How to Connect a TV to a Laptop
Whether you’re looking to expand your laptop’s screen size or just want to use the TV in your lounge for more entertainment, connecting your laptop to your television can be an excellent way to make your computing experience more comfortable. It’s also a great way to share content between your devices or present information to your coworkers in an engaging way.
Connecting a TV to a Laptop by Cable
The easiest and most common way to connect a laptop to your TV is using an HDMI cable. This type of cable will allow your laptop to send high-resolution video and audio signals to your TV, and it works with virtually all laptops that have a HDMI output port.
If you have a laptop that doesn’t have an HDMI port, however, there are still several options for how to connect it to your television. You can choose to use a VGA cable, which is an older but still useful connection method that will work with most laptops and many older TVs.
Another option is to use a VGA-to-HDMI converter. This will translate your VGA-only signal to an HDMI signal that your TV can understand, and it’s available in several different models and prices.
Chromecast
If your laptop is a Windows or Mac computer, it can be connected to your television by plugging in a Chromecast dongle. This will allow you to stream your favorite apps, movies and other videos from your laptop to your TV for free.
Wirelessly Connecting Your Laptop to Your TV
You can also connect your laptop to your TV by way of Wi-Fi. Most laptops have a Wi-Fi port, and some even have a wireless adapter built in. You can also choose to connect your laptop via a Bluetooth-enabled dongle that will send its audio and video signals wirelessly to your TV.
Miracast
This is a popular way to connect your PC to your TV, and it’s easy to set up. All you have to do is open the settings for your device and select the “Multiple Displays” option under the “Displays” heading. You’ll then be able to select your TV or streaming device, and it will automatically be detected and displayed on the list.
Depending on the device, you may be prompted to enter a code when you first try to connect. Once you’ve done this, your laptop and your TV should be instantly connected.
A quick note: Be sure to check that your laptop is compatible with the Wi-Fi you’re trying to use. Some laptops may not support certain Wi-Fi protocols, or they may require additional hardware.
If you’re not sure if your laptop or TV supports Miracast, you can check the specifications for each device and see which ones support it. Once you’ve found the right one, you can then connect your laptop to your TV by simply clicking it in the list of options. Once the connection is complete, you should be able to do all of your usual computer activities on your television, including browsing the Internet, playing videos and listening to music.