Using Your Android Phone as an Android TV Box

Connecting your Android phone to your TV can turn it into a makeshift Android TV box. This allows you to stream content and play games on the big screen. Here‘s a comprehensive guide on how to transform your phone into an Android TV box.

What You‘ll Need

To use your Android phone as an Android TV box, you‘ll need:

• An Android phone running Android 5.0 or later
• A TV with an HDMI port
• An HDMI cable
• An HDMI adapter or dongle for your phone (like an MHL or Slimport adapter)
• A USB power adapter to keep your phone charged

Newer Android phones with USB-C ports can connect directly to HDMI using a USB-C to HDMI cable or adapter. Older phones will need an MHL or Slimport adapter that connects to the phone‘s microUSB or USB-C charging port.

Connect Your Android Phone to Your TV

To connect your phone to your TV:

1. Plug the HDMI adapter into your phone‘s charging port.
2. Connect an HDMI cable from the adapter to an HDMI port on your TV.
3. Plug the phone charger into your phone to keep it powered.
4. On your TV, switch to the HDMI input that the phone is connected to.

Once connected, your Android phone‘s screen should mirror directly to your TV. Anything displayed on your phone will now show up on the big screen.

Control Your Phone with a Remote App

Rather than constantly looking down at your phone, you can control it from the comfort of your couch using a remote app. Here are some top options:

• Android TV Remote Control: Official app from Google for controlling Android TV devices. Works with any Android phone/tablet.
• Roku: Made for Roku devices but can control other Android phones too.
• SURE Universal Smart TV Remote: Feature-packed remote app with macros and customizations.

These apps allow you to navigate, select, play, pause, control volume, and more all from another Android device.

Stream Content and Play Games

With your phone now serving as an Android TV box, there are tons of things you can do:

• Play mobile games on the big screen with a Bluetooth controller.
• Watch Netflix, Hulu, YouTube or other streaming apps.
• Cast videos, shows and movies from apps that support Google Cast.
• Browse the web on TV with Chrome or Firefox.
• View photos and videos stored on your phone.

Pretty much any app on your phone can now be enjoyed on your television. You have an instant smart TV!

Use Your Old Android Phone as a Permanent Android TV Box

Rather than connecting your everyday phone, you can use an older Android device as a dedicated TV box:

1. Do a factory reset to wipe the old phone.
2. Install essential apps like Netflix, Hulu, etc.
3. Connect phone to TV‘s HDMI and keep it powered with the charger.
4. The old phone is now a smart TV box you always leave hooked up!

This gives your old phone new life while saving you money on an Android TV streaming box. Just make sure it runs Android 5.0 or higher.

Tips for Using Your Phone as an Android TV Box

Here are some tips to enhance the experience:

• Use a remote app so you don‘t have to handle the phone directly.
• Get an HDMI switch to quickly toggle between cable box and phone.
• Adjust screen timeout so your phone doesn‘t go to sleep.
• Use a Bluetooth controller for gaming instead of touch controls.
• Close other apps to devote maximum power and bandwidth to TV streaming.

With the right accessories and setup, your Android phone can provide a smooth Android TV experience. Give it a try for gaming, streaming movies, viewing photos, and more!