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How to connect a laptop to a TV
In This Article
Looking to connect your laptop to the big screen TV in your lounge for work or play? Here is the simplest way to connect your laptop to your TV.
Connecting your laptop to your TV can be a great way to watch movies and TV shows on the big screen. Whether you want to watch the football match in 4K or you’re having a movie night with friends, knowing how to link your laptop and TV together can come in handy.
Thankfully, it’s not too hard to link up these devices, and can be done in a matter of minutes. However, you may need a few accessories to help along the way.
Keep reading to find out the best way to connect your laptop to your TV.
What we used
The Short Version
Step1
Connect the HMDI cable to your laptop
You will need to make sure that your laptop has an HDMI port, otherwise, you will need a dongle to connect it. You will also need to ensure that you have an HDMI to HDMI cable.Connect the cable to your laptop to start the process.
Step2
Connect the HDMI cable to your TV
Take the other end of the cable and connect it to the TV. You may want to take note of which HDMI port you use, as depending on your TV it may be labelled as ‘HDMI 1’ instead of PC, like my TV.
Step3
Wait for your TV to find the laptop source
Wait for your TV to find the laptop source. Depending on the model of your TV, it may automatically load, or you may need to click the Source button on your controller and find it.
Step4
Click on the PC source
Click on the source that is called PC, or the source that is connected to the correct HDMI, e.g. HMDI 1.
Step5
Use your laptop to control the TV
Once you have clicked the source, you will be able to use your laptop to control what is on the TV’s display.
Troubleshooting
Yes, it is possible to connect your laptop to your TV without an HDMI cable, though it may depend on the model of each device. You may be able to use a VGA cable or a DisplayPort cable.
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Gemma joined Trusted Reviews as a staff writer after graduating from Leeds Beckett University with a Journalism degree. She’s worked with national outlets, covering breaking news stories to reviews fo…
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Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
