How to Mirror Android to Roku

Showing off your family vacation photos can be tiring if you're all gathered around a small screen. Watching YouTube videos or streaming your favorite Netflix show is also much more enjoyable on the big screen. Do you need a bunch of cables to connect your phone to your TV?

If you have a Roku, we have good news. You don't need cables at all. Both Android and Roku devices are compatible and it is possible to mirror your phone to Roku.

How to Enable Mirroring on Roku Devices

Roku's mirroring feature lets you send anything from your Android phone to your TV wirelessly. You can send music, photos, videos, web pages, etc. To get started, you need to enable this option on your smartphone or tablet and connect it to your Roku. In most cases, you don't have to do anything to enable the mirroring feature on your Roku device as it will work automatically.

Does your Roku support screen mirroring?

Before establishing the connection, make sure your Roku model supports mirroring. Most Roku models available do this, but, for example, the Roku Express 3700 or Roku Express+ 3710 do not. If you don't know your model number, you can check as follows:

1. Go to your Roku's main menu, also known as the home page, scroll down to Parameters and select it.
2. Then choose System> About. There you will see the model information.

Does your Android support screen mirroring?

You also need to know if your Android operating system supports mirroring, as not all versions do. In general, this is likely to be the case if it is 4.4.2 or later. You can find out by opening the Parameters app on your phone. Scroll down to find System ou About the phone and tap to see the OS version if you are unsure.

Don't be confused if you can't find the feature under Screen Mirroring. Some brands do not use this exact wording. Look for some of these variants: screencasting, HTC connect, Smart View, Wireless Display, Quick Connect, etc. Regardless of the manufacturer's choice, the option should be somewhere in the settings under Display or Connectivity.

If you can't find the feature, try searching Google for your phone model and screen mirroring. You might find the answer on an official website or forum.

How to Start Screen Mirroring on Your Android Device

Here are the steps to enable screen mirroring on your Android device:

1. Make sure your Roku is working properly and you have installed all necessary updates. Do the same for your Android device.
2. This step depends on your smartphone or tablet. Look for the screen mirroring feature to turn it on – it's usually somewhere under Parameters, then click on it to start.
3. Now click on Media output, the name on your device may differ.
4. Now select the Roku device you want to stream to.

How to Receive Screen Mirroring on Your Roku Device

If you don't get a prompt to mirror a screen of your Android device after performing the steps mentioned above, here are the steps to enable screen mirroring on your Roku device.

1. Take your Roku remote, locate the Home button and press it.
2. Now scroll down and choose Parameters in the menu you see on the screen.
3. Then scroll down and choose System.
4. Then scroll down and click on Screen mirror.
5. Now click on Screen mirroring devices.
6. Then look under Devices still allowed for your Android device, allow it if you haven't already.

Roku Screen Mirroring Settings

If you want to make any changes to the screen mirroring setup, follow the instructions below.

1. As mentioned earlier, grab your Roku remote and press the button Home button.
2. Again scroll down and choose Parameters in the menu you see on the screen.
3. As mentioned above, scroll down and choose System.
4. Again, then scroll down and select Screen mirror.
5. Stay in Screen mirroring mode and you will see three options on the right: Fast, Always allow et Never allow. If you choose Fast, you'll need to confirm a device each time it tries to mirror to your big screen. The second setting enables mirroring without warning you every time and the third one blocks any mirroring device.

If you're the only user of that particular Roku, it's probably safe to set it to Always Allow. If you don't live alone, opt for Prompt.

Isn't mirroring the same as casting?

We tend to use these two terms interchangeably. However, there are differences between screen mirroring and screen casting. We will explain briefly.

1. While streaming specific content from your phone, you can do other things without the content being interrupted. This is not something you can do with mirroring, as everything you do appears on the device you are mirroring to.
2. Casting is available on iOS devices, unlike screen mirroring.
3. Some apps allow you to cast from your mobile phone to your TV. With screen mirroring, you can use any app and it will be displayed on the big screen.
4. While streaming, you can use your Roku remote to control what's playing on the TV. When it comes to mirroring, you can only use commands from your phone.
5. When you stream a TV show, for example, you only see playback on your TV. But not when doing mirroring, where the whole screen will be displayed.

Sharing has never been easier

As you see, you only need a few minutes to set up the screen mirroring feature on your Roku device. For Android users, this has several advantages. Do you want to show off your family vacation photos or your latest design? Ended. Do you want to send content from an app not supported by Roku? Also done.

What are you going to mirror to your Roku device and watch on the big screen? Let us know in the comments section below.