Table of contents(14)+
- 01Why there's no native AirPlay button
- 02Method 1: Mirror your whole screen with the Google Home app
- 03Method 2: Cast one app at a time (YouTube, Netflix, Disney+)
- 04Method 3: AirPlay — only on sets that specifically added it
- 05Method 4: HDMI cable (works on every model, no network needed)
- 06Troubleshooting
- 07Google Home app can't find the TV
- 08Casting is laggy or drops
- 09FAQ
- 10Does Google TV support AirPlay?
- 11How do I cast my iPhone to a Chromecast with Google TV?
- 12Why won't my iPhone screen mirror to my Google TV?
- 13Can I cast without Wi-Fi?
- 14Related guides
There's no single "Cast to Google TV" button on an iPhone — Google TV devices use Google Cast, and iOS ships AirPlay as its native wireless protocol, so the two systems don't talk to each other out of the box. Four methods close that gap depending on what you're trying to send: the free Google Home app for full-screen mirroring, the in-app Cast icon for apps like YouTube and Netflix, AirPlay on the handful of Google TV sets that specifically add it, or a plain HDMI cable.
Not sure which Google TV device you own? A Chromecast with Google TV streaming puck, a TV from TCL, Hisense, or Philips, or a 2024-and-newer Sony Bravia — all run the same Google TV software, so the methods below apply to any of them.
Why there's no native AirPlay button
Google TV runs Google's own casting framework, built for Android and tied to the Google Home ecosystem. Apple's AirPlay is a separate, licensed protocol that Apple controls — a manufacturer has to add AirPlay support deliberately, the way Sony did starting with its Bravia 2 II and Bravia 3 II lines. Most Chromecast dongles and most third-party Google TV sets skip it, so trying Control Center on a stock Chromecast does nothing.
That split explains the four paths below. Pick the one that matches what you're trying to do.
Method 1: Mirror your whole screen with the Google Home app
- Install the free Google Home app from the App Store if it isn't already on your iPhone.
- Open it and sign in with the same Google account used to set up your Google TV device.
- Confirm the iPhone and the Google TV are on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Tap the device tile for your Google TV, then look for Cast my screen (sometimes labeled "Cast screen / audio") in the device settings.
- Grant the screen-recording permission iOS asks for, then your full display — including notifications — appears on the TV within a second or two.
This sends everything: the home screen, Safari, Instagram, a FaceTime call, anything. It's the iOS equivalent of casting a laptop screen, and the steps are identical whether the Google TV device is an entry-level Chromecast dongle or a flagship OLED.
Method 2: Cast one app at a time (YouTube, Netflix, Disney+)
For apps that already support Google Cast, skip the Google Home app entirely:
- Open the streaming app on your iPhone and start playing something.
- Tap the Cast icon — a rectangle with Wi-Fi arcs in the corner.
- Select your Google TV from the list.
Playback then runs natively on the TV's chip, not streamed from your phone, so battery drain stops and quality isn't capped by your phone's encoder. Google Cast support is built into most major US streaming and music apps, so this method covers the bulk of everyday video and audio use without touching Method 1.
Method 3: AirPlay — only on sets that specifically added it
Sony's Bravia 2 II, Bravia 3 II, and newer Bravia models ship with AirPlay built in alongside Google TV. If you own one of those:
- Settings → open AirPlay settings on the Sony TV and turn it on.
- On the iPhone: Control Center → Screen Mirroring → select the TV.
- Enter the pairing code if the TV shows one.
Chromecast dongles, older Sony sets, and most TCL, Hisense, and Philips Google TV models don't have this chip-level licensing, so Control Center won't list them — Method 1 is the equivalent for anything AirPlay-only, since both move the whole screen.
Method 4: HDMI cable (works on every model, no network needed)
An Apple Lightning Digital AV Adapter (or a USB-C to HDMI cable on iPhone 15 and later) plugs directly into one of the TV's HDMI ports. Switch the TV's input to that port and the screen mirrors instantly — no Wi-Fi, no app, no Google account required. Cheap unlicensed adapters sometimes drop the signal on apps protected by HDCP; an Apple-branded adapter avoids that.
Troubleshooting
Google Home app can't find the TV
Open the Google Home app on the same phone used during setup, make sure Bluetooth is on (the app uses it briefly to discover nearby devices), and confirm the router isn't set to "AP isolation" or a guest network that blocks devices from seeing each other — a common default on mesh routers and some ISP gateways.
Casting is laggy or drops
Move the router closer, or connect the TV to Ethernet if it has a port. Dual-band routers sometimes put the phone on 5 GHz and the TV on 2.4 GHz; switching both devices to the same band usually fixes a connection that keeps stalling.
FAQ
Does Google TV support AirPlay?
Only on the specific models a manufacturer added it to — Sony's Bravia 2 II and newer Bravia Google TVs ship with AirPlay. Standard Chromecast dongles and most third-party Google TV sets from TCL, Hisense, or Philips don't include it; use the Google Home app for screen mirroring instead.
How do I cast my iPhone to a Chromecast with Google TV?
Use the Google Home app's "Cast my screen" feature for full-screen mirroring, or tap the Cast icon inside apps like YouTube or Netflix for single-app casting — both work the same way on a Chromecast dongle as on a Google TV smart TV.
Why won't my iPhone screen mirror to my Google TV?
Check that the iPhone and the TV are on the same Wi-Fi network, that Bluetooth is turned on for discovery, and that the Google Home app is signed into the same Google account used to set up the TV. If the network has AP isolation or a guest network enabled, devices can't see each other.
Can I cast without Wi-Fi?
Yes — an HDMI cable (Lightning to HDMI, or USB-C to HDMI on iPhone 15 and later) mirrors the screen over a wired connection, bypassing Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and any app.
