How to Cast Netflix and YouTube From a Smartphone to Your Roku

Smartphones are great for watching videos on the go. But what about the times you start watching Netflix or YouTube on your phone and decide it would be much better on a big screen?

That’s where screen casting and Roku come in. By casting content from your smartphone to a Roku streaming media device connected to your TV, you can switch from your handset to the boob tube without skipping a beat.

Here’s how:

First, you need to download the Netflix and Roku apps on your smartphone. If you’ve got an Android phone, the YouTube app should already be on there. If you’re using an iPhone, though, you’ll need to download YouTube.

You’ll also have to add the Netflix and YouTube channels to your Roku lineup, if they’re not there already.

Next, make sure your smartphone is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Roku, then launch the Roku app on your handset and select the Roku box where you want the video to appear.

Sign in to the Netflix and YouTube apps on your smartphone and on your Roku.

The next time you open Netflix or YouTube on your smartphone, you’ll see a casting icon in the top right corner of the screen. When you want to send something from your phone to your TV, just tap the icon, select your Roku, and you’re set.

Enjoy.

Email Daniel at dhowley@yahoo-inc.com; follow him on Twitter at @DanielHowley or on Google+.