permissions & Setup: Open the app and give it the permissions it asks for. Then, hit ‘Start Mirroring’.
3. Connect to Roku: Skip any ads that might show up and connect your Android to your Roku.
4. Start Mirroring: If you’re using the free version, you might need to watch a quick ad. Then, tap ‘Start now’.

Remember, while this app is free, it has ads, and some features might cost $4.99 a month.

5. How to Get Your Roku Ready for Screen Mirroring

Sometimes, your Roku might need a little nudge to start showing your phone’s screen. If it’s not responding after you’ve tried to mirror your screen, here’s what you can do:

1. Home Sweet Home: Grab your Roku remote and press the ‘Home’ button.
2. Settings Adventure: Scroll down in the menu and select ‘Settings’.
3. System Quest: Next, find and choose ‘System’.
4. Mirroring Magic: Now, look for ‘Screen mirroring’ and click on it.
5. Device Detective: Click on ‘Screen mirroring devices’.
6. Allowing Access: Check under ‘Always allowed devices’ for your Android. If it’s not there, go ahead and allow it.

6. Customize Your Roku Screen Mirroring Settings

Want to have more control over who can mirror their screen to your Roku? Here’s how to adjust those settings:

1. Back to Home: Use your Roku remote to hit the ‘Home’ button again.
2. Settings Round Two: Scroll down and select ‘Settings’ from the menu.
3. System Revisit: Choose ‘System’, just like before.
4. Mirroring Choices: Select ‘Screen mirroring’ again.
5. Pick Your Preference: Here, you’ll find three options under ‘Screen mirroring mode’:
   • Prompt: Choose this if you want to approve a device every time it tries to mirror.
   • Always Allow: This lets devices mirror without asking you each time.
   • Never Allow: Use this to block all devices from mirroring.

Tip: If you’re the only one using the Roku, ‘Always Allow’ might be convenient. But if you share your space with others, ‘Prompt’ is a safer choice to keep unexpected mirroring at bay.

Isn’t Mirroring the Same as Casting?

Ever heard the terms ‘mirroring’ and ‘casting’ and thought they were the same thing? Well, they’re actually a bit different, and knowing these differences can be super cool! Let’s break it down:

1. Multitasking Magic with Casting: When you cast something, like a video, from your phone to your TV, you can still use your phone for other things. The video won’t stop or get interrupted. It’s like having your cake and eating it too!
2. iOS Friendly Casting: Got an iPhone or iPad? You can use casting, but not mirroring. So, if you’re an Apple user, casting is your go-to for sending content to your TV.
3. Any App Goes with Mirroring: When you mirror your phone’s screen, everything on your phone appears on your TV. It doesn’t matter what app you’re using – everything gets mirrored.
4. Remote Control for Casting: If you’re casting something to your Roku, you can use the Roku remote to control what’s happening on the TV. But with mirroring, your phone is the main control center.
5. Full Screen vs. Just the Show: When casting a TV show, you’ll only see the show on your TV. But with mirroring, your whole phone screen (like your home screen or any app you open) will be displayed on the TV.

That’s a Wrap: Mirroring Magic on Roku!

And just like that, you’re all set to turn your TV into a giant phone screen with Roku’s mirroring feature! It’s super quick and easy, especially for Android users. Think of all the cool stuff you can do:

• Photo Fun: Want to share your awesome family vacation snaps or show off your latest art project? You can do that in a big way, right on your TV!
• App-tastic: Got an app that Roku doesn’t support? No problem! Mirror it and enjoy your favorite content on a much bigger screen.

So, what’s the first thing you’re going to mirror to your Roku? Your favorite game, a cool video, or maybe a slideshow of your pet photos? The possibilities are endless! Drop a comment below and let us know your big-screen plans. We can’t wait to hear all about it!