How To Connect iPhone to Samsung TV via USB

You’re probably wondering why there is a USB port on the back of your Samsung TV. Most models of Samsung TVs have a USB port located next to the HDMI port on the back or the side of the TV. 

There are multiple reasons this USB port exists on your TV. Some may use it to plug in lights that illuminate the back of the TV, and some may use it to connect peripheral devices such as a keyboard. We will be focusing on how to connect your iPhone to the TV and the features supported by these options. In this article, you’ll learn how to find the port and how to navigate your TV with your phone connected.

Find the Port

The way we would typically charge an iPhone is by using the lightning cable and a power adapter then plug that into a wall outlet. Some people also charge it using the computer or the outlet in the car. 

An overlooked feature of a Samsung TV is the ability to charge your phone using the USB slot on the TV. This is a great feature to keep in mind when staying in a hotel with minimal outlets, looking for an easy place to charge your phone at a friend’s house or the convenience of charging your phone while watching TV. These are all great options that most people probably haven’t thought of before and certainly can come in handy when you need it most. 

Here are the 3 steps you will need to get your iPhone charging using the Samsung TV.

1. Locate the USB port on the Samsung TV. It will be labeled “USB” and typically be on the back or the side of the TV.
2. Take the lightning cable that you would use to charge your phone with and plug that directly into the TV, followed by connecting your iPhone. 
3. Turn the TV on and the iPhone will start charging immediately.

There will most likely be popups that appear on the iPhone and the TV. Both can be ignored for charging purposes. The next section will outline how to utilize those popup features.

Viewing Once Connected

USB to lightning technology that has been used on iPhones since 2012 and gives the ability to transfer data, view photos, sync music, as well as charge the device. The process of viewing data from your iPhone to TV looks very similar to the process of accessing images from a digital camera on your computer. 

There are a few benefits of connecting to your TV this way. The main benefit is you already have the required lightning cable required for the next steps because it is the same cable that you would use to charge your phone. There is no need to buy an additional cable or adapter. 

Another benefit of viewing your photos this way is that no internet connection is required to have this feature work. If you need to view photos on a bigger screen but do not have WIFI access this is a great option. 

When connecting the iPhone to the Samsung TV you will only be able to view images that are stored within your Photos app on your phone. The photos will be stored in a series of folders when viewed on the TV. The devices that were used in this example are an iPhone 12 Mini (iOS 14.7.1) and a Samsung 6 Series Smart TV (software version 1310). 

Can All Samsung TVs View Images Via USB?

Some versions of Samsung TV software may look a little different but these steps can guide you in the right direction. 

Here are 4 steps to view your images on the TV. 

1. Turn off the TV and turn it back on using the TV’s remote control. I have found in most cases the iPhone will not connect unless you do this first. 
2. Plugin the iPhone with the lightning to USB cable and connect that to the USB port on the TV.
3. On the iPhone press “Allow” when the popup window says “Allow this device to access photos and videos?.”
4. The TV will then have a popup that says, “New device: iPhone connected”. Here you will use the Samsung remote and click browse. 

The Samsung TV will now take you to a screen that shows files and folders similar to what you would see on a PC or Mac. 

The photos are viewed differently when connected this way because the device has been set up to read as a storage device only and bypasses the iPhone’s operating system. The photos you are viewing are all stored in your Photos app on your iPhone. Now you can use the Samsung remote and browse the folders of photos.

Conclusion

Connecting your iPhone to your Samsung TV via USB can be done in a variety of ways, for a variety of reasons. You simply need to locate the port on the back of the television, plug in your cord, and figure out your intent from there.