How to Connect Your iPhone to a Portable Monitor (Full Screen Guide)

Portable monitors have become one of the best travel accessories around. They fold flat, weigh almost nothing, and give you a real screen to work or watch on. Most people bring a laptop to drive one. But if you have an iPhone, a cable, and the right app, you do not need the laptop at all.

The catch is that most iPhone apps were never designed to fill a widescreen display. You plug in and get a tiny portrait-sized area surrounded by black bars. External Display Browser is the one app built specifically to fix that.

What You Need

• An iPhone supporting video output (iPhone 5 or later, with a Lightning or USB-C port)
• A Lightning to HDMI adapter for older iPhones, or a USB-C to HDMI or USB-C to USB-C cable/hub for iPhone 15 and later
• A portable monitor with an HDMI or USB-C input
• The External Display Browser app, available on the App Store
• A portable battery or power bank if you'll be away from a power outlet for a while

External Display Browser

Full screen on any external monitor, TV or portable display. On the App Store.

Download on the App Store

How to Set It Up

Great Use Cases for Portable Monitor Plus iPhone

Watching video in a hotel room

Hotel TVs are convenient but have limited app support. A portable monitor connected to your iPhone gives you a proper 1080p screen with access to every streaming platform and video site right in the browser, no logins or app installs required.

Working from a cafe or co-working space

Pair a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse with your iPhone. Open your work tools in External Display Browser on the portable screen. You have a productive two-screen equivalent setup that fits in a backpack, with no laptop needed.

Presentations on the go

Connect the portable monitor where a projector or TV is not available. Browse your content full screen and present directly from your iPhone. The phone stays in your hand as the controller while the audience sees the full browser on the monitor.

Tips for a Better Portable Setup

• A short USB-C hub lets you connect power, HDMI, and a keyboard dongle all at once
• Keep your iPhone charged with a pass-through charging adapter while using the monitor
• Pair a compact Bluetooth keyboard and trackpad combo for a complete portable workstation
• Use the floating window feature in the app to keep two windows visible at the same time

Does it work with USB-C portable monitors?

If your portable monitor has a USB-C input and you have an iPhone 15 or later, one USB-C to USB-C cable can handle both the video signal and charge your phone at the same time on supported monitors. Check your monitor's specs to see if it supports video input over USB-C.