What's Screen Casting and How Does it Work?

James Davis

Sep 01, 2023 • Filed to: Mirror Phone Solutions • Proven solutions

Screencasting is no longer a new thing. But it's no surprise to see some folks ask, "What is screencasting?" when a friend or colleague asks them to screencast their device screen.

With that said, worry less if you fall into the same category of folks. You're just a few paragraphs away from learning about screencast technology.

In this post, we've discussed all you need to know about screencasting. From what it is to how it works, apps that can be used for screencasting, and lots more. So, without wasting much time, let's dive into the article to get cracking!

what is screencasting?

Part 1. What Is Screencasting? Is Screencasting Safe?

Screencasting involves casting content from a smaller screen to a larger screen. It allows you to cast content to another display and still use your device without showing off its on-screen activities or interrupting what is being cast.

For example, if you cast a video from your phone to a TV, you'll be able to see the video on your TV only, thus allowing you to perform other activities on your phone while screencasting the video.

Ultimately, there's no risk in screencasting. Instead, it's the best way to effortlessly see content on a small screen with a large screen. You just need to ensure you're using a trusted tool to execute a screencasting operation.

Part 2. What Is The Difference Between Screen Casting And Mirroring?

There's not much difference between screencasting and screen mirroring. Both techniques are a way of projecting content from one screen to another.

However, screen mirroring allows you to mirror the activities on your small screen to a bigger screen in real-time. At the same time, screencasting casts the content from one screen to another displaying your device screen activities in real time.

Screencast Screen Mirror
Description It involves projecting content, like a movie, youtube videos, etc., from a small to a large screen. Whatever you do on your small screen won't be displayed on the large screen in real-time. It involves mirroring your whole device screen to a PC or TV. By screen mirroring your screen, every activity performed on your device will be displayed on the bigger screen in real time.
Screen View Different contents are displayed on two screens at the same time. The same content shows on two screens simultaneously.
Content Only specific content is displayed, for example, gameplay, YouTube videos, movie, etc. All on-screen activities, calls, chats, videos, etc., are displayed.
Internet It usually uses home WiFi, though it can sometimes be executed via built-in WiFi. No internet connection is needed. Instead, connection is established via built-in WiFi.
Multitasking Yes, different things can be displayed on the two screens simultaneously. No, the same content is displayed on both screens.
Screen Time-out Receiving device's screen still displays content even if the sending device screen is blacked out. Yes, if the screen of sending device is blacked out, the receiving device will do the same.
Apps Not all apps can be cast. All apps can be mirrored.
Local Content Can't view local content. Supports viewing of any local content

To screen mirror your device, you need an app like Dr.Fone Air - Online Screen Mirror App. It facilitates smooth screen mirroring operation from Android or iOS devices to any browser.

With Dr.Fone Air - Online Screen Mirror App, you can swiftly mirror presentations, documents, course outlines, gaming action, and much more from your phone to a bigger screen. You don't even need technical knowledge to operate.

Below are some of the key features that make Dr.Fone Air - Online Screen Mirror App most users' best choice:

  • Wirelessly mirror your phone screen to any browser seamlessly.
  • Boasts flexible screen control that allows users to adjust the display screen according to requirements.
  • Mirror any activity from your phone screen to any browser smoothly.
  • Clean and intuitive user interface.

Rating: 4.7/5

Part 3. How Does Screen Casting Work?

The screencasting process varies depending on whether you're casting from phone to PC/TV or PC to TV. But regardless of what you intend to do, we've explained the simple steps to go about it. So, read on to find out more.

1. Cast Phone Screen to Other Devices

The process of casting a phone screen to another device varies depending on the phone you're using.

For Android

Method 1. Screen Cast Android to PC with Connect App

Step 1: Set up the Cast feature on the Android

  • Open the Settings app on your Android. Locate and select Connected Devices.

select connected devices on android

  • Select Connection Preferences > Cast.

select connection preferences and cast

  • Tap the three-dot vertical icon at the top-right corner of the screen and select Enable Wireless Display.

enable wireless display

Step 2: Setup Wireless display on the PC

  • Turn it on your PC and click the Notification Center icon at the bottom left corner. Then, select Connect.

setup wireless display on pc

Note: Can't find the Connect feature from Notification Center on PC? Do the following;

  • Open the Settings app on your PC. Locate and click on Apps.

open settings on pc and select apps

  • Click Optional Features from the available functions.

choose optional features

  • Click Add Features

click add a feature

  • Search Wireless Display and click the top search result.

search wireless display

  • Click Install to install the feature on your PC on the new page.

install wireless display

After you install the feature, you should find it in the notification center.

Step 4: Once you complete the above, access the notification center on your Android phone by swiping down from the top of its screen. Then, locate the Screen Cat feature and tap on it.

select screen cast on android

Step 5: Your Android phone should start searching for nearby devices. Once it finds your PC or TV, tap on it and wait for your Android phone screen to be cast on the PC/TV.

start screen casting android to pc

Method 2. Screencast Android to TV Using Google Home

There are many third-party tools that can facilitate Android screencast to TV. However, here, we've explained how to get the job done using.

Both your phone and the TV must meet the following requirements for the operation to be executed smoothly.

  1. Your TV must have Chromecast built-in.
  2. A compatible Android device. Must be running Android 8.0 and later
  3. Secure wireless network.

The steps to operate have been explained below:

Step 1: Install the Google Home App on your Android from the play store.

Step 2: Next, open the installed app and set up Google Chromecast.

Step 3: Your smart TV should automatically appear in the app after you finish setting up Chromecast.

select smart tv

  • Tap on your TV once detected, and select Cast My Screen.

Step 4: Select Cast Screen from the pop-up that appears on your Phone screen.

select cast screen

  • Select Start Now to start screencasting your phone to the TV.

tap start now to start casting tv

Note: You can also use the above steps to screencast iPhone to Smart TV if your iPhone runs iOS 11 and later.

For iPhone

The process of casting an iPhone screen to a PC or TV is not the same. You need a third-party app to operate if you're screencasting iPhone screen to PC. But if it's a smart TV you're screencasting it to, your TV must be Apple TV or AirPlay 2 compatible.

We've explained how you can seamlessly carry out the operation below;

Method 1. Screencast iPhone to PC Using LonelyScreen

Unfortunately, there's no built-in tool on iPhone that facilitate screencast to PC. This is because the iPhone native method of screencasting is AirPlay, which is not available on Windows. So, if you're looking to screencast iPhone to PC, the only way to operate is to employ a third-party tool like LonelyScreen on your PC to operate.

See how to go about it below:

Step 1: Download and install the LonelyScreen app on your PC and launch it. Then, click Maybe Later from the pop-up message that appears on your screen.

click maybe later from the pop up message

Step 2: Connect your iPhone and the PC to the same WiFi network.

connect iphone and pc to the same wifi

Step 3: Open the Control Center on your iPhone by swiping it down from the top of your screen. Then, tap Screen Mirror icon.

open the control center and tap the screen mirror icon

Step 4: Tap LonelyScreen from the available options and tap Begin to proceed. Your iPhone screen should start showing on your PC screen afterward.

Method 2. Screencast iPhone to Mac/TV with AirPlay

Screencasting iPhone to Mac or TV is pretty simple. But you must ensure your TV is compatible with Apple TV or Apple 2. The following steps explain the process;

Step 1: Connect your iPhone and the Mac or TV to the same WiFi network.

Step 2: Open the Control Center on your iPhone and tap Screen Mirroring.

tap the screen mirror from the control center

  • Select the Smart TV or Mac from the list of detected devices to screencast your iPhone to the TV.

Step 3: Finally, enter the AirPlay Passcode on your iPhone when prompted to start casting the iPhone to Mac or TV screen.

2. Cast Computer Screen to Other Devices - How to Cast Computer Screen to Smart TV

Casting your computer screen to a Smart TV is also easy. First, however, you must ensure your PC and the Smart TV meet the following requirements.

  • Your Smart TV must have its WiFi turned on.
  • Both your PC and Smart TV should be running the latest version.
  • Your Smart TV and PC must support Miracast.
  • The Smart TV and PC should have BlueTooth enabled.

Method 1. Screencast PC to TV using Miracast

Step 1: Press Home or Input from your TV remote.

Step 2: Use the Remote to select Screen Mirroring or Project, depending on how you wish to cast your PC screen to the TV. You might need to choose Apps first, depending on your PC model.

Step 3: Once you complete the above, turn on your PC and press Windows + I to open settings. Then, select Bluetooth & Devices.

select bluetooth and devices

  • Click Add Device and select Wireless Display or Dock.

choose wireless display or dock

Step 3: The PC should start searching for nearby devices. Once it detects your Smarty TV, click on it to start screencasting your PC screen to the TV.

Method 2. Screencast PC/Mac to TV With Chromecast

Step 1: Connect your PC/Mac and the Chromecast TV to the same network.

Step 2: Open the Chrome browser on your computer and click the Three-dot vertical icon at the top-right corner. Then, select Cast.

select cast from the chrome browser

Step 3: Select your Chromecast Smart TV from the available detected devices. Then, click the drop-down icon next to Source and select the part of your desktop you want to screencast to TV.

select the source to screencast

Step 4: Your desktop should be cast on the TV afterward.

cast pc or mac screen to tv

Step 5: To end the screencasting process, click the Blue Chromestat icon from your PC and select Stop from the Chrome Mirroring screen.

Part 4. 5 Benefits of Screencasting for Your Business And Life

Now you know how screencasting works, let's dive into the benefits of screencasting to your businesses and life. Read on!

  • Multi-Task Without Hassle: Screencasting allows you to work smartly. You can send text, make phone calls, and do lots more while screencasting without disgusting what is displayed on your bigger screen.
  • Conduct a presentation to another audience without hassle.
  • Stream movies on your mobile phone to a larger screen for a large audience.
  • It can come in handy to stream gameplay on your phone to a large screen for your audience on YouTube.
  • Play music on your phone on another device seamlessly.

Part 5. Explore Screencasting Apps: Our Top Picks

If you're looking to make the process of screen casting from one device to another easier, there are various screencasting apps that can come in handy. Here, we've curated a list of the top three screencast apps you can count on to execute the operations seamlessly.

1. Google Home app

google home app

Google Home App is a virtual assistant developed by the Google Tech team to facilitate various operations, including free screencasting to allow you to reflect your smartphone to a big screen.

This app can come in handy to stream videos, cast films, and smoothly display various activities from your mobile device on your PC or TV. Thankfully, it's supported on both Android and iOS devices.

Pros

  • Easy to navigate user interface.
  • It's customizable.
  • Lightweight app.

Cons

  • The screencasting feature could be better.

Rating: 4.5/5

User Review: "Google Home is a great app. It brings all my automation devices together for easy use. The one improvement that is most lacking is the ability to place multiple devices into subgroups within a room. For instance, I have two light bulbs in a fan, and it would be helpful to put them in a group with a single name. As it is, I have to give them names that go together, like 'Rice and Beans."

2. AirDroid Cast

airdroid cast

AirDroid Cast is another powerhouse for performing screencast operations. But, unlike Google Home App, which only allows you to cast a phone screen, this app allows you to efficiently cast a phone or computer screen to a PC or any device or browser.

The tool is supported on all platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac. Plus, it offers various means of executing screencast operations via USB, WLAN, or AirPlay. Overall, AirDroid Cast does not disappoint. So, it's worth trying.

Pros

  • It's easy to operate.
  • Secured encryption.
  • Smooth connection process.
  • Simple and intuitive UI.

Cons

  • Some features are closed behind paywalls.

Rating: 4.3/5

Review: "I've needed this forever. I only have hotspot WIFI, so I've always connected my phone to my TV with an HDMI adaptor to watch streaming channels. It's effective, but having to lean over and peck at my phone to control what's on TV was irritating. Now I can use my mouse! I CAN "link to Windows", but that presumes that I have any hotspot data left. You have to buy premium for USB casting, but at $29.99 per YEAR, it's not a problem at all."

3. Roku App

roku app

Last but not least is the Roku Mobile app. Although Roku is a streaming app, it can also be used for screencasting, which is great for screencasting your favorite movies on a big screen.

The Roku app is available on Android, iOS, and Windows devices, and it's easy to use. So, even if you don't have a technical background, you can still use it to execute a seamless screencasting operation.

Pros

  • It's easy to operate and affordable.
  • Supports many streaming apps.
  • The mobile app can come in handy as a remote control.

Cons

  • There have been complaints from users about frequent lagging.
  • The only means of establishing a connection between devices is WiFi.
  • Poor WiFi antenna.

Rating: 4.7/5

User Review: "It works. But with the most recent update, I don't think I have access to changing the picture settings of my TV while watching my show like I used to. I have no access to turning my picture off. Other than that, my only complaint is how often I need to close the app and reopen it to use the remote after a while. And the fact that sometimes it just won't connect to my TV."

Conclusion

Years back, no one ever thought it would have been possible to cast a device screen to another just within a few clicks. But all thanks to tech experts for coming through with such innovation to alleviate how we watch things on a small screen.

We believe the above article has clarified what screencasting is. So, at this point, you should be able to tell the difference between screencasting and screen mirroring and know how to screencast your phone or computer screen without hassles.

Nevertheless, if you need to screen mirror your device, you can use the Dr.Fone Air - Online Screen Mirror App for the operation. It does the job smoothly.

James Davis

James Davis

staff Editor

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