How to Connect Smartphone to your TV?

Today, we buffer videos on our phone, watch live matches and do all kinds of stuff on our smartphones which is splendid. But the 6-inch screen can never hold a candle to the Big screen TV. Today, when concepts like smart home, cloud computing and sharing data across a network of devices is the trend, connecting your phone to the TV, would not be a big deal but actually a smart and useful one. So, if you are still watching the videos on the small screen, it is time to connect your phone to the luxurious television and save your eyes a bit of strain.

How to Connect Smartphone to your TV?

Using HDMI Cable to Connect

Starting from the traditional ways of establishing a connection, using a wire. This, by far is the easiest way of establishing a connection. Once connected through an HDMI cable, whatever you display on your phone will also show up on your TV. The benefit to HDMI, apart from its ubiquity is that it accommodates HD video and audio simultaneously, allowing you to connect devices without worrying about watching a film in full HD but having to make do with your tablet’s tinny speakers. An HDMI output is an advantage that many Android tablets have over Apple’s iPad.

Although a super easy and efficient method for all the not-so-tech-savvy people out there, this may not be favored by folks who do not want the cable length to become a restriction in their tv viewing experience.

Related: How to Mirror Android Screen to TV Wirelessly or with Cable

MHL- Mobile High Definition Link

HDMI is easy to understand: it’s a port that only does one thing, after all. The drawback is that not all tablets have an HDMI output, and very few phones do. The good news is that a pair of widely-supported standards have emerged that allow Android owners to connect to external displays using their microUSB port.

The standards in question are MHL (Mobile High Definition Link) and the newer SlimPort. Both look the same, which is stating the obvious as they simply use the microUSB port on an Android device to deliver video.

Moving on to a ‘Smarter tv’

While investing in a new TV make sure that it is DLNA – certified. This will enable your tv to communicate with your phones, tablets or any other devices without the help of the above-mentioned methods.

DLNA stands for Digital Living network alliance. A DLNA certified device will be able to connect with a DLNA certified SmartTV, projector etc without any wires or dongles.
The new age smart TV use a technology popularly called DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance), something most Smart TVs today come built with. All you need apart from a smart TV is a smartphone or tablet, and a wireless router. You can also connect a NAS (network attached storage) to your router and use it to stream all your media content on your TV.

Going Wireless

There’s little to beat the wow factor associated with beaming video straight from a tablet to your TV.If you like to keep up with the trend and go for a wireless set-up, you may look into a device that plugs into the TV to connect it to your home Wifi. Once that is done, you can establish a connection between your television and smartphones using your home wifi.

There are various other options to GO WIRELESS

 See Also: How to Connect Android Phone to PC

The Roku

Streaming Stick lets you put your Android screen on your TV. Enable screen mirroring in your Roku settings and casting on your Android device, then click on the streaming icon that pops up on your phone or tablet to start viewing the same content on the big screen.

Miracast

Miracast is a wireless standard that creates an ad-hoc network between two devices, typically your tablet and a set-top box which supports Miracast. An increasing number of TVs support Miracast without the need for extra hardware. Miracast uses H.264 for video transmission, which means efficient compression and decent, full HD picture quality.

Better yet, Miracast supports Digital Rights Management (DRM), which means services such as iPlayer and YouTube can be streamed to a TV. Not all services work, though – see below. Android devices running Android 4.2 support Miracast.

Google Chromecast

An alternative but more user-friendly to Miracast is Google chromecast. These small dongles developed by Google, enable users with a mobile device or personal computer to initiate and control playback of Internet-streamed audio-visual content on a high-definition television or home audio system through a mobile that supports the Google cast technology.

Sponsored Ads: Accidentally deleted files from your Android phone while having no backup? Try this free Android data recovery software to quickly get them back!

It plugs into a spare HDMI port on your TV and connects to your wireless network. Chromecast support is burgeoning, which means content from services such as iPlayer, Netflix, BT Sport, and others can be played with the Chromecast dongle doing all the legwork instead of your tablet, and that’s good news for battery life.
You can also pick up the pricier Chromecast Ultra to stream 4K content too.

Airplay

Apple users would need an Apple TV to be able to connect their iPhones to a television. An IOS user shall use AirPlay to wirelessly beam music, videos, photos to your AppleTV.

With AirPlay, you can wirelessly stream videos, music, and photos from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to Apple TV (2nd generation) and stream music to AirPlay speakers or receivers, including AirPort Express. You can also wirelessly stream videos and music from your computer to Apple TV (2nd generation) and stream music to AirPlay speakers or receivers, including AirPort Express

So next time you want to show the cool YouTube video you recently discovered to a bunch of people, do not limit the viewing experience to the small screen.

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How to Fix Wi-Fi Authentication Problem on Android

If you’re frustrated trying to connect your Android phone to a Wi-Fi network over and over and are still failing, this article might be of help to you.

We use our mobile phones on a daily basis, and its no longer limited to calling or texting. A maximum amount of our times goes into browsing or using important phone apps that perform important tasks. However, there are times when our phones show resistance despite the availability of a steady Wi-Fi network in the vicinity. The most common error that users often complain of is an “Authentication problem”.

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An Authentication error occurs despite entering the correct password for a Wi-Fi network. Now, its quite possible that you may have entered an incorrect password by mistake. But if the issue doesn’t resolve even after checking and re-checking the password, it's highly likely that the problem lies in the software or pairing.

Don’t fret yet! Although there’s no one fix that is guaranteed to work, here’s a rundown of all the solutions that could amend the authentication problem.

12 Methods To Fix Wi-Fi Authentication Problem on Android

1. Double Check for Duplicate Networks:

Oftentimes, people get the authentication failed error when either the username and password is invalid. You must check whether there are any similar or duplicate Wi-Fi network names. It’s possible that you could be clicking on the wrong wireless network by accident. If that is the case and it is causing confusion, try renaming your Wi-Fi network and then connect your device to it.

2. Restart the Router:

One of the most obvious things to do is to reboot your router. Simply turn it off, wait for a few minutes, and then turn it on again. This will fix any technical issues that your router may be facing. However, remember to first “Forget network” on your Android device. This feature will get rid of your existing network profile. You’ll find it under Settings>>Wireless and Networks>>Wi-Fi. All you have to do is press and hold the wireless network you wish to connect to. You’ll then be displayed a pop-up menu from where you can click on “Forget Network”. Once you’ve performed the two aforementioned steps, add the Wi-Fi network again and try to reconnect to it. 

3. Modify the Security Protocol:

This solution sounds way more complicated than it really is. As long as you know the correct username and password to your Wi-Fi network, you’re good. In order to tweak your router settings, simply check whether the security protocol shows WPA2 or WPA. If it shows WPA, manually change it to WPA2, and if it shows WPA2, change it to WPA. Once that is done, repeat the “Forget Network” process and re-add the wireless network.

4. Use the WPS Push Button:

In case you’re unfamiliar, the WPS is short for Wi-Fi Protected Setup (erstwhile Wi-Fi Simple Config) and serves as a network security standard, enabling you to connect your devices without typing in the password each time you use the Wi-Fi. In order to use this feature, follow the steps mentioned below –

• Navigate to Settings>>Wireless and Networks>>Wi-Fi on your Android phone.
• Find “Advanced Settings”. You’ll see several options.
• Click on “WPS Push Button”. This may also be named as “WPS connection”, depending upon your device.
• This will prompt a WPS setup screen
• Now, press the “WPS” button on your router
• After a few seconds, try to connect your phone to the Wi-Fi network, it should work.

5. Change the Wi-Fi Network Configuration:

More often than not, an authentication error could arise out of an IP conflict. In that case, you simply need to modify your Wi-Fi network default settings to Static IP. Here’s what you need to do –

• Navigate to “Settings” on your phone
• Click and hold on the Wi-Fi network you wish to connect to
• Select the “Modify Network Config” option. This may also be shown as “Modify Network Connection”.
• You’ll see the “Show Advanced Settings” option with a tiny box right next to it. Check that box.
• Scroll down to find “IP Settings”
• The default setting is usually DHCP. Change this to Static.
• An IP Address section will be shown right under.
• Delete whatever is on there and enter the following information – 192.168.1.***(insert any number between 1-225 in the space marked with three asterisks)
• Save the changes.

If this doesn’t work for some reason, change the IP back to DHCP without disconnecting from the Wi-Fi. 

6. Ensure That the Android Device Software is Updated:

Perhaps you have already checked this and done the needful. Nevertheless, non-tech-savvy users tend to ignore notifications regarding a software update. And quite often, the updates resolve issues related to the Wi-Fi. Therefore, if your Android device is running on an older software, chances are that the connectivity will drop frequently, be poor, or bring up authentication problems. Its best to ensure that your device is running on the latest software and if not, you must update it at the earliest by following the steps mentioned below – 

• Go to Settings>>About Phone
• Under “About Phone”, you’ll see an option called “System Updates” or, “Updates”
• If a software update is available, you’ll get the option of downloading them.
• Do that and install the same
• Then, restart your phone

7. Create a New Wi-Fi Password:

This solution isn’t exactly a fix, but there’s no harm in giving it a try. We all have that sneaky family member who picks up our phone and uses it every chance they get. You never know if your password has been changed without your knowledge! It is also possible that you yourself enter an incorrect password because of forgetting a certain insignificant character. Thus, it's always a good idea to change the password right from your router and then try connecting it to your device.

8. Turn the Phone on Airplane Mode:

Normally, we find ourselves turning the phone on airplane mode on flights, or when our batteries run out of juice, or when we simply wish to avoid incessant phone calls. However, this simple feature can sometimes also help us fix a Wi-Fi issue. Here is how you can do it –

• Navigate to Settings>>Network Connections>>Wi-Fi
• Depending upon your device, you might have to perform an additional step, i.e. click on “More Networks”
• You’ll see the option “Airplane Mode”
• Check the box to enable it and try reconnecting your phone to the wireless network.
• Another way of turning on the Airplane Mode is to simply pull up the quick settings and tapping on the Airplane Mode option.
• Once this is done and you are successfully connected to the Wi-Fi, you can turn your mobile data on again.

If there’s a clash between your mobile network and wireless network, this solution should solve it.

9. Delete Old Files (only for rooted devices):

Rooting refers to the process of enabling Android devices to access greater control over a legion of subsystems. It is equivalent to Jailbreaking an iPhone. So if your Android device is rooted, erasing obsolete files may aid in fixing Wi-Fi connectivity problems. Here’s how you can do it –

• Download and install “ES File Explorer” on your device
• Allow root permissions if prompted
• Navigate to “Root Explorer” from the menu and then go to /data/misc/dhcp/
• Delete all the files you see
• Restart your Android device
• Try connecting to the wireless network

10. Verify the Maximum Number of Devices the Modem Supports:

There’s no standard number of devices that a modem can support. The number varies from one modem to another. Check the maximum number of devices that your modem supports by reaching out to your service provider or manufacturer. Few of the routers can be configured manually to be able to support a number of devices. If your modem is capable of the aforementioned, you can check the maximum number of devices supported and change to a greater number from the router settings. 

11. Reset Network Settings:

It may so happen that you’re unsure of what exactly is causing an authentication error. To go over all the possible reasons and solutions can be an arduous and time-consuming task. An easy thing to do is to reset all your network settings including Bluetooth connections, Wi-Fi network, and cellular networks. Follow the steps as mentioned under – 

• Go to Settings>>Backup & Reset>>Network Settings Reset
• Click on Reset Settings
• This may take a while
• Finally, go back to the main Wi-Fi menu and reconnect your device to the network.

If you’re worried about losing data, know that this solution will not wipe your data off. However, what will be wiped is all your previously added networks, including Bluetooth devices and cellular data information. 

12. Perform a Factory Reset:

Despite trying out all the solutions listed above, if your Android device is still failing to connect to the wireless network, this should be considered as your last resort. In order to perform a factory reset, you need to go to Settings>>Backup & Reset>>Factory Data Reset. After doing that, reconnect to the wireless network and you should be good to go. 

Tips: Gihosoft Free Android Data Recovery is a powerful software that can help you recover lost data from Android after factory reset.

Wrapping Up:

As mentioned earlier, there’s no single fix to a Wi-Fi authentication problem. What might work for you may not work for someone else and vice versa. That is because the reason for this error may vary. It's best to try multiple solutions and see what works. If it still doesn’t fix the problem, comment down below and we’ll get back to you.

How to Use the New Multitasking Gestures in Android 9.0 Pie

In the last few years, features in smartphones have improved a lot. Whether it is the external appearance (bezel-less and large screens) or the internals (RAM, software, etc.), it’s no surprise that the smartphones are now extremely powerful devices.

Even on 6-inch screens, one can multitask and use two apps efficiently at the same time. Available on Samsung devices for many years now, Google introduced the split-screen feature in Android Nougat. With this feature, you can open two apps simultaneously on the same screen.

Also Read: 3 Methods to Update Android System Version

In Android Oreo, Google didn’t change much related to the multitasking feature except introducing the picture-in-picture mode (PIP). However, in Android Pie, Google has changed the way you multitask. While the basic functionality is the same i.e. you can switch between recent apps and open two apps on the same screen, the way you access it has changed completely.

So, in this post, we will tell you how to multitask in Android 9 or P.

HOW TO SWITCH BETWEEN APPS

Before Android Pie, one would press the Recent apps button to open the recently launched apps. These apps were arranged in a card layout and one had to scroll vertically to select a new app. Also, we could double tap the Recent apps button to quickly switch between the two recently launched apps.

However, that’s not the case now as one has to scroll horizontally to view the apps. The good thing about this format is that the entire screen of the app is visible now.

To access the recent apps screen, Android Pie has introduced gestures. These are disabled by default but when enabled, the Recent apps button is hidden and a Pill replaces the Home button. However, it’s not necessary to use gestures, you can continue using the traditional Recent apps button.

Also Read: How to Run Muti WhatsApp Accounts in one Phone

But if you want to use them, here’s how to enable it.

Step 1: Open device Settings and go to System. Under System, tap on Gestures.

Step 2: In Gestures, you will find the option Swipe up on the Home button. Tap on it. Turn the toggle on for the setting on the next screen.

Once this gesture is enabled, you have to swipe up from the lower part of the screen to open recent apps. Then you need to drag the Pill left to right to swipe through the apps. In order to dismiss an app, you have to swipe up on it. Similarly, to quickly switch between the apps, swipe left to right once on the bottom area of the screen.

HOW TO ENABLE SPLIT-SCREEN

If you want to use two apps simultaneously on your Android Pie device, you have to use split-screen mode. Earlier, one would tap the split-screen icon in recent apps to minimize them on the screen. However, now the procedure is slightly different and not apparent for newbies.

Step 1: Swipe up on the area where the Pill is present. You will be taken to the recent apps screen.

Step 2: Use the Pill or simply swipe horizontally on the apps to find the app that you have to use in split-screen.

Step 3: Tap on the app icon that appears at the top of the app card. You will get two options — App info and Split screen. Tap on Split screen.

Step 4: Choose another app from the bottom list to view these two apps in the split-screen mode.

NOTE: If the split-screen feature is missing from the menu, it's okay, as not all apps support split-screen mode currently. Once you do that, the app will occupy the top part of the screen and the recent apps will move to the bottom.

These two apps will now work independently of each other. For instance, you can watch YouTube videos in one app and scroll through your Twitter feed in the other.

To close the split-screen mode, drag the border of the app that you want to view in full screen in order to expand it. The second app will close automatically.

Tips: No time to cry over spilled milk, now you can recover deleted data from Android easily and for free with Gihosoft Android Data Recovery software …

BONUS TIP: VIEW RAM OR MEMORY STATUS IN ANDROID PIE

With Android Oreo, Google removed the RAM status from the settings. While it is present under the Developer options, you can also view it using the memory widget.

To do so, follow the steps:

Step 1: Hold any empty space on the home screen and then select Widgets from the options at the bottom.

Step 2: Scroll down and drag Settings to the home screen. The Settings shortcut screen will open. Tap on Memory.

Step 3: A new Memory icon will be created on the home screen. Tap on it to view the memory status of your device.

HAVE FUN MULTITASKING

Google is continuously introducing features that make our lives and work easy. One such feature is multitasking. Now that you know how to do it on Android Pie, have fun.