My photos: Forgotten them? Here's how to look at your smartphone photos videos on your TV

Marc Saltzman, Special to USA TODAY Published 6:00 a.m. ET May 30, 2020

We're swimming in photos. Here are ways to share, store and organize you may not know.

Be honest: Once you've taken photos and videos on your smartphone, how often do you look at these captured moments?

If the answer is "not often," you're not alone. 

Even though your smartphone is super convenient for taking photos and videos, and you probably have hundreds of even thousands of them, perhaps you don't want to squint to see images on a small screen? Or you prefer to look at them with others. Or it's too difficult to find what you're looking for. 

Regardless of the reason, you might better appreciate these photos and home movies –and relive the memories associated with them – when viewed on that big-screen television you own.

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While spending time social distancing, why not access the hundreds (or even thousands) of photos and home movies stored on your smartphone? It will be a lot more enjoyable on a larger screen such as this LG OLED TV. (Photo: LG Electronics)

After all, a 60-inch screen is more conducive for enjoying these images along with the family, not to mention a fun way to spend time while self-isolating during the pandemic. A 4K or 8K TV can also take advantage of advanced optics in today's devices.

With this in mind, here are three ways to do it: 

Flip through photos in the cloud

Many smartphone users take advantage of "cloud" backup, which automatically uploads all photos and videos to an online account – just in case the phone is lost, stolen, or damaged.

If you have a smart TV (or streaming media player like Roku or Chromecast), you could install the same app on your television to view all your images there.

You will need to log into the same cloud account on your TV as your phone – such as Google Photos, Microsoft's OneDrive, Amazon Photos, or Dropbox, for example.

Backing up your photos and videos to cloud services means you can also access them on a Smart TV or when a streaming stick – like Amazon Fire TV, Roku or Chromecast -- is connected to the television. (Photo: Amazon.com, Inc.)

With Apple's iCloud, you'll need an Apple TV box, or you can use a cable or wirelessly stream content, per below.

Access your smartphone scrapbook wirelessly

Most smart TVs today let you wirelessly "cast" images from your smartphone – but the process will vary based on the kind of TV you have.

The technology may be called DLNA or Miracast, or your TV might have built-in Chromecast, Roku or AirPlay support. In most cases, simply choose a photo or video on your mobile device and then tap the Share icon for it to magically appear on your TV.

Your phone will likely need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Smart TV.

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Google Photos is a free app that lets you upload an unlimited number of photos and videos – in case something happens to your smartphone – and you can access these galleries on a Smart TV to enjoy on a larger screen. (Photo: Google Inc.)

Cables to connect your photos

You still have options if you don't have a smart TV or prefer a non-wireless solution.

If you're an Android user, just plug your phone into the TV's USB port, using your USB-C charging cable. Make sure the phone is unlocked and the images should appear on your screen as thumbnail images. Now use your remote to scroll through them all. 

For iPhone, you'll need a Digital AV Adapter and HDMI cable, sold separately for about $49, which connects your Apple device to your TV's HDMI port (opposed to USB port).

Most smart TVs including this Samsung Smart TV, support several apps to display your smartphone's photos and videos, either by wirelessly "casting" them from your handheld device or access them through a cloud service. (Photo: Samsung)

For any kind of phone, you can also copy photos and videos to a PC or Mac and then load up a USB flash drive, which could be plugged into many TVs today (even if they're not a smart TV).

Lastly, you can connect your laptop directly to an available HDMI port on your TV.

Follow Marc on Twitter: @marc_saltzman. Email him or subscribe to his Tech It Out podcast at https://marcsaltzman.com/podcasts.

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