How Do I Play My Tribute on a TV?

Download it first

Whatever you're playing it on, start here. Open your Tribute page and click Download Tribute. You'll get a high-definition MP4.

Why download instead of playing from the link? A downloaded file:

• doesn't depend on the venue's Wi-Fi
• plays at full quality, with no buffering or stuttering
• won't be interrupted by notifications, calls, or a screen that locks
• works with every TV, streaming box, and cable below

Where the file lands depends on your device:

• iPhone or iPad: tap Download, then choose Save Video to put it in your Photos app. If it went to Files instead, open Files, find the video, and use Share → Save Video.
• Android: the file goes to your Downloads folder and shows up in Google Photos or your Gallery app.
• Computer: it saves to your Downloads folder.

If your Tribute has a password, the download works the same way. The password only protects the web page, not the file.

From an iPhone or iPad

Apple TV, or a TV with AirPlay (most Samsung, LG, Sony, Vizio, and Roku TVs from the last few years)

1. Make sure your phone and the TV are on the same Wi-Fi network.
2. Open the video in Photos.
3. Tap the Share button, then AirPlay, and pick your TV.
4. Press play. The TV takes over playback, so you can set your phone down.

A TV without AirPlay

Use a Lightning to HDMI or USB-C to HDMI adapter (Apple's Digital AV Adapter, or any well-reviewed equivalent) and plug the phone straight into the TV. Open the video in Photos and press play. Switch the TV to that HDMI input.

Chromecast or Google TV

Google Photos on iPhone can cast to Chromecast. Open the video in the Google Photos app, tap the Cast icon at the top, pick your TV, and press play.

From an Android phone

Chromecast, Google TV, or a TV with Chromecast built in (most Sony, TCL, Hisense, and Philips TVs)

1. Same Wi-Fi network for the phone and TV.
2. Open the video in Google Photos.
3. Tap the Cast icon at the top, choose your TV, and press play.

Samsung TV

Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap Smart View, choose the TV, then open the video in your Gallery app.

Any other TV

Look for Screen Mirroring, Cast, or Smart View in your phone's quick settings, or use a USB-C to HDMI adapter and plug in directly.

From a Mac or Windows computer

HDMI cable

This is the most reliable option of all. Plug the laptop into the TV, switch the TV to that input, open the MP4, and press play. If your laptop doesn't have an HDMI port, a USB-C to HDMI adapter costs a few dollars.

On a Mac, set the TV as the main display or use presentation mode so the video fills the screen. On Windows, press Windows + P and choose Duplicate or Second screen only.

AirPlay from a Mac

Click Control Center in the menu bar, then Screen Mirroring, and choose your Apple TV or AirPlay TV. Open the video and press play.

Cast from Windows or Mac

Open the MP4 in Chrome (drag the file into a new tab), click the three-dot menu, choose Cast, and pick a Chromecast or Google TV.

From a USB drive

Most smart TVs have a USB port and will play an MP4 directly. Copy the downloaded file onto a USB drive, plug it into the TV, and use the TV's Source or Input menu to open it.

A few TVs are fussy about drive formatting. If the TV doesn't see the file, try formatting the drive as FAT32 or exFAT and copying the video again.

You can also order a USB drive with the Tribute already on it. See Physical Tribute Delivery Options.

By streaming box

• Apple TV: AirPlay from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac (above).
• Roku: Roku TVs and players support AirPlay from Apple devices. From Android, use the Roku app's Play on Roku feature to send the video from your phone.
• Fire TV: Fire TV Sticks don't support AirPlay or Chromecast. The simplest path is a laptop with an HDMI cable, or a USB drive if your TV has a port.
• Chromecast or Google TV: cast from Google Photos on any phone, or from Chrome on a computer.

Can I just open the link on the TV?

You can, but we don't recommend it for anything that matters. TV web browsers and screen-mirrored phone browsers often struggle with video playback, and one dropped Wi-Fi connection means a frozen screen in front of a room full of people. Download the file and play that instead. It takes two extra minutes and it works every time.

Before the big moment

• Do a test run on the actual TV a day ahead, not five minutes before.
• Turn on Do Not Disturb on any phone you're mirroring from.
• Check the sound. If the audio is coming from your phone or laptop instead of the TV, look for an audio output setting on the device.
• Charge it. Playback drains a phone battery fast, and an HDMI adapter can't charge at the same time.
• Bring a backup. A copy on a USB drive or a second phone means one bad cable won't spoil the evening.

Still stuck? Email support@tribute.co and we'll help you out.