The fastest way to connect your iPhone to Roku
You can connect your iPhone to a Roku TV in two ways: screen mirroring (which shows your entire iPhone screen on the TV) or the Roku app (which lets you control the TV and launch channels without mirroring). Screen mirroring works if your iPhone and Roku are on the same Wi-Fi network. The Roku app method is simpler for most people because it doesn't require your phone and TV to be on the same network, though both devices still need internet access.
For screen mirroring, swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPhone to open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, select your Roku TV from the list, and enter the four-digit code that appears on your TV screen. For the Roku app, download it from the App Store, sign in or create a free Roku account, select your TV from the list of devices, and use the app's remote controls to navigate.
Key Takeaways
- Screen mirroring shows your entire iPhone screen on the TV and requires both devices to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- The Roku app lets you control your TV and launch channels without mirroring, and works even if your phone and TV are on different networks.
- Screen mirroring works best for watching videos, browsing photos, or sharing content from your phone directly on the larger screen.
- The Roku app is the better choice if you mainly want to control the TV, change channels, or adjust volume without displaying your phone's screen.
Screen mirroring: step by step
To mirror your iPhone screen to your Roku TV, first make sure both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Check your iPhone's Wi-Fi settings and your Roku TV's network settings to confirm they match.
On your iPhone, swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center. Look for the Screen Mirroring button (it looks like a rectangle with a triangle at the bottom). Tap it, and a list of available devices will appear. Select your Roku TV's name from the list. Your TV will display a four-digit code on the screen.
Enter this code on your iPhone when prompted. Once you do, your iPhone screen will appear on the TV. Everything you do on your phone—opening apps, scrolling, typing—will show on the larger display. To stop mirroring, open Control Center again, tap Screen Mirroring, and select Stop Mirroring.
Using the Roku app for control without mirroring
The Roku app gives you a remote control on your phone without displaying your screen on the TV. Download the Roku app from the App Store and open it. You'll be asked to sign in or create a free Roku account—this is required even if you don't plan to use other Roku services.
After signing in, the app will search for Roku devices on your network. When it finds your TV, tap it to connect. You'll now see a virtual remote on your phone with buttons for power, volume, direction pad, and select. You can also see what's currently playing on your TV and jump directly to channels or apps without using the physical remote.
The Roku app works even if your phone and TV are on different Wi-Fi networks, as long as both have internet access. This makes it useful if you're away from home or if your phone connects to a guest network while your TV uses the main network.
When screen mirroring doesn't work
If your iPhone won't appear in the Screen Mirroring list, the most common cause is that your phone and TV aren't on the same Wi-Fi network. Check both devices' network settings and connect them to the same network, then try again.
If they're on the same network but mirroring still won't start, restart both your iPhone and your Roku TV. Turn off your iPhone completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. On your Roku TV, go to Settings, System, and select Power Off. Wait 30 seconds before turning it back on. Then try mirroring again.
If your Roku TV is very old (more than five years), it may not support screen mirroring at all. In this case, the Roku app is your only option for controlling the TV from your phone.
Screen mirroring vs. the Roku app: which to use
Use screen mirroring when you want to watch videos, browse photos, or show content from your iPhone on the big screen. It's also useful if you want to use an app on your phone that doesn't have a Roku channel version. Screen mirroring does drain your iPhone's battery faster than normal use, so plug it in if you plan to mirror for more than an hour.
Use the Roku app when you mainly want to control the TV—changing channels, adjusting volume, or launching apps. The app uses much less battery than screen mirroring and doesn't require your phone and TV to be on the same network. If you're just using your phone as a remote, the app is the better choice.
You can also use both methods at the same time. For example, you might use the Roku app to navigate to a streaming service, then switch to screen mirroring to watch a video from your phone's photo library on the same TV.
Troubleshooting connection problems
If the Roku app won't find your TV, make sure you're signed into the same Roku account on both devices. The app searches for TVs linked to your account, not just any Roku device on your network. Check that your Roku account email and password are correct on both your phone and your TV.
If you see your TV in the app but can't control it, try closing the app completely and opening it again. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app switcher, find the Roku app, and swipe up to close it. Then reopen the app from your home screen.
If neither screen mirroring nor the Roku app will connect, restart your Wi-Fi router. Unplug it for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for it to fully restart (usually two to three minutes). Then try connecting again.
What you can and can't do while mirroring
While screen mirroring, your iPhone screen appears exactly as it looks on your phone—including notifications, status bar, and anything else on display. If a notification pops up while you're mirroring, it will appear on the TV as well. You can still use your phone normally while mirroring; everything you do will show on the TV in real time.
Screen mirroring works with most apps, but some apps (like Netflix, Disney+, and Apple TV+) block mirroring for copyright reasons. If you try to mirror while one of these apps is open, you'll see a black screen on the TV instead of the app's content. In these cases, use the app's built-in casting feature if it has one, or use the Roku app to launch the app's Roku channel instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Roku account to use screen mirroring?
No. Screen mirroring works without a Roku account—you only need both devices on the same Wi-Fi network. You only need a Roku account if you want to use the Roku app to control your TV.
Can I mirror my iPhone to a Roku TV that's not on my home network?
No. Screen mirroring requires your iPhone and Roku TV to be on the same Wi-Fi network. If you're away from home, you can use the Roku app instead, which works over the internet as long as both devices are connected to any Wi-Fi network.
Why does my screen mirroring keep disconnecting?
Weak Wi-Fi signal is the most common cause. Move your iPhone closer to your router or Roku TV, or check if other devices are using a lot of bandwidth. If your router is far from the TV, consider moving it closer or using a Wi-Fi extender.
Can I mirror video from streaming apps like Netflix?
Most streaming apps block screen mirroring for copyright protection. Instead, check if the app has a built-in cast button (usually in the video player), or use the Roku app to launch the app's Roku channel directly on your TV.
Does screen mirroring work with older iPhones?
Screen mirroring works on iPhone 5s and newer. If you have an older iPhone, you can still use the Roku app to control your TV, but you won't be able to mirror your screen.