Devices allow you to Amazon Fire TV Watch digital content directly on your TV. Aside from the built-in support for Amazon Prime, you can install a variety of apps on it, such as Netflix, TED, BBC, and more. However, there are some limitations. To get started, you need to install apps on it to view content from other streaming sites. These take up space on your TV. Fire TV Stick , which has a limited storage capacity of 11.6 GB. Basically, you can't install as many apps as you want. Secondly, you need an internet connection for these apps to work. Of course, you can download content on Fire TV Stick But again, this will take up more space. There is an alternative where you mirror your phone or laptop to the Fire TV Stick. Now the question is how can one mirror the screen from Android to Fire TV StickIt's easy to do because Fire TV Stick Supports standard MiracastBefore we begin, let's understand Miracast and its role in Fire TV.
What is MIRACAST?
Previously, an HDMI cable was required to mirror a laptop or phone to a TV or projector. As times have changed, wireless technologies have replaced wires.
Miracast is a Wi-Fi technology standard that connects two Miracast-compatible devices and allows you to mirror one device (the sender) to another (the receiver). It transmits both audio and video.
Miracast isn't a dongle or a specific product like Chromecast. It's a technology built into Miracast-supported devices like dongles, Fire Sticks, phones, and laptops. The great thing about Miracast is that it's inexpensive; a dongle or stick from a brand like Amazon or a local brand costs only a few dollars. Most smart TVs now offer built-in support for Miracast, so you don't even need a Miracast dongle or stick to stream content.
Miracast devices use Wi-Fi Direct technology to connect. While it also works with a Wi-Fi router, it's not a necessary part of the connection. You can skip it, and the devices will connect directly using Wi-Fi Direct. In simple terms, Wi-Fi Direct creates a direct connection (hotspot) between devices.
Supported MIRACAST devices
Miracast technology first appeared in 2012, with Google adding support starting with Android 4.2 Jellybean. However, things changed with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, when Google dropped support for Miracast. Currently, Android devices do not support Miracast, but devices from other manufacturers like Xiaomi, OnePlus, Huawei, Samsung, etc. still support Miracast through software modifications.
On laptops, you can use it with Windows 8 and Windows 10. However, not all laptops support it, and you should check your laptop's specifications to see if Miracast is enabled.
You might have guessed its fate on iOS devices—they don't support Miracast. Apple devices are locked to operating within its ecosystem, which is why you can only mirror iOS devices to Apple devices like the Apple TV using its mirroring feature called AirPlay.
Screen Mirroring from Android to Fire TV
To mirror content, you must have compatible Android and Fire TV devices.
Supported Android devices
Since the Fire TV Stick uses Miracast technology to mirror phone content to your TV, all Miracast-enabled devices (listed above) work well with the Fire TV Stick. Therefore, with the exception of Android devices like the Google Pixel and Xiaomi Mi A1, all should be able to mirror to the Fire TV Stick.
- Fact: Although the Fire TV Stick doesn't natively work with iOS devices, third-party apps help mirror iOS.
Fire TV support
Screen mirroring does not work on Amazon Fire TV (4rd generation) and Fire TV Cube. Although the Amazon Fire TV Stick XNUMXK also doesn't support screen mirroring, you can use third-party apps to mirror your screen. Other Fire devices work fine.
How to connect your phone to Fire TV
Once you have your compatible Android and Fire TV devices, connect them to the same Wi-Fi network to mirror content. Once that's done, you'll need to enable mirroring on your Fire TV, followed by connecting your phone. Here are the steps for each.
Enable mirroring on Fire TV
Step 1: on Fire TV , Go to Settings followed by Display & Sounds.
Step 2: Locate Enable mirroring display.
Step 3: will move Fire TV Your to Search mode And he starts looking for Nearby devices.
Alternatively, press and hold Home button on remote control remotely in Fire TV until you see options. Locate Mirror optionThis allows you to Enable mirroring Quickly on FireTV.
Connect your phone to Fire TV
The Miracast feature on Android devices differs in name and location. When your Fire TV is in search mode, you need to enable the feature on your phone to connect.
On MIUI devices, you'll find the Wireless Display feature. To enable it, you need to go to Settings > More > Wireless Display.Turn on Switch to wireless displayOnce you do this, you should Fire TV name appears. Click on it to start mirroring on your TV.
In some devices such as OnePlus , Go to Settings > Bluetooth & Devices > Connection Preferences > Cast. Click on three-dot icon and turn on Enable wireless displayIt will appear. Fire TV Yours. Click on it to connect.
Similarly, the feature is known as Smart View On Samsung and it is located in Quick Settings Down Navigation drawerHuawei prefers to use Wireless projection name Making it accessible within Settings > Device connection > Wireless projection.
Troubleshooting Reverse Screen Not Working on Fire TV
If you have compatible devices and are still unable to mirror your Android phone to your Fire TV Stick, you'll need to change your Wi-Fi frequency band (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz). The setting will be located on your phone under Settings > Wi-Fi > Advanced > Wi-Fi frequency bandSwitch to 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz. Newer Android devices seem to have disabled this setting. If so, you'll need to change the band in your router settings.
Due to Google's restrictions, Android devices only allow you to cast your phone to your TV using Google's Chromecast device. However, you can cast your content to a Fire TV Stick using third-party apps on such devices.
The difference between screen mirroring and casting
When you mirror your phone, you're mirroring the exact content from your phone to your TV. It's like a big screen for your phone's display. You can view your notifications, check settings, read messages, and more while mirroring your phone. Everything you do on your phone will be mirrored on your TV.
In casting, you can only display a video, photo, or audio file from your phone to your TV. Only your content is mirrored, not the entire screen. Casting gives you the ability to control media from your phone. Here, your phone acts as a remote control for the standalone video shot from your phone on your TV.
How to mirror your screen from Android devices to Fire TV
As mentioned above, you can't mirror the stock version to Android, and you'll have to cast it to Fire TV, which doesn't come with native support for media casting.
Therefore, you'll need to install the Cast to TV app on your phone. Once installed, open the app, and your Fire TV will automatically appear provided you're connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Tap it to connect. Then, choose the content you want to cast to your TV. You can cast both local and online content.
I tried it on my Android Pixel phone, and it worked fine. However, the casting process is slow and takes time compared to Chromecast or Fire TV screen mirroring.
Fire TV Mirroring Restrictions
Some issues come with mirroring as well. For example, when you mirror your phone to a TV, the screen must be on the entire time. This will drain your phone's battery. Secondly, you can't do anything else on your phone. If you're mirroring a movie from your phone, leaving the app will close the movie on your TV as well.
Moreover, some streaming apps do not support screen mirroring.
Ah, Google!
It's sad to see Google go the same way as Apple by locking down its ecosystem. I get that they want people to buy Chromecast devices, but that doesn't mean they're disabling Miracast. I really hope Google brings back support for Miracast because not everyone wants a Chromecast in their life.
