Buzz
It’s difficult to recall when hotel TVs weren’t seen as outdated. In the past, hotels often advertised features like 'free HBO' as major perks. Nowadays, guests prefer their smartphones, often ignoring the large 48-inch flatscreens in favor of apps like TikTok and YouTube. However, with minimal effort, you can enjoy both worlds by casting your phone’s content directly to your hotel room’s smart TV.
Steps to Mirror Your iPhone to a Hotel TV
You can choose from official or unofficial methods to display your iPhone’s screen on a TV. We’ll begin with the most reliable option.
Utilize AirPlay (if your hotel offers support for it)
iPhones now have the capability to stream content directly to TVs via AirPlay at participating hotels. This feature is accessible at over 60 IHG Hotels & Resorts locations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Next time you stay at a Holiday Inn or Candlewood Suites, give it a try.
The procedure is straightforward: When you turn on the TV, a QR code will appear on the welcome screen. Use a compatible Apple device to scan the code, which will connect you to the room’s Wi-Fi and enable AirPlay for that screen.
That’s all there is to it—since the QR code is specific to your room, you won’t accidentally stream to another guest’s TV or vice versa. Apple has announced that more locations will be added in the near future. This gradual rollout is likely due to the specialized LG TVs needed for the setup, which means it will take time for other hotels to upgrade their systems.
What if you’re not at an IHG hotel? That’s when alternative methods become necessary.
Alternative Methods to Mirror Your iPhone to a Hotel TV
Several devices, such as Roku and Fire TV sticks, are compatible with AirPlay straight out of the box. The challenge lies in getting the hotel TV to recognize and accept these devices.
Hotel TVs are often restricted in terms of which devices can be connected, due to control boxes that limit access. However, if you can access the TV’s ports, you can carefully disconnect these control boxes. As Mytour has previously explained, look for an ethernet or HDMI cable, gently unplug it, and restart the TV before connecting your device. In some cases, you may also need to disconnect the control box from its power source. Proceed with caution, as hotels may not appreciate guests tampering with their equipment.
After connecting your device, switch the TV input to your dongle and check if it functions. If successful, connect it to the Wi-Fi (you might need to use a browser to log in, depending on the hotel). If the hotel’s Wi-Fi isn’t available, AirPlay can still function without it, and you can use a mobile hotspot as a backup.
(Remember to reconnect the TV’s control box before checking out!)
Steps to Mirror an Android Phone to a Hotel TV
Streaming from an Android device, such as a Pixel 8 Pro or Galaxy S24 Ultra, to a hotel TV is similar to using an iPhone but comes with unique advantages. For example, hotels like Wyndham and Hyatt often have Chromecasts pre-installed, allowing you to cast directly from your phone or log into streaming services, depending on restrictions. If your hotel provides a Chromecast setup, simply follow their guidelines. Over time, you might encounter Google TV Streamers instead, as Chromecast has been phased out.
Another option is TVs with built-in Google Cast. Similar to AirPlay, LG is integrating Cast support into its hotel TVs, enabling login via QR codes without additional hardware. This feature is available on TVs running webOS23 or later, including models from 2023 onward and select 2022 models. While this promises broader compatibility than LG’s AirPlay support, it may take time for hotels to upgrade their systems.
Bringing your own dongle, such as a Fire TV Stick or Chromecast, is another practical solution. While Android phones can stream to TVs without a dongle, hotel environments often lack the necessary apps or settings, making this approach unreliable.
For the best experience, a Chromecast is recommended—it’s affordable, compact, and functional despite being discontinued. Unlike some dongles that only mirror screens, Chromecast allows for true casting, delivering superior resolution and a smoother user experience. (Keep in mind that Chromecast requires Wi-Fi to initialize.)
Once you’re in your hotel room with your dongle, follow the same steps as with an iPhone: carefully disconnect the hotel’s control box from the TV, restart the TV, connect your Chromecast, and switch to the correct input to ensure everything functions properly.
If successful, attempt to connect your dongle to the Wi-Fi (you may need to access a browser page for login). If the hotel’s Wi-Fi is unavailable, you can either use a mobile hotspot for casting or opt for screen mirroring without Wi-Fi, depending on your dongle (a Fire TV Stick is ideal for this scenario).
