How Does Micro USB to HDMI Adapter Work with Your TV

By Carrie Tsai,  Last Updated: March 16, 2020

"Can anybody tell me what is a Micro USB to HDMI adapter?"

"How can I connect my tablet with a Micro USB port to an HDMI TV?"

Nowadays, as wireless streaming technology develops rapidly, connecting your phone to HDTV wirelessly for viewing your favorite movies and shows on the bigger screen has never been easier. However, there are still a great number of the public using the traditional wired connection for that wired connection of your phone to your TV can lead to higher audio and sound quality as well as lag-free viewing experience.

In terms of wired connection, HDMI cable is the cheapest and most trouble-free approach to connect your phone to your TV. Nevertheless, this is not going to work for those mobile devices which don't have direct HDMI ports but only have Micro-USB ports. To connect mobile devices with Micro USB ports to TVs or other monitors, one of the cheapest and most enticing options is to use a Micro USB to HDMI adapter called MHL adapter.

But like the above words ask, this MHL technology is little-known by the vast majority of the public. It's believed that you're also confused about it. But don't fret. Here comes the article which will explore the Micro USB to HDMI adapter as well as guiding you how to use it to connect your phone with a Micro USB port to HDMI TV. Just continue to read.

What Is Micro USB to HDMI Adapter

Micro USB to HDMI adapter, also known as MHL adapter, is developed by more and more manufacturers on account of the growth of the MHL technology. So let's have a understanding of the MHL technology first.

MHL

MHL, short for Mobile High-Definition Link, is the technical term for an industry-standard mobile audiovisual interface which enables you to connect phones, tablets and other mobile devices to HDTVs and other monitors. This technology is the brainchild of a band of companies including Sony, Samsung, Nokia, Silicon Image and Toshiba. Back in 2010, these companies developed the MHL connection protocol which specifies that mobile devices with Micro USB ports can be connected to HDMI TVs and A/V receivers, leading to the popularity of MHL connection.

To utilize this technology for the connection of your phone with a Micro-USB port and your HDMI TV, the most efficient way is to use a MHL adapter, which carries a Micro USB plug on one end as well as a HDMI port on the other. This Micro USB to HDMI adapter achieves the connection of your phone to your TV by transmitting the signals from your phone into your TV display.

Why Use Micro USB to HDMI (MHL) Adapter to Connect Your Phone to Your HDTV

With the development of the wireless streaming technology, there are more and more wireless approaches that you can use to stream the content on your smartphone to your HDTV more conveniently such as Google's Chromecast and Apple's AirPlay. However, although the wireless connection is indeed more convenient, there are times when the wired Micro USB to HDMI adapter comes in handy. That being said, using the MHL adapter to the wired connection of your phone with Micro USB to your HDMI TV still touts a handful of ascendant merits. The following are these merits which make you choose a Micro USB to HDMI adapter instead of the wireless streaming method to connect your phone to your HDTV.

* Great Video and Audio Quality

Compared with the wireless connection, the MHL adapter can bring higher level of video and audio quality. In terms of visual effect, this Micro USB to HDMI adapter brings up to 1080p high-definition videos, enabling you to view the content on your big-screen TV the way it could be seen on your phone. When it comes to the audio quality, the adapter converts audio with 7.1-channel digital multi-channel, allowing you to enjoy high-quality sound on your TV.

* Lag-free Display Experience

Wireless connection of your phone to your TV can easily cause video and audio latency, which can ruin your best gaming experience. However, by using a Micro USB to HDMI converter, you're able to reach smooth connection from your phone to your TV with zero lag, leading to your lag-free gaming experience.

* Can Still Work Without Wi-Fi or Data

One of the most touted advantages of the Micro USB to HDMI adapter is that it can be useful without internet like Wi-Fi or data. If you've already loaded the content you want to transfer to your TV on your phone, you're able to utilize a MHL adapter to essentially convert the content to play on your big-screen TV with no internet requirement.

* Remote Control to the Connected Mobile Device

One new useful feature that the Micro USB to HDMI adapter touts is its capability of converting control data. This feature allows you to control your connected mobile devices at your will by using your TV's remote.

* Fast Charging to Your Mobile Device

The connection of your mobile device to your TV consumes a lot of power, which can easily cause battery draining. However, during the connection, a wired Micro USB to HDMI adapter is useful to keep the enough power since its cable can get your TV fast charge your mobile device up to 40W. With it, you don't have to worry about battery draining while playing the content on your big-screen TV.

Do Your Phone and Your TV Work with the Micro USB to HDMI Adapter

Whether you're able to successfully connect your phone to your TV with a Micro USB to HDMI adapter all depends on whether they are MHL-supported or not. Generally, a MHL adapter can work to connect only when both your phone and your TV support MHL. Currently, lots of the high-end brands of Android smartphones and tablets are compatible with MHL. However, in order to make the connection successfully, you're in need of checking if both your phone and your TV are MHL-enabled by going to the official MHL website.

If you find that your TV or other monitor device isn't on the list, you are still able to display the content from your phone on it. Of course, the premise is that the Micro USB to HDMI adapter you use needs to have an additional port on which your power-providing device's Micro USB  plug can be plugged in, leading to enough charging to your phone. However, you cannot use your TV's remote to control your phone if your TV isn't MHL-supported.

If you're an Apple user, then you'll find that your iPhone or other iOS device isn't on the list of MHL-enabled mobile devices. This is because the iOS devices don't own the output compatible with the default Micro USB to HDMI adapter. But fortunately, any iOS device that has a Lightning port (the majority of the newer iOS devices) can connect to the MHL adapter by previously connecting to the Lightning Adapter. That being said, the Apple device with a Lightning port can be connected to a Lightning adapter first. Then it can be connected to the MHL converter by connecting the Micro USB plug on the MHL adapter to the connected Lightning adapter.

How to Connect Your Micro USB to the HDMI TV

Now you must attempt to connect your phone to your HDMI TV in haste. But don't be too anxious. All you need to do first is make sure both your phone and your TV are compatible with the Micro USB to HDMI adapter. Then purchase one adapter if you don't have one. Finally, make sure you have an HDMI cable available. If don't, you should purchase one. Now after making sure that everything needed is available, just follow the instruction below step by step to connect your phone to your TV via a Micro USB to HDMI adapter.

Step 1: Plug one side of your HDMI cable into the back of your TV. The HDMI port on your TV is usually trapezoid-shaped. When recognizing the right port, you need to pay attention.

Step 2: Insert the other side of the HDMI cable into the HDMI port on your Micro USB to HDMI adapter.

Step 3: Connect the small plug on the opposite end of your Micro USB to HDMI converter to the Micro-USB port on your phone.

Step 4: Turn on your TV.

Step 5: Then shift the input of your TV to the correct HDMI port. (Usually press the "Input" button on the side of your TV).

Then, all you need to do is wait for your phone's screen to display on your TV. When it successfully indicates, you're able to stream your favorite movies and shows in high-definition, enjoy the music you love with immersive sound quality as well as playing the games with no lag on your big-screen TV.

Conclusion

Now everything about the Micro USB to HDMI adapter is clear. It's a useful tool utilized to the wired connection of your phone to your HDTV. With some powerful touted features, the adapter is worth having a try for you. You can have one and then follow our simple instruction above to successfully connect your phone to your TV.