You may assume that connecting a computer to a TV would be rather simple: all you need is an HDMI cable, right? However, what happens if your computer does not have an HDMI port? This post will walk you through the several ways to connect your computer to TV both wired and wireless connections.
You may quickly and easily connect your computer to your TV if you need a larger screen, are giving a presentation, or want an easier method to share photographs and movies with friends and family. All you need is the appropriate hardware and computer navigational skills.
A desktop or laptop computer can now be connected to a smart TV. In this method, your TV serves as a monitor and your PC serves as a playback device. The simplest way to achieve this is via an HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface) cable. Read on for more info.
How to Connect Your Computer to TV
You might want to play a video on your computer via your television. It could be a downloaded movie or you received a video of family members that you’d like to see on a bigger screen, possibly with others. Here’s how to connect your Computer to TV for better viewing:
Using the TV’s HDMI port
Direct HD video and audio transmission from the computer to the TV is made possible by the HDMI cable type. There must be an HDMI port on your computer and TV. Before turning on the laptop, ensure you attach the cord to the television. If not, it can fail to detect the external display.
HDMI connections are frequently seen on televisions to make it easy to connect a variety of devices to them. As an illustration, one HDMI port can be used for a sound bar, another for a gaming console, and a third for a streaming device, such as an Apple TV or Roku.
Here are a few alternative ways you can use an HDMI connector to connect your computer to TV:
Computer with HDMI port on it:
You don’t need any extra equipment or adapters if your computer has an HDMI port. Simply connect any regular HDMI cable to the corresponding HDMI ports on your computer and TV, and your computer’s screen will instantly appear on your TV.
Computer with no HDMI port on it:
You will need to use an adaptor or hub if your computer lacks an HDMI port. You should be able to connect via one of your computer’s USB-C ports if you have a more contemporary computer without an HDMI connector. You can either purchase an HDMI to USB-C cable, a USB-C hub with an HDMI connection, or a USB-C to HDMI adaptor.
Double-check that your TV is set to the appropriate input if you connect your laptop to it via an HDMI cable and still don’t get a picture. Check the display settings on your laptop if there is still no picture on the TV.
You can do this on Windows by:
- Launching the Settings app and selecting Displays.
You can also access the System Preferences > Displays on a Mac. You can also select to have your display stretched, which uses your TV as a second monitor, or mirror, which shows the same thing on both your laptop’s screen and your TV.
Using a Scan Converter
A scan converter is a component that converts the visual signal from the computer into the common TV format. If your computer and TV don’t support any appropriate AV cable technology, you may need to set up a scan converter to link them.
Cast or Mirror your laptop’s display to your TV
You have a few alternatives for wirelessly connecting your laptop to a TV if using a cable connection isn’t desirable or even feasible. However, the process is highly influenced by the type of TV or streaming device you have in addition to whether you use a Mac or PC.
Make sure the TV and computer are both connected to the same Wi-Fi network and that Bluetooth is turned on in both before trying to use either of the techniques listed below.
Using a PC:
The procedure can quickly become complex if you use a PC, therefore you can try the simplest approach, which is using a Chromecast device or Chromecast-enabled TV and Google’s Chrome browser. Follow the steps below:
- Open Chrome on your PC.
- Select Cast from the three-dot menu, and then cast your complete desktop to your TV.
- Select your TV from the available devices by clicking Sources, followed by cast desktop.
- Click on the Cast icon that displays on the tab or in the video’s interface if you only want to cast a specific Chrome tab or video.
Once casting is complete, click on the blue Cast button next to the address bar, then click the name of the device you are now logged into.
Using Mac:
If you have a Mac, the best option is to extend or mirror your Mac’s screen via Apple’s AirPlay technology. You can do that by connecting an Apple TV to your TV or by using a smart TV equipped with Apple AirPlay and HomeKit.
- Click on the Control Center icon in the menu bar on your Mac.
- On your screen, it should be close to the upper-right corner.
- To mirror your laptop’s screen to an Apple TV or AirPlay device, locate the Screen Mirroring option, click it, and then make your selection.
Repeat the steps you used to start the AirPlay process to complete using the TV as the destination for your Mac’s screen. This will cause your computer to disconnect with your TV.
Connect your Computer to TV using Miracast
A feature of Windows 10 and Windows 8 computers called screen sharing via Miracast enables you to wirelessly mirror your computer’s screen on a television. With this function, you can even connect your Surface tablet to the TV. Microsoft supplies the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter, which converts your HDTV into one that is compatible with Miracast computers if you desire Miracast but your TV doesn’t support it.
Using Wireless Dongles
You can install a separate unit between the PC and TV if your TV doesn’t support Wi-Fi. The HDMI port on a TV is where wireless dongles, also known as digital media receivers or wireless PC-to-TV devices, are plugged in to make the TV a smart one.
They function similarly to HDMI cables, but instead of running a connection from your computer to your TV across the room, you plug both the TV and computer into tiny HDMI dongles that communicate with each other wirelessly. One of these connectors that enables streaming from your computer is Chromecast.
Connect your Computer to TV using Windows Media Center Edition
A TV may stream content from older PCs with Windows Media Center Edition (MCE) installed. A TV tuner card and Media Center Extender products like the Linksys DMA2100 allow users to even receive television.
One or all of the above should work for you when you need to connect your computer to TV. Feel free to drop your comments in the section below.