Can an iPhone Mirror to a Sony TV? (Yes, There are many Option)

The ability to mirror your smartphone’s screen on a larger display, like a TV, has become increasingly popular in recent times.

This functionality, known as screen mirroring, allows you to share photos, videos, games, presentations, and even your entire phone’s display on a bigger screen for enhanced viewing or presentations.

The good news for iPhone users with Sony TVs is that mirroring is indeed possible.

This article will explore the various methods to achieve seamless screen mirroring from your iPhone to your Sony TV, ensuring a more enjoyable and convenient multimedia experience.

1) Screen Mirror Your iPhone Using AirPlay 2

The simplest and fastest way to stream content from an iPhone onto a Sony TV is by using AirPlay 2.

AirPlay is Apple’s native screen mirroring protocol, which has been adapted by several TV manufacturers since 2018.

However, not all Sony TVs have this feature.

Here’s a list of all Sony TV models which support AirPlay 2.

If you have such a TV, you can easily mirror your iPhone onto it via a few simple steps.

But first, you need to make sure your iPhone and Sony TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Once done, follow these steps: 

1. Go to Settings on your AirPlay 2-compatible Sony TV.
2. Open Device Preferences.
3. Scroll down and select Apple AirPlay & HomeKit.
4. Turn on AirPlay and set Require Code to First Time Only.
5. Now, launch the app that has the content you want to mirror on your iPhone.
6. Start playing the content.
7. Tap on the AirPlay logo, a rectangle with a triangle on the bottom.
8. Select your Sony TV.
9. Enter the 4-digit AirPlay passcode shown on the TV in your phone and click OK. 

If you want to share your entire phone screen, open Control Center and tap Screen Mirroring. However, keep in mind that not all apps work with the full-screen mirroring feature.

Stuck on the AirPlay Code Screen? Here’s What to Do

If you are trying to use AirPlay on a brand-new Sony TV or have never used the feature, you can get stuck on the AirPlay code screen.

In such cases, you will be repeatedly asked for the code displayed on the TV, even if you are using it correctly.

The solution for this problem is quite simple – You need to accept Privacy settings to activate Smart TV services for your Sony TV.

To do so: 

1. Press the Help button on your TV remote.
2. Open Status & Diagnostics.
3. Go to Privacy settings.
4. Read the privacy policy.
5. Scroll down and choose Agree. 

2) Screen Mirror Your iPhone Using Wi-Fi Direct

If your Sony TV doesn’t have the AirPlay 2 feature or it’s not working, you can mirror your iPhone via Wi-Fi Direct.

Wi-Fi Direct doesn’t require you to have an active Wi-Fi network and is intended to create a temporary network anytime with a reasonable degree of security.

That said, not every Sony TV supports Wi-Fi Direct, so you will need to check your TV’s Network or System settings to see if it does.

If your TV supports Wi-Fi Direct, follow these steps to turn it on:

1. Launch Settings.
2. Go to Network & Internet > Wi-Fi and turn it On. (For Android 9 or newer)
3. If you are on Android 8 or older, open Network > Advanced Settings > Built-in Wi-Fi and turn it On. For such TVs, you will also need to turn on Wi-Fi Direct via Settings > Network > Network Accessories > Wi-Fi Direct.
4. Now, go back to Network & Internet or Network.
5. Open Wi-Fi Direct.
6. Choose Wi-Fi Direct Settings.
7. Tap on Show Network (SSID)/Password. The SSID and the WPA key will be shown on your TV. 

Once done, you need to go through these steps on your iPhone: 

1. Open Settings.
2. Turn on Wi-Fi.
3. Choose the access point named Direct-xx-BRAVIA and enter the WPA key displayed on your TV.
4. Tap on Join and wait until the connection is set up.
5. Now, go to the App Store and look for an app called iMediaShare or any other screen-sharing app. With such apps, you can mirror pictures, music, and video onto your Sony TV. 

Note: This method only works for content stored on your phone’s internal storage. It doesn’t let you mirror content via streaming services like Netflix. 

3) Screen Mirror Your iPhone via Chromecast

Sony also has several Google or Android TVs that come with Chromecast built-in, which makes for another way to mirror an iPhone.

If you have one of those TVs, you just have to install the Google Home app on your phone to start streaming content.

Follow these steps to do so: 

1. Make sure your Sony TV and iPhone are on the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Go to the App Store on the phone.
3. Search for Google Home and download it.
4. Once installed, launch the app and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.
5. Now, play the content of your choice and click on the Cast icon.
6. Choose your TV, and you are good to go. 

You can also get a Google Chromecast stick if your Sony TV lacks the built-in feature. 

4) Screen Mirror Your iPhone Using Apple AV Adapter

If your Sony TV supports none of the wireless methods covered so far, I have a couple more suggestions for you, but both involve cables.

The first one requires you to get an Apple Lightning Digital AV Adapter.

Once bought, follow these steps to mirror your iPhone to a Sony TV: 

1. Connect your TV to the HDMI port of the Apple AV Adapter.
2. Plug the cable of the adapter into your phone.
3. Change your TV input to the active HDMI port.
4. Your phone screen will be displayed on your TV. Now, you can play the content that you want on your TV. 

5) Screen Mirror Your iPhone Using An Apple TV

Another method to mirror your iPhone to a Sony TV needs an Apple TV.

Apple TV is a streaming player which you can connect to any TV via an HDMI cable allowing you to stream content from various streaming sources.

It also adds AirPlay capabilities to your TV, which you can use to mirror any iOS device.

To do so: 

1. Connect your Apple TV and Sony TV and change the input to Apple TV.
2. Make sure the Apple TV and your iPhone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
3. Open Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of the phone screen.
4. Select Screen Mirroring.
5. Choose your Apple TV from the list of devices, and the phone screen will be mirrored to the TV. 

Which Method is Best For Screen Mirroring?

Almost any Sony TV you can get today has AirPlay 2 capabilities, so it’s a no-brainer when looking for ways to mirror content from your iPhone.

It’s also a great option instead of the other methods discussed in this article due to the ease of setup and no additional installation.

On top of that, Apple has improved video and audio quality with AirPlay 2, and it has gotten a lot better at compensating for the lag that may arise when inputs are made during screen mirroring.

However, if your Sony TV is not AirPlay 2-compatible, Wi-Fi Direct or Chromecast are equally reliable methods to mirror an iPhone. 

FAQs

Q: Why won’t my iPhone mirror to my Sony TV?

Your iPhone may not mirror to a Sony TV if they are not connected to the same Wi-Fi network. 

Q: Why isn’t AirPlay working on Sony TV?

If AirPlay is not working on your AirPlay 2-compatible Sony TV, go to Statistics & Diagnostics > Privacy Settings and accept the Privacy policy.

Once done, make sure AirPlay is active under Settings > Device Preferences > Apple AirPlay & HomeKit.