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Casting, or screen mirroring, lets you play content from a small-screen device on a big-screen TV. ExpressVPN is the best VPN for casting, helping you do so easily and with little or no extra setup or equipment.
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Mirroring vs. casting
Mirroring means projecting an exact copy of your small-screen device’s display on a big screen. Anything that you see on your device—toolbars, time and date, battery usage, etc.—will be presented on the TV, and usually, the device must be dedicated to that stream, with its screen active, and doing nothing else. There may also be a small lag between what you see on your device and what appears on your TV. If these limitations are not a problem for you, mirroring is most likely to work without a hitch.
Casting, on the other hand, is a feature built in to many apps and operating systems that will allow you to project a stream while the device can still be used for something else, or even put to sleep. Image quality and speed may be better than with mirroring. But this functionality is not present for all apps and on all devices, and in a few cases, it may be actively disabled by the app maker or device manufacturer for business reasons.
AirPlay
Perhaps the best known of these technologies, Apple’s AirPlay allows both mirroring and casting. It’s available on Apple devices (like Mac computers and iPhones and iPads running iOS), but also on apps like iTunes, so it can be used by Windows users as well. (Android users will need third-party software to use AirPlay.) Originally, you could AirPlay only to an Apple TV, but non-Apple smart TVs and other devices are increasingly being released with the ability to receive AirPlay signals built in.
Learn about mirroring with ExpressVPN and AirPlay on your Apple TV | LG | Samsung | Roku.
Chromecast
A dongle that you plug into your TV, Google’s Chromecast is the most basic casting device—in a good way. Just set up a movie, game, song, or other media on your mobile device, tap a button, and it will cast to your TV. There’s no TV interface or remote control to deal with. Because any Android or iOS mobile app can be easily set up with the Chromecast casting ability by its developer, the number of compatible apps has grown fast. Chromecast also offers mirroring from Android and Windows devices. For higher resolutions and more advanced color technologies, opt for the Chromecast Ultra.
Learn about mirroring with ExpressVPN and Chromecast.
Roku
With a huge number of compatible apps, Roku is one of the most powerful and affordable streaming devices. It comes as a box or a dongle that plugs into your TV’s HDMI port. Screens on Android and Windows devices can be mirrored to your TV via a Roku. If you’re watching content on an Android, Windows, or iOS device, you may be able to cast the program to the same app on Roku, if they’re compatible.
Learn about mirroring with ExpressVPN and Roku.
Fire TV
Amazon’s Fire TV devices—including Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Cube—let you enjoy videos, music, games, and more through thousands of apps. Fire TV Stick supports screen mirroring from most Android devices. Users must first activate mirroring on Fire TV Stick, then activate their Android device’s mirroring function (if available), which is often called Miracast—but terminology varies across devices. Windows 10 also offers mirroring to Fire TV Stick through a similar method.
Learn about mirroring with ExpressVPN and Fire TV.
Android TV
Android TV, which is gradually being rebranded as Google TV, is an operating system for smart TVs and streaming consoles. If your device is based on Android TV, it can receive streams from other devices through a technology often called “Chromecast built-in.” Better yet, though: Any Android TV device can also install the ExpressVPN app, meaning you can get all the benefits of a VPN directly on that device, with no need to cast or mirror from another device at all.
Learn about using ExpressVPN with Android TV devices.
Miracast
Miracast is a wireless display technology developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance and used in many different smart TVs and streaming devices. The name varies by manufacturer: Samsung calls it AllShare, LG calls it Smart Share, Philips calls it Wireless Screencasting, and so on. Whatever the label, it’s designed to work exactly like a wireless HDMI cable, so any display shared via Miracast will be a mirror only. It’s not available via Apple devices (which use AirPlay instead), but Windows and Android devices are supported.
FAQ: Screen mirroring or casting to TV
Mirroring or casting from your device to a TV is often the easiest way to get VPN-enabled content on your big screen. If your smart TV supports it out of the box, you might already own everything you need. If not, streaming devices like Roku, Chromecast, and Fire TV Stick are increasingly affordable options. And because the content is being streamed from a smartphone or computer running ExpressVPN, you know it’s always private, secure, and blazing fast.
What’s more, casting or mirroring can even let you watch on someone else’s TV. Just use ExpressVPN to unlock content on your mobile or laptop, then stream it to a friend’s big screen. No extra subscription required!
Often, all you need to do is make sure both devices—sending and receiving—are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. But every combination of devices, apps, and streaming services is different, and unfortunately, there’s no way to guarantee that everything will work as it should.
For advice on your specific setup, please contact Support, which is available by live chat or email, 24/7.
ExpressVPN is a privacy and security service and should not be used as a means of copyright circumvention. We cannot see or control what you do while connected to our VPN, so you are responsible for complying with our Terms of Service, your content provider’s terms, and any applicable laws.
Want the full power of ExpressVPN?
If you would like to enjoy maximum flexibility and convenience in streaming video on your big-screen TV, consider getting ExpressVPN on your wireless router. With just a little extra setup, you can extend the protection and power of an always-on VPN to every Wi-Fi-enabled device in your network—even ones that can’t install a VPN directly, like PlayStation, Xbox, or other gaming consoles.
And your options don’t stop there. Why not try a virtual router? A wired connection? Our exclusive MediaStreamer service, included free with every subscription? Learn all the ways to get ExpressVPN on your TV.
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I have used numerous VPN’s and did not like that they slowed my streaming down or crashed while I was in the middle of a Amazon purchase. Express is the best and I use it on my Iphone Ipad PC and Fire TV all for one low price.
Apart from the obvious uses like being able to discreetly surf without trading your digital freedom, for me, an English ex pat in the USA this vpn service allows me to watch U.K. tv, the only thing I really miss from home!
Most of the time I am staying outside the US, but I love watching my favorite TV series. Express VPN enables me to do it wherever I am, and I do not have to worry about 'This show is unavailable in your area' information.
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a vast amount of information and can provide insights on various topics. Let's dive into the concepts mentioned in the article about casting or mirroring content to a TV using a VPN.
Casting vs. Mirroring
Casting and mirroring are two different methods of displaying content from a small-screen device on a big-screen TV. Here's a breakdown of the two:
- Mirroring: Mirroring involves projecting an exact copy of your small-screen device's display onto a larger screen. This means that everything you see on your device, including toolbars, time and date, battery usage, etc., will be replicated on the TV. The device used for mirroring is typically dedicated to that stream and cannot be used for other tasks simultaneously. There may be a slight lag between the device and the TV. Mirroring is suitable if these limitations are not an issue for you.
- Casting: Casting, on the other hand, allows you to project a stream from a small-screen device to a TV while still being able to use the device for other tasks or even put it to sleep. The image quality and speed of casting may be better than with mirroring. However, not all apps and devices support casting, and in some cases, it may be disabled by the app maker or device manufacturer for business reasons.
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AirPlay
AirPlay is a technology developed by Apple that enables both mirroring and casting. Originally, AirPlay was only available on Apple devices such as Mac computers, iPhones, and iPads running iOS. However, it can now be used by Windows users as well, with the help of third-party software. While AirPlay was initially limited to Apple TV, non-Apple smart TVs and other devices are increasingly being released with built-in AirPlay support.
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Chromecast
Chromecast is a casting device developed by Google. It is a small dongle that you plug into your TV. With Chromecast, you can easily set up and cast movies, games, songs, and other media from your mobile device to your TV. Chromecast is compatible with both Android and iOS apps, and the number of compatible apps has grown rapidly. Additionally, Chromecast also offers mirroring capabilities from Android and Windows devices. For higher resolutions and more advanced color technologies, you can opt for the Chromecast Ultra.
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Roku
Roku is a powerful and affordable streaming device that supports a wide range of apps. It comes in the form of a box or a dongle that plugs into your TV's HDMI port. Roku allows you to mirror screens from Android and Windows devices to your TV. If you're watching content on an Android, Windows, or iOS device, you may also be able to cast the program to the Roku app, provided they are compatible.
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Fire TV
Amazon's Fire TV devices, including the Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Cube, offer a variety of entertainment options through thousands of apps. Fire TV Stick supports screen mirroring from most Android devices. To enable mirroring, users need to activate it on the Fire TV Stick and then activate the mirroring function on their Android device (often called Miracast). Windows 10 also offers mirroring to Fire TV Stick through a similar method.
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Android TV
Android TV, which is gradually being rebranded as Google TV, is an operating system for smart TVs and streaming consoles. If your TV or streaming device is based on Android TV, it can receive streams from other devices using a technology often referred to as "Chromecast built-in." Additionally, any Android TV device can install the ExpressVPN app, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of a VPN directly on the device without the need for casting or mirroring.
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Miracast
Miracast is a wireless display technology developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance and used in many smart TVs and streaming devices. It functions similarly to a wireless HDMI cable, allowing for screen mirroring. The name of this technology may vary depending on the manufacturer, such as AllShare (Samsung), Smart Share (LG), or Wireless Screencasting (Philips). Miracast is not available on Apple devices, which use AirPlay instead, but it is supported on Windows and Android devices.
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I hope this information helps you understand the concepts mentioned in the article about casting or mirroring content to a TV. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask!
