The projection mapping app for Android phones and tablets

Projection mapping fits a projector's image to real surfaces: you outline a window, a door or a box, and the visuals land only there. Lazy Lighting does the whole job on your Android phone or tablet. Disclosure: we make Lazy Lighting.

• Shapes: Square, circle, text, freehand outline, cube and box. Drag corners, bend edges into curves, add points and snap corners together.
• Masks: Show a visual only inside a shape, or cut a shape out of it. Turn on Enable Mask Mode in Settings first.
• Your own media: Import videos and photos from your device.
• Shows: Build scenes and line them up on a timeline.
• Tablets: Android tablets get their own layout, with more room to drag corners.

There are three ways. A cable gives the best picture with no lag; the two wireless options suit phones without video output. Lazy Lighting drives one projector at a time, and Chromecast isn't supported.

1. 1

   Check that your phone has video output. Wired HDMI needs video output over USB-C (DisplayPort Alt Mode). Many Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets and other recent flagships have it; many mid-range phones don't, so check your phone's specs.

2. 2

   Get a USB-C to HDMI adapter ↗ or cable (affiliate link). Some USB-C cables only charge and carry no video.

3. 3

   Plug in. Connect the phone to the projector's HDMI port and switch the projector to its HDMI input.

4. 4

   Open Lazy Lighting. It finds the projector by itself, and the TV icon at the top turns from red to green.

For phones with Smart View (Samsung) or Miracast, and a projector or TV that accepts it. Casting with Google Cast (Chromecast) isn't supported.

1. 1

   Get the projector ready. Switch it to its screen mirroring or Miracast input, if it has one.

2. 2

   Open Quick Settings. Swipe down from the top of the screen and tap Smart View or Screen mirroring (the name depends on your phone).

3. 3

   Pick the projector. Choose it from the list and accept the prompt on the projector if one appears.

4. 4

   Open Lazy Lighting. It takes over the mirrored screen with the projector output. If it doesn't, disconnect and reconnect the mirroring.

Lazy Lighting Link is our receiver app for projectors and TVs that run Android TV or Google TV. It is on Google Play for TV.

1. 1

   Install Link on the projector. Open Google Play on the projector and install Lazy Lighting Link.

2. 2

   Join the same Wi-Fi. Put the projector and your phone on the same Wi-Fi network, then open Link on the projector.

3. 3

   Find the projector. In Lazy Lighting, tap the TV icon at the top, choose Connect wirelessly and pick your projector from the list.

4. 4

   Enter the PIN. Type the four-digit PIN that the projector shows.

1. 1

   Install Lazy Lighting from Google Play on a phone or tablet with Android 8.0 or later.

2. 2

   Connect the projector with one of the three options above, and point it at your surface.

3. 3

   Add shapes. Choose a square, circle, box or cube, or trace an outline around a window or door.

4. 4

   Line them up. Drag the corners on your screen while you watch the projection, until each shape sits on its surface.

5. 5

   Pick visuals and press play. Give each shape a built-in visual or one of your own videos or photos.

Lazy Lighting comes with 100+ visuals: generative shaders you can tweak, and video loops.

• Halloween: 45 scenes: jack-o'-lantern faces, ghosts, bats, a witch, dancing skeletons and window silhouettes. 3 are on the free plan.
• Christmas: 30 scenes in the Holiday collection, from knitted-sweater patterns and snowfall to Santa's sleigh. 4 are on the free plan. The collection also has 3 Valentine's heart loops.
• All year: Abstract, neon, synthwave and 3D loops, window scenes and eyes, plus visuals that react to your shapes.

Lazy Lighting is free to download. Pro is for shows you want to keep, export or run to music.

• Free plan: The mapping tools, masks, scenes and timeline, video and photo imports, and about 20 visuals, including 3 Halloween and 4 Christmas scenes. The projector output carries a watermark.
• Pro: Every visual, no watermark, project saving, audio-reactive visuals, BPM sync, USB MIDI controllers, LFOs, live camera input, transparent PNG shapes and video export at up to 4K, depending on your device.
• Plans: Pro is monthly, annual or lifetime, with current prices shown in the app.

Any projector with an HDMI input works by cable; one with Android TV or Google TV also works wirelessly through Lazy Lighting Link. Brightness decides where it works (ANSI lumens, after dark). Projector links are affiliate links.

• Indoor objects or a window: 300+
• Wall in a dim room: 500–1,000
• Indoors with the lights on: 2,000+
• Garage door: 3,000+
• House front: 4,000+
• Nebula Capsule 3 Laser ↗ is our indoor pick for objects and windows. It runs Google TV, so it works wirelessly with Lazy Lighting Link.
• XGIMI Horizon 20 Pro ↗ is our outdoor pick. It fills about 6.6 m (22 ft) wide, so on a large house, map the street-facing section.