The Home app has built-in screen mirroring.
Jason Cipriani/CNET screenshots

If your phone supports it, casting is simpler.

Although using the Home app doesn’t need much effort, there is a shortcut in the fast settings menu called Casting that makes it much simpler. Swiping down from the top of the screen of your Android phone or tablet will bring up the quick settings panel. There need to be a Screen cast option. Use the Smart View shortcut, which is often exclusive to Samsung smartphones, if you are unable to locate it.

Select the device from the list to reflect your screen once you press the cast button. Your screen will appear on your TV within a few seconds of your phone connecting to the Chromecast-enabled device. Repeat the previously described procedures to stop casting.

Mirroring from the shortcut menu on Android
The fast settings panel is a shortcut.
Jason Cipriani/CNET screenshots
Within an app like YouTube, you may also see a “cast” button that lets you stream just the app’s content. The app should continue to play on your TV if you close it on your phone while casting.

The problem is that certain phones do not have a cast button option in the quick settings panel. Don’t give up if your phone doesn’t have the shortcut option; the reason is unclear. The Home app still allows you to mirror your phone.

Keep in mind that anything that appears on the screen of your phone or tablet will also appear on the TV while you are mirroring your screen. In other words, all alerts and notifications will be aired for everyone to see, along with their contents. To minimize the interruptions, I advise turning on Do Not Disturb. Additionally, if you want to play games, stay away from more demanding games like Fortnite since there may be a gap between your phone and TV while casting.

For other tech tips, see how to clear the garbage files from the web browser on your Android phone and how to relax with this secret iPhone function.