Netflix has an app on the iPhone 5, and it is very convenient to be able to stream video to your phone when you need to kill some time.
But if you are at home and have access to an HDTV, it can be a little disappointing to watch movies and TV shows on such a small screen.
Fortunately, there is a Lightning Digital AV Adapter made by Apple that you can purchase which allows you to connect your iPhone 5 to a TV with an HDMI port.
All you need is your iPhone 5, your HDMI-capable HDTV, the adapter, and an HDMI cable, and you can start watching Netflix on your TV from your iPhone.
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How to Watch Netflix On a TV from the iPhone 5
Note that this connection is not exclusive to Netflix. You can use this setup to watch video from a number of other apps as well, including HBO Go and Hulu Plus.
It is also important to note that the adapter does not include an HDMI cable. Fortunately you can also buy those from Amazon, where they are much cheaper than they would be if you went and bought one from a retail store. So once you have your adapter and your HDMI cable, you can follow the steps below to start watching Netflix on your HDTV from your iPhone.
Step 1: Connect the adapter to the iPhone 5.
Step 2: Connect one end of the HDMI cable to the HDMI port on the adapter.
Step 3: Connect the other end of the HDMI cable to an HDMI port on your TV.
Step 4: Turn on the TV and switch the input or source channel to the HDMI option to which the cable is connected.
Step 5: Launch Netflix and select a show to watch.
If you have an older model of the iPhone that still has the larger 30-pin connector, such as the iPhone 4 or 4S, Â then you would need this adapter instead.
Now that you know how to connect your iPhone to your HDTV to watch Netflix, you will be able to use this technique to watch movies and other videos on your television.
If you are considering this option, then you may also want to consider checking out the Roku LT. It is comparable in price, but you can have it connected to your TV all the time so that you don’t have to worry about connecting and unconnecting your iPhone 5 every time you want to watch Netflix. Click here to learn more about the Roku LT.
We have also previously written about connecting a MacBook to an HDTV as well.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.