Detailed Explanation of Wireless Screen Mirroring Protocols: Why Does Your Phone Sometimes Fail to Cast?
When trying to mirror your phone screen in a smart classroom or meeting room, you may occasionally encounter issues like failing to find devices or connection errors. This is often due to insufficient understanding of wireless screen mirroring protocols. Familiarizing yourself with the three major protocols—AirPlay, Miracast, and DLNA—can help you quickly identify problems.
AirPlay: The “Exclusive” Protocol for Apple Ecosystem
- Features: Exclusive to Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac), used for mirroring to Apple TV or AirPlay-supported TVs/set-top boxes. It offers comprehensive functions, supporting both screen mirroring and content streaming with a smooth experience.
- Reasons for Connection Failure: The receiving device does not support AirPlay; devices are not connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
Miracast: The “Universal” Protocol for Android/Windows Devices
- Features: A built-in wireless mirroring standard for Android phones and Windows computers, focusing on screen mirroring. It is a peer-to-peer technology.
- Reasons for Connection Failure: Some Android manufacturers may disable this feature; the TV or receiver requires manual activation of “Wireless Display” or “Multi-Screen Interaction.”
DLNA: The “Streaming” Protocol for Media Content
- Features: Cannot mirror the entire screen—only streams media files (videos, music, images) from phones to playback devices. The “TV” button in your video apps is based on DLNA.
- Reasons for Connection Failure: It only supports file streaming, not the screen mirroring you may need—this is a misunderstanding of its functionality.
Understanding the differences between these three protocols makes it clear: Apple users should look for AirPlay, Android users for Miracast, and DLNA for video-only streaming. Ensuring device and function compatibility resolves most phone mirroring failures, making multi-screen collaboration smoother.