At a glance: CastPlay for smart TVs
CastPlay, from SmartTV Software Studio, is a free app that lets you send photos, music and videos from a mobile device to a compatible smart TV. Setup is straightforward, but both the phone and the television must share the same Wi‑Fi network. For best connectivity, consider turning off your router’s privacy/guest isolation setting so devices can discover each other.
Controls and what each option does
CastPlay provides a single control for screen mirroring plus separate controls for projecting media. The buttons operate differently depending on whether you choose mirroring or casting.
- Videos — select a video and then tap the screencast control to see available TVs.
- Audio — select an audio file and use the screencast button to pick a target device.
- Images — tap an image and press the screencast control to choose a TV to send it to.
Screen mirroring uses its dedicated button and lists nearby devices for a full “reflection” of your phone screen on the TV. Casting media (audio, photos, video) sends content directly to the television only; it will appear on the TV but not mirror the phone’s display.
Connection tips and common problems
- Disable your router’s privacy or client isolation feature if device discovery fails.
- Make sure both your phone and TV are connected to the same Wi‑Fi network before attempting either mirroring or casting.
- No extra configuration on the phone is typically required beyond granting any requested permissions.
Although the app is easy to use, it is not perfectly stable — crashes and unexpected malfunctions can occur, which will interrupt streaming.
Suggested replacement
If CastPlay proves unreliable, try ScreenCast — Screen Mirroring TV Cast (Free) as an alternative for screen sharing and media casting.
Technical
- Android
- Free