How to Play Netflix on a Projector From an iPhone

Play Netflix on the big screen from your phone

By
Kayla Dube
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Kayla Dube
Writer and Lifewire Technology Review Board Member
  • J. Everette Light Career Center
Kayla Dube has 4+ years' experience in videography and filmmaking. She frequently works in production with indie film companies.
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Updated on May 18, 2021
Reviewed by
Jon Fisher
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Reviewed by Jon Fisher
  • Wichita Technical Institute
Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek.
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What to Know

  • You can connect your iPhone via lightning to HDMI cable, then plug that into your projector to play Netflix.
  • Alternatively, you can connect a streaming device like a Roku to your projector and cast Netflix from your iPhone to the device.
  • Some projectors even come with Netflix available right on the projector.

This article explains how to watch Netflix on a projector from an iPhone, including connecting using a lightning cable to HDMI and using a streaming device to cast from your iPhone to your projector.

Use a Lightning to HDMI Cable

a lighting to hdmi adapter

With the many advanced projectors out on the market, it's possible to have the experience of a wide-screen theater right in your own home. It also means you can watch nearly anything by connecting your iPhone or streaming devices.

If you want to watch Netflix specifically, there are a couple of ways you can do so with your iPhone and projector.

The easiest way to connect an iPhone to a projector to watch Netflix is to get a lightning-to-HDMI adapter. Here's how to connect this to your projector.

  1. Connect the HDMI lightning cable adapter into your iPhone.

  2. Connect an HDMI cable into the HDMI port on the adapter.

  3. Connect the other end of the HDMI cable to your projector. Ensure the projector is using the HDMI input (it should do this on its own, but different models may vary).

  4. Your iPhone screen mirror to your projector. Now you can open Netflix on your iPhone and play any movie or show you wish.

Cast Through a Streaming Device

You can also play Netflix through your iPhone to a projector by connecting a streaming device to the projector and casting your iPhone to the device. This setup is a good option if you already have a streaming device.

A Roku is a solid choice. Although Apple TV might seem like a more obvious choice to use, Netflix has stopped supporting AirPlay to Apple TV devices.

Here's how to cast to a streaming device with your iPhone

  1. Connect your Roku to your projector via the HDMI port. Then select the HDMI input on your projector. Ensure your Roku, iPhone, and projector are on the same Wi-Fi network (if your projector is Wi-Fi enabled).

  2. On your iPhone, open Netflix and choose which movie or show you'd like to watch.

  3. In the upper-right corner of the playback screen, you should see a cast icon. Tap the cast icon.

  4. Select to cast to your Roku device. Your movie will appear on the projector.

    Casting Netflix to a Roku device on an iPhone.

Playing Netflix On a Projector

There are many projectors out there now with differing capabilities, so connecting to one with your iPhone may not be a one-size-fits-all situation. However, if you have a newer type or smart projector, you should have fewer roadblocks.

If you've yet to buy a projector, keep in mind some smart projectors now come with Netflix software built-in, so you won't need anything like an iPhone to send the video. The projector would need to connect to your local Wi-FI to stream the content.

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