Put Pinpoint Panic on the TV
Everyone watches the big screen, and one mouse gets passed around.
The easiest way: carry one cable in your pocket. At any friend’s house you can borrow an HDMI slot on their TV, plug in, and play in about a minute, with no TV Wi-Fi setup, passwords or apps. Your phone still needs internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data) for the maps and photos. Casting works too, but it depends on the TV and the Wi-Fi.
1 · Use a cable (recommended)
One end plugs into your phone, the other into the TV’s HDMI slot. The TV shows exactly what’s on your phone, with almost no delay.
What to buy for your phone
iPhone 15 or newer (round USB-C plug)
A USB-C to HDMI cable. Pick one that says it works with iPhone 15 or newer. Apple’s own adapter (USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter) also works, plus a regular HDMI cable.
Shop USB-C to HDMI cables Apple’s adapter
Shop USB-C to HDMI cables Apple’s adapter
iPhone 14 or older (thin Lightning plug)
Apple’s Lightning Digital AV Adapter, plus a regular HDMI cable. Apple’s own adapter is the safest choice; cheap look-alikes often don’t show anything.
Shop Apple’s Lightning adapter HDMI cable
Shop Apple’s Lightning adapter HDMI cable
Android (USB-C plug)
A USB-C to HDMI cable. This works on most Samsung Galaxy S, Note and Fold phones and on Google Pixel 8 or newer. Many lower-priced phones, including most Galaxy A models, can’t send video through the plug. If nothing shows up on the TV, use casting (section 2).
Shop USB-C to HDMI cables
Shop USB-C to HDMI cables
Get a cable at least 10 feet long so you can sit back from the TV. A cable or adapter with an extra charging port keeps your phone charged during a long game.
At a friend’s house
- Find the HDMI slots on the back or side of the TV. If one is empty, use it and skip to step 3.
- All slots full? Take a photo first. Snap a picture of the back of the TV so you know exactly which cable goes back in which slot. Then unplug one, such as the cable from their streaming box.
- Plug in your cable, and note the slot’s number (HDMI 1, HDMI 2…).
- Plug the other end into your phone.
- Pick that slot on the TV: press Input or Source on the TV remote and choose the same HDMI number.
- Samsung phones: if the TV shows a computer-style desktop (Samsung DeX) instead of your phone screen, swipe down from the top of your phone and tap the DeX notice, then choose Screen mirroring. Your phone remembers this choice next time.
- Open pinpointpanic.com and turn the phone sideways. Make sure auto-rotate is on so the game fills the TV.
- When you’re done, plug their cable back into its slot. Check your photo.
2 · Cast with no cable
Casting sends your screen to the TV over Wi-Fi. Your phone and the TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network, so at a friend’s house, ask for their Wi-Fi first. Expect about half a second of delay on the TV. That’s fine for this game; a cable has almost none.
| Your phone | Works with | How |
|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy | Samsung TVs, and most LG, Sony, Roku and Fire TV sets | Swipe down twice from the top of the phone and tap Smart View (swipe left through the tiles if you don’t see it). Pick the TV, then tap Start now. Accept the request on the TV if it asks. |
| Other Android (Pixel, Motorola, others) | TVs with Chromecast or Google TV built in, or a Chromecast plugged into the TV | Open the Google Home app, tap the TV, then tap Cast my screen. Some phones also have a Screen cast tile in the swipe-down menu. |
| iPhone | Apple TV, and smart TVs that list AirPlay (many Samsung, LG, Sony, Vizio and Roku TVs) | Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center. Tap Screen Mirroring (two overlapping rectangles), pick the TV, and type the code shown on the TV. |
Roku TV or Fire TV not showing up? Turn mirroring on in the TV first. Roku: Settings → System → Screen mirroring → choose Prompt or Always allow. Fire TV: hold the Home button on the remote and choose Mirroring.
Then open pinpointpanic.com and turn the phone sideways so the game fills the TV. The announcer and music play through the TV speakers.
3 · Add a pass-around mouse
With a wireless mouse connected to your phone, players don’t have to hold your phone. They watch the TV, move the pointer, click where they think the photo was taken, and pass the mouse along. Your phone just sits by the TV.
Get a Bluetooth mouse, not one with a small USB plug-in receiver. Your phone’s only plug is taken by the TV cable, and a Bluetooth mouse connects without one. Apple’s Magic Mouse doesn’t work with iPhone.
Our pick: Logitech Pebble Mouse 2 M350s
Bluetooth, small, silent clicks, and one AA battery lasts up to two years. The same mouse works with iPhone and Android.
Shop for iPhone Shop for Android Other Bluetooth mice
Shop for iPhone Shop for Android Other Bluetooth mice
Connect it to an Android phone
- Turn the mouse on and put it in pairing mode (usually hold its button until the light blinks).
- On the phone, open Settings → Connections → Bluetooth (Samsung) or Settings → Connected devices → Pair new device (other Android).
- Tap the mouse’s name. A pointer arrow appears on the screen.
Connect it to an iPhone
- Open Settings → Accessibility → Touch → AssistiveTouch and turn AssistiveTouch on.
- On the same screen, tap Devices → Bluetooth Devices.
- Put the mouse in pairing mode and tap its name. A round gray pointer appears. You can drag the floating AssistiveTouch button into a corner so it stays out of the way.
Playing with the mouse
- Click to drop your pin, then click Lock in.
- Drag to move the map. Scroll the wheel to zoom. If the wheel doesn’t zoom on your phone, click the + and − buttons on the map.
- Pass the mouse to the next player. Earlier pins stay on the map.
✅ Before guests arrive
- Turn on Do Not Disturb. Otherwise your texts and calls pop up on the TV for everyone to see.
- Plug the phone into a charger (or use a cable with a charging port). Casting and a bright screen use a lot of battery.
- Make the screen stay on longer: set the screen timeout (Android) or Auto-Lock (iPhone) to 10 minutes or more so the TV doesn’t go dark between turns.
- Turn the volume up so everyone hears the announcer.
- Do a test run: start the practice round and check that the map, the sound and the mouse all work.
Questions? Email [email protected]
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