It’s difficult to envision a period when hotel televisions weren’t seen as obsolete relics. Not too long ago, many establishments touted their TV offerings as a major perk, proudly advertising “free HBO” on their outdoor signs. Today, however, visitors are more inclined to use their smartphones, opting for TikTok and YouTube instead of making use of the room’s stunning 48-inch flat screen. Fortunately, a bit of ingenuity can help travelers enjoy both options—it’s possible to cast content from mobile devices to hotel smart TVs.

Connecting Your iPhone to a Hotel TV

There are both official and unofficial ways to stream what’s on your iPhone to a television. Let’s explore the most reliable methods first.

Utilizing AirPlay (if available at your hotel)

Many hotels now offer AirPlay functionality, allowing iPhone users to stream directly to their TVs. This feature has rolled out in “more than 60” IHG Hotels & Resorts properties across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. If you’re staying at a Holiday Inn or Candlewood Suites, it’s worth checking out.

The process is straightforward: when you power on the TV, look for a QR code displayed on the welcome screen. Scan it with your iPhone to connect to the room’s Wi-Fi and enable AirPlay.

This QR code is unique to your room, ensuring you won’t accidentally connect to another guest’s TV. Apple has indicated that more hotel locations will gain AirPlay support “in the coming months,” likely due to the need for specialized LG TVs in these setups.

If your hotel is not part of IHG, alternative methods are available.

Alternative Methods for Casting Your iPhone

Devices like Roku and Fire TV sticks offer immediate compatibility with AirPlay. However, the challenge lies in getting the hotel TV to recognize them.

Hotel televisions often have restrictions on which external devices can be connected due to locking mechanisms. However, if you can access the TV’s input ports, there’s a chance to bypass these limitations by gently disconnecting any attached control boxes. DailyHackly has previously shared tips on this topic, including how to locate and carefully remove connecting cables such as Ethernet or HDMI, and restarting the TV afterward. Exercise caution, as tampering with hotel equipment could lead to unwanted consequences.

Once your device is plugged into the TV, switch the input channel and see if it connects. If successful, connect your device to the Wi-Fi network (you may need to navigate to a browser page to log in). If connecting to the hotel Wi-Fi proves difficult, it’s possible to use AirPlay without it or rely on a mobile hotspot.

(Just remember to reconnect the TV’s control box before checking out!)

Streaming Content from an Android Phone to a Hotel TV

Streaming from an Android phone, such as the Pixel 8 Pro or Galaxy S24 Ultra, is relatively similar, with a few additional peculiarities that can be advantageous. Chains like Wyndham and Hyatt have integrated Chromecasts into their TVs, allowing guests to cast directly from their phones or access their streaming accounts, depending on the device’s restrictions. If you encounter a Chromecast already set up, simply follow the instructions provided by the hotel.

Additionally, some TVs may come with built-in Google Cast capability. LG has announced that its hotel TVs are now equipped with this feature, enabling sign-in through a QR code without the need for extra hardware. This capability is compatible with any LG TV that utilizes webOS23 or later, potentially offering even wider access than AirPlay.

To enhance your streaming experience, consider bringing along a dongle such as a Fire TV Stick or Chromecast. Even though streaming from an Android device without a dongle is feasible, navigating hotel smart TVs can be tricky, as you might not be able to find or access the necessary apps.

For a seamless streaming experience, a Chromecast is recommended because it specializes in content casting rather than mere screen mirroring, which some other devices may do. Casting ensures optimal resolution and a more user-friendly interface. However, it is important to note that Chromecasts require a Wi-Fi connection during initialization.

Once in your hotel, connect your dongle to the TV using the same procedure outlined for iPhones: gently disconnect any control box, restart the TV, plug in your dongle, and switch to the appropriate input to check functionality.

If successful, connect the dongle to Wi-Fi (you may need to log in through a browser). Should access to the hotel’s network be problematic, try a mobile hotspot or utilize screen mirroring, based on your dongle’s capabilities (the Fire TV Stick is particularly useful here).