I’ve been in your shoes, and it’s indeed frustrating! Some common advice—connect both devices to the same network, and then use AirPlay—doesn’t always do the trick. Here are a few different approaches that might help you out.
First off, try a wired solution. You can use an HDMI adapter for your iPhone. It’s not as ‘cool’ as wireless, but it’s dead simple and reliable. Just get an Apple Lightning Digital AV Adapter, plug it into your iPhone, then run an HDMI cable from the adapter to your Sony TV. This will mirror your iPhone screen perfectly without any compatibility issues.
Also, consider using Google Chromecast if you have one lying around. Install the Google Home app on your iPhone and follow the setup instructions. This method isn’t natively supported like AirPlay but works like a charm once configured.
You could also use a screen mirroring app other than DoCast, like ApowerMirror or the Google Home app mentioned earlier. ApowerMirror offers a step-by-step guide to mirror your iPhone screen to various smart TVs, and it has been quite reliable for me. Sometimes third-party solutions handle device hiccups better than the native options.
Lastly, if you’re struggling with updates or compatibility issues, try resetting your network settings on both devices. Go to Settings → General → Reset → Reset Network Settings on your iPhone. Unplug and reconnect your Wi-Fi router as well. This often resolves hidden connection issues that are hard to diagnose.
For a deeper dive, you can learn more about how to stream and mirror your iPhone using detailed guides online.