The all-time fashion to connect a computer to your Telly and share its screen is using a standard HDMI cable, though yous can also connect a computer to a Idiot box wirelessly. Connect ane end to the port on your laptop or PC, and the other to the port on the back of your Telly, then switch the TV source to the advisable HDMI channel.

It should exist this simple to mirror your laptop screen on a TV - and because HDMI carries audio and video, you will also hear any's playing streamed through your TV's speakers.

But, as with all things in life, it won't always go to plan. We've outlined some common pitfalls you lot may encounter below, and explained how to get round them. Also read our tips on using a Television as a monitor.

My computer doesn't have an HDMI port

HDMI connections come in three sizes: total-size (also known as Type-A), Mini and Micro. The HDMI port on either your computer or your TV is likely to be a full-size connexion, shown in red in the image below. Not all computers feature HDMI, yet.

How to connect laptop to TV

If you have a recent model it may instead take a USB-C port, for which you simply need to utilise a USB-C to HDMI cable to connect it to the Television.

Yous tin as well buy adaptors for converting your laptop'due south USB-C, full-size USB 3.0, DVI and DisplayPort connections to HDMI, which might be easier if y'all already have a standard HDMI cable to hand.

If you go downwards the USB-C route but have only ane USB-C port on your laptop, which is now occupied or required for charging, consider using a hub to add more than ports - this model even adds an HDMI port.

If your laptop doesn't take any of these modern connections, yous'll need to use a VGA port to connect it to the TV. As VGA cannot carry audio, you must cull a cablevision that also has a three.5mm audio connector, such as this one.

My Television receiver doesn't take a spare HDMI port

If all HDMI ports are currently in employ, apply an HDMI switch to plow ane port into many. These are relatively inexpensive devices - nosotros similar this Techole HDMI switch with three HDMI outputs.

Connect the port labelled HDMI OUT to the Telly using an HDMI cablevision, so use the three HDMI IN ports to attach various HDMI-connected devices. Yous can switch between them using the button on top (some HDMI switches also come up with a remote command).

The HDMI cable isn't long plenty

If your Goggle box is wall-mounted, or just in an awkward place, you may need to purchase an extra-long HDMI cable. If information technology'due south tight against the wall and hard to access you can also purchase an angled HDMI extender.

Cheque out other HDMI cablevision options.

In that location is no sound when I connect my laptop to my Television over HDMI

There are a number of issues that could crusade the Telly not to play sound from a computer continued over HDMI. Information technology'southward worth ruling out whatever issues with the connection itself first of all, then make sure the HDMI cable is inserted properly, and potentially attempt using a different HDMI cablevision or port.

You lot volition too demand to ensure the calculator'south settings are configured correctly. Right-click the book icon in the Taskbar at the bottom of your Windows display, and so choose Sounds. Select the Playback tab then ensure the Digital Output or HDMI option is selected every bit the default.

If you lot exercise not see these options here, right-click in that window and make certain all disconnected and disabled devices are visible. If it's even so missing, update the drivers for your audio card. Yous tin can do this past going direct to the website of your sound card manuafacturer, or using a uncomplicated application such as Driver Easy.

There is no picture when I connect my laptop to my Television over HDMI

When you connect your PC to a TV, you shouldn't demand to alter any settings on the PC for the pic to display on the TV. However, if information technology's non displaying correctly, first check the HDMI connectedness itself, then effort the following:

Press Windows Key + P. You should see a sidebar pop upward with various display options: Laptop Screen Only; Duplicate; Extend; and 2nd Screen Simply. We recommend using Duplicate or Second Screen Only.

If this doesn't solve your trouble, right-click the Windows 10 desktop and cull Brandish Settings.

If you don't see two displays (similar to the image below), your laptop has not detected the TV. This could suggest the HDMI connection itself is at error, so check information technology is inserted correctly, and potentially try using a different cable or a different port.

How to connect a laptop to TV

When y'all do see the 2nd screen appear in Display Settings, coil down to Multiple Display options. In this carte you can cull whether to mirror (duplicate) your laptop screen, extend these displays (and so you can show unlike content on each brandish) or show only on the TV (which is usually screen number 2).

How to connect a laptop to TV

How to connect your laptop to a TV wirelessly

Plenty of gadgets are able to act equally a span between your calculator and your Goggle box, assuasive you to 'cast' content from one to the other. Yous may also hear the term 'screen mirroring' used, though technically the two are slightly unlike, with 1 streaming content from inside an app and the other replicating your laptop'due south screen.

Because there are and then many technologies and terminologies in use out at that place, including Wireless Display, Wi-Fi Direct and Miracast, which may exist supported by none, i or both of your devices, it may pay to go on things simple.

We like the Roku Express (reviewed). It's a cheap media streamer that plugs into your Television set over HDMI and allows yous to install apps for various grab-up TV services and movie-subscription services. It too allows you to cast from a compatible device in much the same way equally the £thirty Google Chromecast, but with the addition of a convenient interface.

If you lot don't need a media streaming box - perhaps you already accept a smart TV and don't need to add apps - there are also solutions that are no more than wireless HDMI dongles, such equally this 4K dongle from Amazon. It'due south no dissimilar to connecting the ii using an HDMI cable, except that the cable is replaced with a wireless system.

Likewise see: How to connect Android to Idiot box and how to connect headphones to a Boob tube.