To stream a file from your Mac or Macbook to your LG Smart TV, follow these steps:
Is your Mac screen not enough for you? Whether you’re a movie fan, or you want to enjoy online videos with friends, everything looks better on a bigger screen. So connecting your Mac to your LG TV is a great idea. However, using cables is outdated, AirPlay has its limitations, and choosing a third-party app is difficult. But our article will explain the best ways to connect Mac to LG TV.
Elmedia Player is the perfect solution to use to connect LG to Mac. The app can stream a wide range of file formats, and it goes as far as transcoding unsupported formats on the go. Not to mention you can change the video resolution, plus, it can stream 4K videos. You can use embedded subtitles, load external ones, or even search for them on the OpenSubtitles website. In addition to that, you can add external audio tracks as well.
None of these benefits can be found in the macOS native AirPlay feature, so Elmedia definitely has the upper hand here. And since the app not only supports AirPlay, but also DLNA, you can even use it with non-AirPlay compatible LG models. Elmedia doubles as a powerful media downloader, which comes as a valuable bonus feature.
The streaming option is offered as part of the Elmedia Player PRO paid upgrade.
To stream a file from your Mac or Macbook to your LG Smart TV, follow these steps:
1. Turn on your TV.
3. Find the video or audio file that you’d like to stream to your TV.
4. Open the file in the Elmedia Player.
5. In Elmedia Player’s Control Panel, press the streaming icon and select which device to stream to.
Note: The free Elmedia Player app offers 5 minutes of streaming. Once you test the app and make sure it meets your expectations, you can purchase the PRO version and enjoy unlimited streaming and downloading.
JustStream is another useful app if you want to stream to LG TV from Mac. It comes with a stylish and intuitive design, but doesn’t lag behind when it comes to handy features. For example, you don’t need to worry about compatibility as the app supports a wide variety of formats. For formats unrecognized by the receiving device, JustStream offers real-time transcoding.
The app also allows you to create playlists, so now you can binge watch your favorite TV shows on the big screen. There’s extensive audio and subtitle support to make your content as accessible as possible. All in all, JustStream will surely provide a satisfying streaming experience.
1. Download JustStream on your computer. Launch the app by expanding its icon on the toolbar.
2. Click on the "+" to browse for the video file you want to stream.
3. Click the signal icon to select which device you’d like to stream to.
4. Then, click on "Start Streaming" to begin streaming.
Note: The free version of JustStream only provides 20 minutes of streaming from your Mac to your LG TV.
The next note-worthy app on our list is Omni Player. It boasts great file support - covering video, audio and subtitle formats. You can play 4K, 1080P and 720P HD. Of course, you can create and manage your own playlists. Omni Player also supports online videos and audio, so you can watch Youtube and Vimeo content without the ads.
Additionally, there are advanced playback controls and cool video image adjustment options. With audio tracks and subtitles, you can also fine tune everything in real time. For example, there are different audio modes and preset audio equalizer settings to select. Or you can change the encoding of subtitles in different languages to overcome display issues.
Similar to other apps on this list, Omni Player can connect with DLNA-compatible devices, Chromecast, and Roku, but it’s a Pro feature. Unlimited streaming is also available only in the Pro version, called VIP.
Mirrormeister is another good app which allows you to mirror and stream to LG TV from Mac. It works with MacBook, MacBook Pro and iMac, supporting various Smart TV brands and streaming devices (like Roku, Chromecast, Amazon FireTV, Xiaomi Mi Box). The app allows you to cast photos and stream movies, apps, or games (although there is some latency).
You can even enjoy online videos from YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, and Dailymotion on a bigger screen. Mirrormeister comes with some additional special features, for example you can watch one window on your Mac and a different one on your TV.
A trial period is available to try out the app. To access all the app’s features without advertising and interruptions, you will need a paid subscription.
Another neat option worth discussing is AirBeamTV. With this app, you can screen share Mac to LG TV or stream movies, apps, and presentations. It also conveniently works with iPhone and iPad, all without the need for USB or HDMI cords. It works by temporarily recording your screen and streaming it to your TV.
The content is then removed from your device’s memory. You can try the app with a free demo version and later upgrade to the paid version. Note that AirBeamTV offers a number of screen mirror apps and each one is dedicated to a particular Smart TV brand, so they’re not intended as a universal solution. You can purchase the individual LG app or the whole app package as a bundle.
LG has its own technology known as Smart Share which allows streaming and mirroring, and is based on DLNA. You can stream videos, music, and pictures, while for anything else, you can use the mirroring feature.
To use it, you need an LG Smart TV, another device with files (such as a Mac), an internet network, and suitable Smart Share Software installed on your other device.
LG's official Smart Share program is only available for Windows, unfortunately. So to use Smart Share, Mac users can use the Plex Media Server. For iOS devices, you need to download the LG TV Plus app.
FAQ
You need to have a video cable that connects your computer’s display port to the video input port on your TV. Depending on the type of port your Mac has and your TV, you could also play audio. Follow these steps to link your devices:
This could be due do different issues, so you can try several troubleshooting solutions, such as:
Elmedia Player is free to download and test. After you’ve tried the app’s features, you can upgrade to the Pro version. There are three options available - Personal use for $19.95, Family use (3 computers) for $39.95, and Business use for $29.95.
JustStream has a free version that you can download and try out. For example, you can mirror your screen for 20 minutes to evaluate the app. To unlock all available features and unlimited use, you can then purchase the full version.
When experiencing issues with AirPlay when trying to screen share LG TV, Mac users can try these solutions:
If you’re trying to cast via AirPlay, first ensure that your TV set is AirPlay-compatible by checking the official specifications. If it’s not, then you need to use a third-party app in order to cast from your Mac. That’s due to the fact that while macOS supports AirPlay and Chromecast, it does not support the DLNA protocol. Thus, if your LG TV only has DLNA (if it’s an older model for example), then AirPlay won’t work.
If your TV is indeed AirPlay-compatible, take a look at the previous question above for troubleshooting ideas.
