Use Cables to Hook Up a TV to a Computer
HDMI is a type of cable that transfers HD video and audio directly from the computer to the TV. Both your TV and computer must have an HDMI port. While HDMI is the best option, you can also join your TV and computer via DVI, VGA, S-Video, or Thunderbolt connections. If you have an Ethernet cable connecting your computer to a modem, then you don’t even need Wi-Fi to browse the web on your TV. You’ll also get faster streaming that way. The only downside is that you must place your laptop close to the TV.
Use a Scan Converter to Connect a Laptop to a TV
A scan converter is a device that translates the computer’s video signal into the standard TV format. You may need to set up a scan converter to connect your computer and TV if they don’t support any compatible combination of AV cable technologies.
Connect the Computer to the TV Wirelessly
The best option for you depends on the type of TV you have, the bandwidth you’re paying for, and how much you want to spend to turn your TV into a wireless receiver.
Connect a Computer to a Smart TV
There are lots of smart TVs to choose from, and not all of them work the same way. Most let you share your media files or the screen directly from your laptop or desktop.
Connect a TV and a Computer via Miracast
Screen sharing through Miracast is a feature built-in to Windows 10 and Windows 8 computers that lets you display the computer screen on the TV without any wires. You can even connect your Surface tablet to the TV with this feature. If you want Miracast but your TV doesn’t support it, Microsoft sells the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter that turns your HDTV into one that works with Miracast computers.
Connect a Computer and a TV With Wireless Dongles
For televisions that don’t support Wi-Fi, you can install a separate unit between the computer and TV. Wireless dongles, sometimes called digital media receivers or wireless PC-to-TV systems, plug into a TV’s HDMI port to turn it into a smart TV. They work much like HDMI cables, but instead of having to lay a cable across the room from your computer to your TV, you plug both the TV and computer into small HDMI devices that communicate wirelessly. Chromecast is one example of such connectors that let you stream from your desktop. .
Connect a Computer to a TV With Windows Media Center Edition
Older PCs with Windows Media Center Edition (MCE) installed can stream to a TV. They can even receive television via a TV tuner card and Media Center Extender products like the Linksys DMA2100.
