Connect Your Laptop To A TV Screen
Sick of watching movies on your small laptop screen? Our latest guide explains how to stream your laptop to your TV with minimal cost and fuss.
Our guide explains the cheapest ways to get your laptops contents on the big screen both wirelessly and via cables. Read on to find out how to put your laptop on the big screen.
The guide below primarily focuses on connecting a laptop to a TV using cables. If you’d like to connect wirelessly, that’s possible too. See our guide for connecting wirelessly to a TV using an Apple TV or .
Big Laptop Libraries: Plex
If you’ve built a big media library on your computer, you can stream it easily to your TV using Plex. Plex is media server software that can catalog all of your video and audio files and stream them to any device running the Plex app. It can also act as a front-end for streaming media services, and can even record live TV with a USB tuner.
All major media streamers support Plex, along with many smart TV platforms. It can even stream to your phone, tablet, or any other compatible device outside of your house, as long as your computer is on and connected to the internet. Plex is available for free, but for more advanced features like live TV and DVR, you need to get the premium Plex Pass for $4.99 a month, $39.99 a year, or $119.99 for a lifetime subscription.
Plex is very functional for media playback and streaming, even in its free form. It doesn’t support any sort of screen mirroring, however anything streamed to the Plex app on your TV or media streamer must be registered through the server software. That means no games. It also tops out at 1080p, so it can’t stream 4K.
Pros: Robust media format and service support. Accessible outside of the home. Free, with optional premium subscription for advanced features.
Cons: Doesn’t support 4K. Doesn’t work with games.
How To Connect Your Laptop To Your TV Wirelessly Or With Hdmi
It’s cheap and simple to get a lot more screen real estate for your PC or Mac. Here’s everything you need.
If you’re getting bored or annoyed with your laptop’s tiny screen during the coronavirus lockdown, maybe you should try using your big TV as a monitor instead. It’s great being able to sit back on your sofa and surf the web, play PC games or stream video from apps not available on your TV. Or maybe you just want a bigger view for video chat while you’re stuck at home.
Using your TV as a monitor has downsides too. Text might be too small to see, input lag might ruin your gaming scores, and while the couch may seem comfy, it may turn into a neck ache when put into service as an office chair. And then there’s the mouse, trackpad and keyboard to worry about. But going PC-to-TV works well in many situations, and the best part is that it’s cheap depending on what gear you already have.
Read more:How to cast and mirror an Android phone screen to a TV
Also Check: How To Cast Hbo Max To TV
Option Two: Wireless Video Hdmi
If youre looking for a way to connect your laptop to a TV without the limitation of long HDMI cables, wireless video HDMI is a great alternative. Wireless Video HDMI kits typically include a transmitter and a receiver that establish a direct connection without requiring use of the business Wi-Fi network.
A wireless video HDMI transmitter and receiver kit works without Wi-Fi, so streaming video wont become a burden on your network. The transmitter connects to your laptop, and the receiver connects to your TV or projector. The transmitter sends its own strong, point-to-point 150-ft range signal to the receiver.
Connect Computer To Smart TV Wirelessly Via Settings
Step 1. Press the Input or button on your smart TV and then select Screen mirroring.
Screen mirroring
Step 2. On your computer, press Windows key+ I to open Settings and then click Devices.
Devices
Step 3. Under Bluetooth & other devices, click Add Bluetooth or other device.
Add Bluetooth or other device
Step 4. Select Wireless display or dock.
Wireless display or dock
Step 5. Click on your smart TV name or model number.
Step 6. Now, you have successfully connected your Windows 10 computer or laptop to your smart TV.
Connect a Computer to TV Wirelessly
Step 7. To disconnect the screen mirroring, simply click Disconnect as you can see in the screenshot below.
Disconnect
Method 2. Connect or Screen Mirroring PC to TV Wirelessly via Project
Note: On your Laptop, Make sure Available everywhere is selected. To do so, press Windows + I to open Settings > System > Projecting to this PC.
Step 1. Press the Input or Source button on your smart TV and then select Screen mirroring.
Step 2. On your Laptop or PC, click the notification center button and then Select Project.
Project
Step 3. Click on Connect to a wireless display.
Connect to a wireless display
Step 4. Your TV will be listed here and click on it to connect or screen mirror.
Step 5. Now, your computers screen will appear on your smart TV.
Step 6. To disconnect the screen mirroring process, click the Disconnect option to end the process.
Final Words
You May Like: How To Connect Insignia Remote To TV
My Computer Doesn’t Have An Hdmi Port
HDMI connections come in three sizes: full-size , Mini and Micro. The HDMI port on either your computer or your TV is likely to be a full-size connection, shown in red in the image below. Not all computers feature HDMI, however.
If you have a recent model it may instead have a USB-C port, for which you simply need to use a USB-C to HDMI cable to connect it to the TV.
You can also purchase adaptors for converting your laptop’s USB-C, full-size USB 3.0, DVI and DisplayPort connections to HDMI, which might be easier if you already have a standard HDMI cable to hand.
If you go down the USB-C route but have only one USB-C port on your laptop, which is now occupied or required for charging, consider using a hub to add more ports – this model even adds an HDMI port.
If your laptop doesn’t have any of these modern connections, you’ll need to use a VGA port to connect it to the TV. As VGA cannot carry audio, you must choose a cable that also has a 3.5mm audio connector, such as this one.
Screen Mirror To A Smart TV Wirelessly In Windows 10
You might wonder how the Sony Bravia or Samsung smart TV screen mirroring laptop function works. It is a built-in feature of Sony Bravia and Samsung TV designed to project the screen of various devices, including laptops and mobile devices.
Note: However, due to the speed of your network, the stability of your performance can vary. In addition, a computer that runs Windows 10 and supports Miracast features is required.
So, here, we will show you 2 different methods to screen mirror or connect a computer tr laptop to a smart TV wirelessly and it does not require any third-party apps or an internet connection.
Read Also: How To Stream Oculus Quest To TV Without Chromecast
Stream From Pc To TV With Chromecast
Pros: Easy setup, inexpensiveCons: High-resolution content may lag or stutter over a wireless network.
Setup overview: Chromecast plugs into a TV or displays HDMI port and draws power from a USB port on the television. In the absence of a USB port, Chromecast can plug into to an AC wall socket. Once connected, Chromecast joins the Wi-Fi network, and other devices on the network are then able to stream content through the Chomecast onto the TV. Basically any Apple, Android, or Windows device supports the Chromecast app.
Chromecast comes in stick and dangling form factors.
The device itself comes in two form factors, a stick-like chassis that resembles a USB thumb drive, or round, dangling unit designed for better receptivity.
Limitations: Quality of streaming may vary depending on available Wi-Fi network bandwidth.
Pro Tip: Use the 5 GHz channel on a dual-channel wireless router for Chromecast. It tends to encounter less interference than the 2.4 GHz channel.
How To Connect Your Laptop To A TV Wirelessly
Why not ditch the wires? Our wireless age means there are loads of ways to connect your laptop to your TV. Its a convenient way to interconnect your devices, plus you get rid of all the hassle with cables. You can place your laptop anywhere and stream to your TV.
Just keep in mind that you still usually need an HDMI port on your TV. Most streaming and mirroring methods require you to use some kind of adapter . Youll also need a strong, reliable Wi-Fi signal so you maintain a stable connection with your laptop
There are loads of different ways to connect wirelessly. Here are three of the most common and easiest to set up.
Chromecast
Chromecast casts your laptop Chrome browser to your TV screen. Some smart TVs have Chromecast already built-in, but no worries if yours doesnt. Theres a device that makes things easy. All you need is an HDMI port, a USB port to provide the power and the Chrome browser installed on your laptop.
Once youre set up and connected, just select the cast button in Chrome on your laptop and let the browser guide you. Its great for working on shared files with your team on Google Sheets or looking at presentation slides.
Miracast
This one was developed by Microsoft to cast your Windows to the big screen. To check if your laptop is compatible, just press Win + P. If you see the connect to a wireless display option, your laptop is ready to connect.
Also Check: How To Install Disney Plus On Lg Smart TV
How To Connect A Laptop To TV Without Hdmi
Last Updated on August 8, 2021 by Stanley Hurst
It is not really strange to see the TV monitor projecting the laptop. This procedure of connecting your TV screen to your laptop is made easy by the latest trend of technological advancement.
The PC can be easily connected to the TV via the HDMI port. The HDMI enables perfect video and sound output on the TV screen.
It is achieved by simply using the HDMI cable to connect the HDMI output port of the laptop and the HDMI port of the TV.
This method is very common and easy to use. Most recently manufactured laptops have the HDMI port. Now, lets consider other methods of connecting tour laptop to TV apart from the use of the HDMI.
Connecting Your Laptop And TV Via Usb
1
Check your TV’s user manual to verify whether the USB port will enable a direct connection to a PC, and if so, which file types are supported.
2
Locate the USB port on your TV.
3
Locate a USB adapter with the proper plugs to fit the USB ports on both the TV and your laptop. Ideally, use the USB cable that was included in the TV’s original packaging.
4
Plug one end of the USB cable into the corresponding port on your laptop, and plug the other end of the cable into the USB port on your TV.
5
Select the correct input source using your TV remote or console “Input Select” button.
Warnings
- Many televisions have a USB port, but relatively few support a direct TV-to-PC connection. Some TVs will only use the USB port for service , while others will only read USB flash drives. Likewise, the range of supported file types may be limited — JPG, MP3 and MP4 are the most common.
- Many USB adapters have plugs of a similar size and shape. Be very cautious when using a third-party adapter, such as the USB adapter from your smartphone or camera, as using the wrong adapter could damage your hardware.
Writer Bio
James Lee Phillips has been a writer since 1994, specializing in technology and intellectual property issues. He holds a Bachelor of Science in communications and philosophy from SUNY Fredonia.
You May Like: How To Get Discovery Plus On Smart TV
Tech Is Expensive Protect It All
Protect the devices your family loves and relies on with one simple plan that covers all your favorite home tech. With Asurion Home+, we cover your computers, TVs, tablets, premium headphones, smart devices, and so much moreâplus, 24/7 assistance for your whole family with any tech care needâfor less than $1/day.Learn more about Asurion Home+ coverage and how you can get peace-of-mind device protection.
Stream From Pc To TV By Plugging In An Intel Compute Stick Or Google Chromebit
Pros: Your TV becomes a computer monitor with full OS functionality by plugging in a tiny device.Cons: You might already have portable computers, do you need another one?
Setup overview: Stick computers plug into the HDMI port of a television, essentially putting full a Windows 10 or Chrome OS on the screen. Sticks have Bluetooth support for connecting a wireless keyboard and mouse, and they access the Internet over a Wi-Fi connection.
Intel Compute Stick and OEM Chromebit by Asus
Limitations: Used strictly in a display capacity, there are no real weaknesses to mention other than lack of wired Ethernet support. Stick computers are about as powerful as a tablet, so it might be underpowered for anything beyond basic office work and media consumption.
Pro Tip: When on the road, use it to sync with your cloud applications like DropBox and OneDrive and work from anywhere with a TV.
Also Check: How To Add Apps To Philips Smart TV
Connecting A Laptop To A TV Wirelessly
If connecting multiple cables sounds like too much work and mess, another option is to connect a ‘casting’ box to your TV, which can mirror whatever is on your laptop’s screen.
Mac users should use an Apple TV box for this. They start from around £60, and connect to your TV via HDMI . They’ll recognise any Macs, iPads or iPhones on the same network and let you mirror whatever is on your Apple device’s screen, playing it on your TV. Sound will be carried over too, all wirelessly. This can be a great way to watch Netflix or iPlayer, all controlled from your Mac or iPad/iPhone.
Windows PC users can achieve the same effect device. These cost from around £30, and plug into an HDMI port on your TV . You can then ‘cast’ what’s on your PC’s screen if you’re using the Google Chrome Browser.
By Step How To Connect Laptop To TV Using Hdmi
Its popular to connect laptop to TV for enjoying watching anything on the big screen. There are different ways to connect your laptop to TV. This post is going to tell you the common one how to connect laptop to TV via HDMI. Its pretty easy. Just go on with the following 4 steps, you can do it at once.
Power on your laptop and TV and prepare a HDMI cable.
Plug HDMI cable into both your laptops and TVs HDMI ports.
Now you may see your TV with blue screen showing No signal message. Press INPUT or button on your TV remote. Then use the Arrow icon to choose HDMI 1 on TV screen.
Now on your TV, you may see the same screen with laptop.
If not, follow the steps below to do some other settings.
1On your laptops keyboard, press Windows key + R key together to open Run box.
2 Type control in the box and hit Enter to open Control Panel.
3Click Display when view by Large icons.
4Click Adjust resolution.
5Select TV from Display drop-down list.
6Then try to change its solution to earn a best view on TV screen. Once its done, click OK to save the setting.
Recommended Reading: Milb TV On Roku
Wirelessly Connecting Your Laptop To Your TV
Here, the laptop connects to the TV using a feature called Wi-Fi Direct, or Miracast. This means that you need to have a smart TV that supports screen mirroring using Wi-Fi Direct. Your laptop also needs to supports wireless screen mirroring. Most recent laptops should support this feature. You can look this up online by checking the features of the processor your laptop uses. With the help of Wi-Fi Direct, both devices can connect directly to each other.
Use the TV remote and select the source to Screen mirroring. It will show a screen with the TV name. On the laptop, press the Windows button and type in Settings. Then go to Connected devices and click on the Add device option at the top. The drop down menu will list all the devices you can mirror to. Select your TV and the laptop screen will start mirroring to the TV. The TV name also gets saved in the connected devices list, so connecting the laptop to the TV in the future is easy.
Apple MacBooks use AirPlay to mirror the screen. Your TV needs to support AirPlay though. AirPlay also requires you to connect both the devices to the same wireless network. On the Apple Macbook, you can find the AirPlay option under Settings and then Display. Besides that, the process is similar to a Windows laptop.
How To Connect A Laptop To A TV Wirelessly
If you dont want to deal with those pesky cables, connecting your laptop to the TV wirelessly is the way to go. But you do need a media streaming device like the or Roku Streaming Stick Plus to get the job done. An Android TV will also do, as it has Chromecast built-in.
A Google Chromecast device is probably your best option, and although it costs more than something like an HDMI cable, its not super expensive with its starting price tag of just $35 get it via below.
To get started, plug the Chromecast into your TV and set it up. Im not going to explain the setup process in this post, as we have a dedicated article for that check it out here. Once everything is set up, you can mirror Chrome tabs, your videos and files stored locally on your laptop, and even your desktop to the TV. Just launch the Chrome browser on your laptop, click the menu icon in the upper-right corner, and select the Cast option. Then just select the content you want to cast via the Sources drop-down menu and click on the Chromecast you want to cast it to .
Step-by-step instructions:
Also Check: How To Get Imdb TV On Smart TV