Does Screen Mirroring Work Without Wi-Fi?

Do you need Wi-Fi for screen mirroring a wireless display? Depending on the screen mirroring technology you are using, you won’t need it. However, you may want to have an internet connection for a better experience. (Wi-Fi or a wired internet connection will work.)

Screen Mirroring Without Wi-Fi

If you have a device or smart TV that does not come with built-in Wi-Fi connectivity but does support screen mirroring, then you can screen mirror without an internet connection.

Screen mirroring that uses wireless display technology like Miracast actually creates a direct wireless connection between the sending device and the receiving device. Therefore, no Wi-Fi or internet connection is required to mirror your phone screen onto your smart TV. (Miracast only supports Android, not Apple devices.)

Using an HDMI cable can achieve similar results.

Generally, however, with a Wi-Fi connection you can successfully screen mirror your device and have a better experience.

Here’s why:

Why you want an Internet Connection for Screen Mirroring

Wi-Fi, or a wired internet connection, will allow you to successfully screen mirror your device onto another.

Having an internet connection is necessary if you want to screen mirror video streaming or web content. If you are only showing pictures or other content that doesn’t require internet from your phone or laptop, then no Wi-Fi is required.

The fact that you don’t need Wi-Fi (but probably want it) means that screen mirroring technology is attainable for a large number of people. All you need are sending and receiving devices that support the technology and an adapter device like Screenbeam Mini2 for your wireless display.

When to use screen mirroring without Wi-Fi

Maybe you have Wi-Fi, but for some reason you’d rather not use it when screen mirroring. Or, maybe your Wi-Fi connection is being spotty, but you still want to screen mirror from your device.

Screen mirroring is great for in-person settings. There are other technologies that allow you to display one device on another that are different and are better for sharing from a remote location. Those are screen sharing and screen casting.

But screen mirroring allows the presenter to work from or show content from a more accessible device like a smartphone or laptop. This way the presenter can easily show content for the whole room to see.

For example, you can screen mirror your phone to your smart TV at home to show your family a funny YouTube video that you saw. Or, if you are back in your office space, you can run collaborative meetings with screen mirroring.

The benefits are that you can control the video easily from your phone or laptop, but everyone can see the video on a larger screen. So, whether you are at home, at your office or in the classroom, you can easily mirror your smaller device onto the larger screen to create a truly collaborative atmosphere.

Want more information on screen mirroring technology and how to make the most out of your experience? Check out ScreenBeam’s Wireless Display Guide here.