How to connect TV to Computer using HDMI, Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter or Google Chromecast

In this era of cord-cutting and 4K gaming, connecting you TV to you computer is an essential skill. This is especially true if you have a very large screen QLED TV and you really want to see the higher resolution details in your graphic designs or a game you love.

So how do you achieve this holy grail of computer-TV interface?

How to connect TV-Computer - HDMI is the best

The easiest way to get your TV hooked up to a desktop or laptop is to just interconnect them. If you PC or laptop has a HDMI port, you can connect a HDMI cable between them as shown below:

There are a few different HDMI standards; the main thing to consider is the ports, which retain their shape no matter what standard. There is currently a HDMI 2.0, but this is for 4K gaming, which is around the corner but not here yet as explained in my blog article entitled “Why US$39 Amazon Fire TV Stick challenges @Roku and @Google Chromecast Streaming Sticks”. 

All HDMI Cables are the same, regardless of claims of cables being better than others; this is just a sales gimmick to get you to pay more money for the same cable. If you have a computer with a VGA output, best to get one of those HDM Cables with the VGA end or a VGA adapter as shown below.

Once you've plugged your HDMI cable into the TV, use the HDMI or Input button to list all of the ports currently in use on your TV. Just cycle through them till you find your PC!

But what if you have a short HDMI cable? Then maybe wireless is for you.

How to connect TV-Computer - Wireless via Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter or Google Chromecast

Sometimes a long cable just isn’t enough. So for you, there are a few options. If you’re running Windows 10 on your PC, you can take advantage of the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter.

The steps to use it are as follows:

1.      Plug the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter into your TV’s HDMI port

2.      Plug the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter little USB jack into one of your TV’s USB ports

3.      Click on your notification center on the bottom-right corner of your screen

4.      Click on the Connect button

Good to note that this option will cost you $40 or $50, depending on where you purchase the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter.

Also, it's good enough to watch movies, but gaming or anything with more than 30 frames per second gets garbled and becomes unwatchable or unplayable.

You can also use a Chromecast to cast directly to your TV from Google Chrome on MacOS or Windows 10.

All you need to do is follow the following steps:

1.      Plug your Chromecast into your TVs

2.      Start Google Chrome on your computer.

3.      Click the little sideways ellipses at the end of your search bar

4.      Click Cast.

5.      Select your Chromecast and you are good to go

Remember sharing is caring so share this with your friends trying to connect their TV to their computer.