Want to know if a smart TV works without the internet?
This article will highlight all the essentials on your smart TV and how to watch your favorite movies and series even without the internet!
A smart TV will function as a regular TV if there is no internet. You cannot access any smart features that require data, like watching Youtube, Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+. However, you can watch tv network stations with an antenna, and you can still watch cable programming.
Let’s explore your smart TV options for when you don’t have internet, plus we’ll cover how to get around it and continue watching your favorite shows!
Does A Smart TV Work Without An Internet Connection?
A smart TV will still work without an internet connection, but it will function as a regular TV, and you won’t be able to access any of the smart features.
The best features on a smart TV offer a gateway to watching your favorite reality shows, series, and movies, and they all stream from different streaming platforms. Since these platforms exist on the internet or are not physical locations, you will need the internet to gain access.
For this reason, you won’t be able to watch any programming that requires data, but you can watch the regular channels from TV stations via an antenna, cable, or satellite.
Furthermore, you won’t be able to install new applications, add new features, or update the smart TV firmware to correct any errors unless it has internet. I
It’s worth noting that certain smart TVs may require an internet connection to set up. Thus, if you are in the market for a new smart TV, ask the salesperson or contact customer support to enquire whether it requires an internet connection to set up.
What Smart TV Features Require The Internet?
If you think about it, a smart TV is essentially a TV that is smart enough to do computer things.
Without the internet, a computer won’t have access to Google, Youtube, Twitter, Facebook, Twitch, etc., but you can still use the apps that don’t require data. In the same way, a smart TV without the internet becomes a regular TV.
You won’t have access to Youtube, Netflix, Disney+, Discovery, or other similar features that typically need data. Instead, it will confine you to watching only TV channels aired by local TV network stations.
Can A Smart TV Do Screen Mirroring Without Internet?
If your smart TV comes equipped with integrated WiFi technology like Miracast, then the internet is unnecessary to do a successful screen mirroring.
Screen mirroring, which employs Miracast or other wireless display technology, provides a direct wireless link between the transmitting and receiving devices. Consequently, there is no need for a WiFi or internet connection to mirror your phone screen on your smart TV.
Miracast, however, only supports Android. The Apple equivalent of Miracast is AirPlay.
What Is Miracast, And How Does It Work?
Miracast is a wireless display standard used to share a smartphone, tablet, or PC screen to a TV without cables.
Miracast is a wireless HDMI cable replacement. Miracast technology removes the constraints and difficulties of cords, making it an excellent tool for presentations or even at home.
When you share material from your phone, Miracast sends it to a receiver, such as a wireless display adapter or a smart TV.
Which Devices Are Compatible With Miracast?
Many newer devices, such as modern Windows and Android tablets, smartphones, PCs, and laptops, support Miracast. If you’re using a device with Windows 8.1/10 or later or Android 4.2 or later, Miracast is almost certainly built-in.
Can You Set Up A Smart TV Without Internet?
While it’s true that you might need internet for the initial setup of certain smart TVs, you may not always have the benefit of internet access. Thankfully, there is a workaround.
You can set up your smart TV without the internet by using your mobile phone as a temporary router. You can accomplish this via your phone’s hotspot function.
How Do You Use Your Mobile Hotspot For Android?
Tethering or utilizing a hotspot is the term for sharing a connection. Tethering allows some phones to share their WiFi connection. You may connect another phone, tablet, or computer to the internet using the mobile data on your phone.
Mobile data is sharable over WiFi, Bluetooth, or USB on most Android phones. Furthermore, some cell carriers restrict or charge extra for tethering, so verify with your provider to avoid additional charges. Finally, some of these actions are only applicable to Android 9 and higher.
To turn on your Android hotspot:
- Swipe your finger downward, starting from the top of your screen and bringing down your Quick
Settings menu.
- Select Hotspot to turn on your hotspot feature.
If you don’t see Hotspot, you can do one of two things:
First method:
- Tap the small cogwheel icon in the top-right of the settings menu after swiping downward with your finger.
- Select Connections from the list.
- Select Mobile Hotspot and Tethering
- Tap Mobile Hotspot to enable your Hotspot
Second method:
- Swipe your finger downward to access the quick settings menu.
- Select Edit in the bottom-left corner.
- Drag Hotspot into your Quick Settings.
How Do You Connect You Connect A Device To Hotspot?
To connect to your mobile hotspot:
- Go to the WiFi options for your smart TV
- When your smart TV searches for devices, select the name of your mobile phone.
- Enter your mobile’s hotspot password.
If you want to remove the password on your hotspot:
- Swipe downward from the top of your screen to access the Quick Settings menu.
- Tap and hold Hotspot.
- Under Security, select None
Do You Really Need The Internet To Watch Netflix?
In short, you can’t watch Netflix if your Smart TV has no internet, but you can if you connect your Android, iPhone, tablet, iPad, or iPod Touch devices and mirror them.
You can benefit from connecting your Android or iOS devices to a number of smart TVs. By doing so, it enables you to utilize your TV as a display for content playing on the Netflix mobile app, plus you get to use your mobile device as a remote!
Connect Android Devices Using A Cable
Mobile devices can connect directly to a TV through a cable to display content played on the device. Cable connections differ depending on the mobile device’s output and the TV input needs.
You’ll need a cable to link your Android phone or tablet to your television to mirror the information on your mobile device.
Most modern TVs have HDMI ports, whereas older TVs may have VGA ports. A USB-C or Micro HDMI connection will be necessary on newer Android phones and tablets.
Watch Netflix Using Chromecast
Chromecast-enabled TVs allow you to cast content from your mobile device to Philips, Polaroid, Sharp, Skyworth, Soniq, Sony, Toshiba, and Vizio TVs.
Here’s how you can cast from your Android mobile device:
- Open Netflix on your mobile device and sign in to your account.
- Tap the Cast Chromecast icon in the upper-right or lower-right of the screen.
- Select your smart TV as the device to watch your series or movie.
- Once you select the show you want to watch, hit play.
By using Chromecast, you can also rewind, forward, pause, or alter the audio and subtitle settings directly from your mobile!
Connect iOS Devices Using A Cable
Mobile devices can connect directly to a TV through a cable to display material played on the device. Cable connections differ depending on the mobile device’s output and the TV input needs.
A suitable composite, component, or HDMI cable connection kit is required to connect a 30-pin device to your TV.
To connect a Lightning device to your TV, you’ll need iOS version 11.2.6 or above on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch and a suitable HDMI connection kit.
Can You Watch Movies On A Smart TV Without Internet?
While the absence of the internet prevents you from using the smart features on a smart TV, you can still watch movies by plugging in an external hard drive or USB drive.
Modern smart TVs usually come with multiple USB ports at the back or on the sides that enable you to plug in and use external storage devices without installing them first. These storage devices don’t require the internet and function as plug-and-play devices.
Gaming Is Still Possible Offline
You can still use your smart TV for gaming even without having internet. You’ll usually be able to save your progress and play, but you won’t have access to online multiplayer features. Of course, it won’t be a problem if your game has a local multiplayer co-op option.
Furthermore, you won’t have access to achievements, so keep that in mind if you want to go for any records or challenges. Achievements usually require logging into a live account, such as Xbox Live or your Sony account, to record achievements.
DVD, Blue-Ray, And VCR Devices Still Work Without Internet
If you have a DVD, Blu-ray, and VCR device, you can still use your smart TV to watch movies and series. However, if they offer any online features, you won’t be able to access them, but you’ll have access to the entire movie or series.
These types of devices usually connect to your smart TV via HDMI cables.
Antennas Will Allow You To Watch Regular TV
You can watch cable television with an antenna. If you opt for this route, ensure that the antenna has a far enough reception to reach the nearest TV station. It needs to tune into the channels of the nearest tv station tower for you to access any channels.
Conclusion
A smart TV will function as a regular TV if it does not have internet. You won’t be able to access any of the smart features that require data, like watching Netflix or Disney+ and visiting Youtube.
However, you can watch TV network stations if you have an antenna and cable. You still watch movies via an external hard drive, USB drive, HDMI & USB-C cable, or your mobile as a hotspot. Lastly, screen mirroring is also available if the TV has AirPlay or Miracast technologies.