In this step-by-step guide, we’ll show you how to connect a laptop to a TV, so you can watch Netflix, your vacation photos, and other content on the big screen. There are quite a few ways to do it, but we’ll just focus on the most simple and widely used methods.
The right method for you will depend on a couple of different things including the ports that are available on your TV and laptop. Let’s get started.
How to connect a laptop to a TV with an HDMI cable
This is the simplest and easiest way to connect your laptop to a TV. All you need to get the job done is an HDMI cable, which you can get on Amazon for less than $10. An HDMI cable can handle both audio and high-resolution video, so it’s great for streaming your favorite TV shows.
To make this work, both your laptop and TV have to have an HDMI port. If they aren’t super old (or super new for that matter), there’s a good chance both have it on board. Turn on both devices and connect them using an HDMI cable. Then just select the correct HDMI input on your TV with the help of the remote control and you’re good to go.
Keep in mind that some laptops have a micro HDMI or a mini HDMI port, so you’ll need a different cable — you can get it via the buttons below. Alternatively, if you already have a regular HDMI cable, you can just buy an adapter to save some money. You can get it here (mini HDMI to HDMI) and here (micro HDMI to HDMI).
Step-by-step instructions:
1. Connect the laptop to the TV with an HDMI cable.
2. Turn on both devices.
3. Select the correct HDMI input on the TV with the remote.
The connection between the two devices should be established automatically. But in case it doesn’t, go to Settings > System > Display and make sure “TV” is selected. You can also adjust the resolution to match the one of your television. One that’s done, press the Windows key and the P key and then select the “Duplicate” option.
How to connect a laptop to a TV with a VGA cable
If you have an older laptop and TV, you’ll likely find a VGA port on both of them. You can check out what a VGA cable looks like and buy one here. VGA isn’t as good as HDMI because of the lower-resolution video quality it provides. It also only deals with the video signal, which means you’ll need a separate cable to handle the audio.
Turn on your TV and laptop and then connect them using a VGA cable as well as a 3.5mm audio cable. The next step is to press the Input button on your remote (could also be called Source or AV) and select the PC or RGB option from the list. That’s all there is to it.
Step-by-step instructions:
1. Connect the laptop to the TV with a VGA cable.
2. Connect the two devices with a 3.5mm audio cable.
3. Turn on both devices.
4. Select the PC or RGB input on the TV with the remote.
The connection between the two devices should be established automatically. But in case it doesn’t, go to Settings > System > Display and make sure “TV” is selected. You can also adjust the resolution to match the one of your TV. One that’s done, press the Windows key and P key and then select the “Duplicate” option.
