How to Wirelessly Mirror a Windows Laptop to an HDTV
In all Windows 10 and Windows 8.1 computers, including laptops, there’s a built-in capability for mirroring your screen on a television called Miracast or Wi-Fi Direct. There are a few things to keep in mind, though:
Both the television and the laptop need to be connected to the same network.Your laptop and TV both should be current and completely updated with any operating system patches or security updates.It is possible that a laptop that was upgraded from an older version of the operating system may not support Miracast (because of outdated hardware).While most HDTVs will support Miracast, there are some that do not, and you will not be able to mirror your laptop to those TVs using Miracast unless you buy a separate Miracast dongle.
As long as your computer and your TV support Miracast, mirroring your TV should be a simple process.
How to Stop Mirroring a Windows Laptop
When you’re finished mirroring your screen on Windows, you can go back to Settings > Devices and find the name of the TV you’re mirroring to. Select it and then click Remove Device. Mirroring will stop immediately.
How to Wirelessly Mirror a Mac Laptop Screen to a TV
Apple notebook computers, called MacBooks, have a feature called AirPlay. If your television supports AirPlay, then wirelessly mirroring your screen to your TV can be accomplished in two ways.
Wirelessly Mirror a MacBook Using Settings
Depending on how you have AirPlay set up on your MacBook, you may need to go through Settings to mirror your screen.
How to Wireless Mirror a MacBook to a TV With the AirPlay Icon
If you have enabled Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available you should have an AirPlay icon on your menu bar that you can use to shortcut the process of mirroring your MacBook to your TV. All you have to do is click the AirPlay icon and select the TV you want to mirror to. (Yes, it’s really that simple on a MacBook).
How to Stop Mirroring on a MacBook
When you’re finished working and want to end your mirroring session on a MacBook, click the AirPlay icon again and select Stop AirPlay. Your MacBook should stop mirroring and your TV will immediately become available again.
How to Mirror Your Laptop Using Cables
If you don’t have a newer laptop or a smart TV, you can probably still mirror your laptop to your TV, you’ll just need to use an HDMI cable to do it. All you need to do is connect the HDMI cable to your laptop and to your TV. Then, using the remote on your TV, select the input that corresponds with where you plugged the cable in. On Windows, you can then use the keyboard combination Windows Key + P to open display settings and choose how you want to display/mirror your laptop screen. On a MacBook, you may not have HDMI connections so you’ll need an adapter for a mini DisplayPort or a USB-C. Once connected you can go to System Preferences > Display to adjust display settings if necessary.
