Network between laptop and TV. Connecting a laptop to a TV via Wi-Fi

Modern technologies are constantly developing. Smart TVs are already quite widespread today. However, not everyone has yet figured out how to connect a laptop to a TV via wireless communication WiFi.

Of course, this can be done using the HDMI cable that everyone is already familiar with. Such an interface is required on every modern model TV and computer. However, sometimes this is extremely inconvenient, since not every user has a PC located near a Smart TV, and a laptop is not always at hand. Moreover, an HDMI cable costs money. In addition, it limits the user's movements, forcing the PC to be placed in close proximity to the TV.

Advantage wireless connection in such situations it is obvious. And even if all this is doable, it is much easier to make the connection without using a cable. Therefore, the question of how to connect a TV to a laptop via Wi-Fi is very relevant today.

Connecting a Smart TV to a laptop: Video

How to connect Smart TV to a laptop

First, it should be noted that both devices must be connected to the same network. As a rule, routers are used at home, to which all devices are connected. But, if you don’t have a router, you can organize a network using a laptop or smartphone. So, we have a router and a home network to which both devices are connected.

Connect your Smart TV to WiFi as indicated in the instructions. The laptop must also be connected to the router. It will help us to display content from the laptop on the TV screen further special application. This is what will connect the laptop to the TV via WiFi. There are also two ways here:

Built-in program Windows Media Center Extender.
Applications from third-party developers, for example, a home media server.

The first option is a built-in feature in Windows 7 and 8. However, you still have to install it. In seven it is done like this. Open the Start menu and type Windows in the search bar Media Center. Select the one you want from the search results and open it.

In Windows 8, launching the tool is slightly different. Move your mouse cursor to the right top corner and start the search in the menu that appears. Enter the name of the program and select the required program from the results. However, it is worth noting that in some cases this tool may not be available in versions operating system 8 and 8.1. If the search does not produce results, then you should install it. If you are using licensed Windows 8, then there will be no problems with this. Just go to the official Microsoft website and download the necessary updates.

Here, just follow the instructions on the screen. It is worth noting that before proceeding with its installation, make sure that the TV and computer are connected to the same network. Only in this case will you be able to connect your laptop to your TV via wireless WiFi connection. After installing and connecting the laptop to the TV, all you have to do is transfer the files to the media set-top box, which will display them on the TV screen.

Connecting a laptop to TV using third-party programs

Setting up such applications is extremely simple. There are a lot of programs for playing content on TV. However, several of them are in greatest demand:

Home media server.
Samsung Share.
Share Manager.

The second application may not work properly with other brands of TV. But if you have Samsung TV, then the connection will proceed without problems. The home media server works most stably and is suitable for almost all TV models. Therefore, let’s look at the setup principle using the first application as an example. You can download it completely free of charge. Moreover, connecting a laptop to a TV via WiFi and setting up the program is extremely simple.

After installation, launch the program. First of all, you should designate a TV on which video, photos or music will be displayed. When you first launch the program, a table will appear in which you need to select the type of device for playing content from the list.

This will be our TV, find the brand and the corresponding aspect ratio in the list. Click “Next”. At this stage, the program prompts you to share standard folders. But if you store videos in other directories, you should specify them manually.

To do this, press the button with a big green plus. Now we simply specify the folder with the necessary files. Click “Ok” and confirm scanning of media resources.

After this, all the content that you launch in the program will be displayed on the TV. Now you know how to connect a laptop to a TV via wireless WiFi network using a home media server. Other programs work on the same principle, so you shouldn't have any difficulties.

New generation TVs are equipped with a function that allows you to broadcast any content from the Internet. Using this technology, you can display video files, music, games, etc. on the screen. And if your TV device supports a wireless connection, this eliminates the need to buy special wires. Let's look at how to connect a laptop to a TV via wifi.

Adapters are used to connect laptops or other gadgets to TVs that do not have a Wi-Fi module. These devices resemble a regular flash card in appearance and are connected via an HDMI port.

The most popular Wi-Fi adapters include the following modifications:

Miracast;
Google Chromecast;
Android Mini PC;
Intel Compute Stick.

Thanks to these devices, you can significantly expand the functionality of an outdated TV modification. They will allow you to display files on the screen different formats, be it video, image, etc. The methods for connecting a laptop to a TV using an adapter may have slight differences, it all depends on the type of device.

Important! When purchasing a device, you will need to consult with the seller. You need to make sure that a specific modification of the adapter will be compatible with the TV model.

Via DLNA connection

With the help DLNA technologies You can share files between multiple devices, provided they are connected to the same network. To open content that is on your laptop on your TV, you first need to access it, and to do this you will need to activate the Internet connection on both devices.

You need to do it like this:

Make sure that the router is turned on, and if the laptop does not connect to Wi-Fi automatically, go to the control panel through the start button.
Click on the Internet access sub-item and check the box next to the automatic connection function.
Enter your username and password and click on the connection sticker.
Now you need to proceed to activating the Internet on the TV device. You will need to enable it and launch the settings menu.
Find a network point and move to it.
In the field that opens, select the settings function.
Select the wireless connections item and select the network to which the laptop is connected.

Now you need to establish a DLNA connection. To do this you need to do the following:

Press the “Win” and “I” keys on the laptop at the same time and wait for the Windows settings field to open.
Select the Networks and Internet subsection.
In the tab that opens, find the name of the network to which the laptop is connected and left-click.
After moving to the new field, select the “Private” section and close the tab.

Once the connection is complete, you will need to access the media files that will be streamed.

This should be done in this order:

Launch Explorer and select Networks on the left side of the window that opens.
When a notification appears that access is disabled, click on it.
In the menu that opens, select a command to enable network detection and open access.

Then you can take the TV remote control and go to the menu item that allows you to view the contents of connected devices. In this section, you need to mark the DLNA server, after which folder icons will appear on the screen. All that remains is to select the required file and run it.

Attention! The system does not allow opening video files MKV format, for this you need to install the AVI extension.

Screen mirroring using WiDi (Miracast)

You can connect your laptop to your TV via Wi-Fi using the Miracast system, which is also called WiDi. Using this technology, it becomes possible to broadcast full-length videos, provided that the Miracast function is supported on both devices.

To establish a connection you will need to perform the following procedure:

Enter the “Smart” section on the TV and find the connections menu.
Open the personal computers sub-item and go to the screen sharing function.
Select the lines “Personal Computer” and “Connection Manager”, and on the left side mark the “Miracast” function, and click on the “Start” sticker.

Attention! Depending on the modification of the TV, the names of menu items may have minor differences.

After this, you need to go to your computer and perform the following steps:

Go through the start menu to the notification center.
Find the sub-item “Transfer to screen” and click on it.
Click on the link to connect to a wireless display.

After this, a device search will begin, which will take some time. When the list appears, you need to select your TV, and after a few moments the picture displayed on the laptop monitor will appear on the TV screen.

Third-party programs for connection

There are resources that can help your TV access video and images stored on your laptop.

The most common utilities are:

Share Manager;
Serviio;
"Home Media Server".

Despite the fact that the developers of these programs are different companies, the principle of their operation is approximately the same, the names of menu items may differ slightly.

To connect your TV to your laptop, you will need to do the following:

Download the selected utility from the official website to your laptop and launch it.
Through the program menu, go to the contents of the computer and find the files that are to be broadcast.
Mark necessary files checkmarks or drag the designated part of the menu window, depending on which utility is used.

There is another way to access media documents.

To do this you will need to do this:

Open the program menu and find the desired file.
Right-click on it and select the open sharing command.
In the pop-up menu, click on the device policy setting line.
From the list that opens available devices select your TV and press the confirmation key.

But the telephone is not the only device capable of broadcasting an image to the TV screen. There are others - for example, laptops. And they have no less opportunities in this regard. So, today we’ll talk about how to connect a laptop to a TV via Wi-Fi and wired interfaces.

Wireless connection methods

Wi-Fi Miracast, WiDi and AMD Wireless Display

You probably remember what Wi-Fi Miracast and WiDi (Intel Wireless Display) are from the previous article. We hasten to please you: these technologies are supported not only by smartphones, but also by mobile computers. However, not all, but only those equipped with processors Intel Core i3/i5/i7 second and subsequent generations.

WiDi and Miracast support different versions Windows is not implemented the same way. Namely:

2nd generation Intel Core i3/i5/i7 processors can use WiDi version 4 features only on Windows 7 and 8.1. Windows 10 does not support WiDi and Miracast.
Third-generation processors support WiDi 4 only in Windows 7, “eight” and “ten” support Miracast.
Processors fourth generation switched to support for WiDi version 6 (modern). In Windows 7 and 8.1 - no restrictions. In Windows 10 - only if you have a Wi-Fi adapter released after 2013. Computers with older wireless adapters and Windows 10 can only use Miracast.
Processors of the fifth and sixth generations support WiDi 6 without restrictions.

Laptops based AMD processors also capable of transmitting images to TV via Wi-Fi channel. The technology they use is called AMD Wireless Display. This, so to speak, is an analogue of WiDi, developed by AMD for wireless connection of its devices and Miracast-compatible TVs.

AMD Wireless Display is officially supported by Windows 8, 8.1 and 10 systems. To check whether the processor is compatible with this technology, the manufacturer recommends proprietary utility AMD Catalyst Auto Detect.

Connecting to a TV

To transfer an image from a laptop to a TV screen using any of the above standards, an access point is not needed. It is only necessary that both the laptop and the TV receiver support Miracast (as you already know, if such an option is not available on the TV, an external adapter can make up for it).

So, before establishing a connection, let’s make sure that Wi-Fi is turned on on both devices. Next we activate Miracast function on TV. Which menu it is in should be indicated in the instructions. Next we move on to the laptop.

If you have Windows 10, press Win+P on your keyboard to open the Project menu. If you want the desktop to be displayed on both your computer and TV, select “Repeating”; To display the picture on TV, select “Second screen only.”

If you have Windows 8.1, open the Charms bar, go to the "Devices" - "Projector" section and select the " Wireless display" After this, the TV will work as a monitor.

To connect via WiDi Intel company previously offered users its own tool - Intel utility Wireless Display, but it is not currently available.

AMD Wireless Display has always used only the Windows interface described above.

DLNA

DLNA is another technology that allows devices home network share multimedia content without complex settings and wires. However, not only without wires - one or both paired devices can be connected to the network via a cable. Unlike Miracast, DLNA does not provide the ability to link them directly.

A TV connected to a laptop via DLNA will not replace the monitor - it will play only those multimedia files that the user selects, and the desktop, shortcuts and everything else will remain on the laptop display.

To connect a mobile computer to a TV via DLNA, three conditions must be met:

Entering both devices into one local network. No internet connection required.
TV technology support.
Modern operating system (Windows 7-10) installed on a laptop, or a separate software to create a DLNA server. Windows users XP and Vista will do, for example Windows Media Player 11-12 versions.

How to transfer multimedia to TV using Windows

After making sure that the computer and TV are connected to the same network, open the folder where the multimedia file is stored, right-click on it and select the “Transfer to device” option. In the list of devices, select your TV.

Most often this is enough to start playback. In case of problems, do the following:

Change type network connection to private.
Open "Advanced sharing options" to private network and enable network discovery, automatic setup on network devices and general access to files.
Make sure that access to the laptop drives is not blocked by a firewall.

Creating a DLNA server

If you want all the media content stored in the Music, Pictures, Videos, etc. libraries to play on your TV, spend a few minutes creating and configuring a DLNA server.

To do this:

In Advanced Sharing Options, open the All Networks section and click Select Media Streaming Options.

Next, click “Enable Streaming.”

In the settings section, specify the name of the library in which the multimedia is stored (by default, the user’s root folder is registered here), and in front of the playback device (TV), check the “Allowed” box.

If you want, you can specify the type of content that will be played on TV. To do this, click the “Customize” button next to it and change the desired parameters.

This completes the creation and configuration of the DLNA server. Now laptop folders containing multimedia files will be displayed on TV.

By the way, proprietary connection technologies mobile devices and computers to TV, which we wrote about in the previous article, are also primarily based on DLNA standards. LG has this " Smart Share", Sony, in particular, Sony Bravia, — "VAIO Media Server", for Samsung - "AllShare", for Apple TV set-top boxes - "AirPlay". Their advantages over regular DLNA are a wider range of capabilities.

To connect a laptop, for example, to an LG TV, just install the free proprietary application LG Smart Share. If you have a TV of a different brand, you can easily find similar software on the manufacturer’s official website. Installation and configuration of such programs is very simple, system requirements not tall.

Cable connection

HDMI

Digital HDMI interface, supporting FullHD image quality and multi-channel audio, is probably in the best possible way cable connection of a laptop to a TV, fortunately most are equipped with this interface mobile computers. Modern TVs They also have an HDMI port. To connect devices, a cable of the appropriate type is enough: HDMI-HDMI or micro- (mini-) HDMI-HDMI (if one of the connectors is small).

Connecting a cable to the ports is only permissible after turning off the power to the devices (otherwise you can damage them). Switching between displays (laptop and TV) is done by pressing the key combination Fn+F*, where F* is function key, which has an icon in the form of two screens, for example, as in the photo below.

The parameters for displaying a picture on an additional display - appearance, resolution, etc., are configured through the Control Panel, the “Screen” applet and the “Setting screen parameters” section.

Audio is configured through the Sound applet. The TV's speakers will appear in the Playing Devices list. To make them hosts, open context menu and check "Use as default".

VGA

Analog VGA interface also very common on laptops and TVs. A TV connected to a laptop with a VGA cable will only be able to reproduce the image, and the sound will come from the laptop's speakers.

DisplayPort

DisplayPort connectors are found on laptops less often than the first two. This too digital interface, like HDMI, which can transmit both image and sound.

DVI, S-Video

Ports of these types today can only be found on old laptops, and they are used mainly for connecting to equally old TVs.

Thunderbolt

Thunderbolt - relatively new interface, designed for transmitting data of any type with very high speed. It is most often found on MacBooks and can be used to connect them to external monitor or TV.

Since there are no TVs with Thunderbolt yet (and if there are, they are unknown to the author), to connect a MacBook you will need additional equipment- Thunderbolt to HDMI adapter and HDMI-HDMI cable.

Connecting interfaces of different types using adapters

Remember: the fewer transformations and breaks in the transmission medium, the higher the quality of image and sound on the playback device. Direct cable connection - from the laptop port to the TV port, always gives best result than using adapters.

If your laptop is only equipped VGA port, and the TV is VGA and HDMI, it is preferable to use a direct VGA-VGA cable rather than an HDMI to VGA adapter and an HDMI-to-HDMI cable. The adapter does not improve analog signal to the digital level, but simply converts it to another format, often with a loss of quality.

Laptop - set-top box - TV

Happy owners of Smart TVs can connect their laptops to them in many ways. If one doesn't fit, there is always an alternative. And owners of ordinary, especially old television receivers, sometimes have to suffer: something is not on sale the required adapter, then the connection does not work.

In this case, the optimal solution would be to purchase set-top box With SMART functions, like Apple TV or Android Box. It’s not very expensive, and it also eliminates the hassle of connecting other equipment to the TV forever.

To connect a laptop to a TV, they are often used DVI cable or HDMI, but many users prefer more convenient wireless technologies.

On a plasma TV screen it is more comfortable to watch interesting movies and photographs stored on the hard drive, as well as play games and simply surf the Internet.

Wireless connectivity has clear advantages in terms of:

aesthetics - the absence of unnecessary cables in the room is more pleasing to the eye;
mobility - the laptop can be placed in absolutely any convenient place, there is no need to move it as close to the TV as possible;
safety - no risk of accidental damage or cable breakage;
financial savings - there is no need to buy a cable if it is not available.

Basic Wi-Fi connection options

Connecting a laptop to a TV is possible using DLNA and WiDi technologies, as well as with an adapter. The provided instructions will help you easily understand each option.

Using DLNA system

DLNA technology provides multiple computer devices, components single network, the ability to exchange any media content - movies, videos, music, etc. An important feature of such a network is that it can include a variety of devices - stationary personal computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, printers, game consoles, as well as TVs that support SmartShare.

In order to provide the television device with direct access to the media content of the laptop, you need to follow the instructions given:

Connect devices to a single access point in global network― to do this, click on the “Internet Access” icon located on the taskbar.
Against the desired network Check the box next to “Connect automatically” and then click “Connect”.
Go to TV.
In the TV device menu, select “Settings”.
In the “Network” block with a globe icon (at various models It may be called differently on TVs) select the item labeled “Network Settings”.
Choose wireless type network, after which the system will automatically launch an automatic search.
In the list provided, select an access point that was previously enabled.
Return to the laptop to configure the DLNA server. To do this, open Windows “Settings” and in this window select “Network and Internet”.
On the “Wi-Fi” tab, click on the name of the active network.
In the next window, select the network profile type - “Private”, and close it.
Select the directory with files to be read by the TV.
Go to “This PC”, right-click on the disk where the desired custom media files are located and select “Properties” from the menu.
Go to the “Access” block, and then open the advanced settings menu.
In a new small window, share the contents of the folder, then click on “Apply” and “OK”.

You can provide shared access to media content in another way - through the “Network and Internet” item in the “Settings” section.

As soon as access is opened, you need to go back to the television device and do a few simple manipulations.

The only drawback of DLNA technology is the lack of support for the popular video format.mkv. Therefore, such video files must first be in .avi format.

"Media Streaming" in DLNA

There is also the ability to configure streaming media content. In this situation, the built-in standard function « Streaming multimedia". You can activate it as follows:

After this, the default media player will launch on the laptop screen, and a message about connecting to network device. As soon as the connection is made, the broadcast will begin on the television screen.

Using Miracast or WiDi technology

WiDi ( Wi-Fi Direct) and Miracast are names of the same technology invented by Intel. Its essence lies not in the usual transmission of media content, but in the complete projection of the image from the laptop screen onto the TV display, including everything that happens - opening folders, moving the mouse, etc.

The most important advantage of modern Wi-Fi technology Direct is the ideal transmission of full-length video content with surround sound. A Wi-Fi access point is not required. The main condition is that both devices used support the Miracast standard.

Initially, a special application for setting up WiDi technology was available only on the official Intel web resource, but now it is built into the Windows 8 and 10 operating systems.

To activate this function you need:

In some models of television devices, to enable this option, Screen program Share or Screen Mirroing, which literally means " mirror image screen."

Easy connection using Wi-Fi adapters

Not all models of television devices are equipped with built-in Wi-Fi modules, so in some cases you will have to use special adapters. These miniature devices appearance resembling a regular flash drive, compatible with any TV.

Google Chromecast is recognized as one of the most popular universal options. Other popular models are:

Miracast adapter;
Android Mini PC;
Intel Compute Stick.

In addition, adapters for TV devices are produced certain models and manufacturers:

Samsung WIS12ABGNX/NWT;
Philips PTA128/00;
LG AN-Wf500 and others.

The adapter can be connected directly to the TV panel itself, but this may cause interference with the built-in TV receiver. To avoid this, it is advisable to use a USB hub or a regular extension cord.

By connecting the Wi-Fi adapter, you need to establish a connection between the router and the TV device.

Open the menu item “Settings”, “Settings” or “Options”.
In it select “Network settings”.
After that, select the desired router and enter the password for it, or synchronize the TV and laptop using wireless technology ad-hoc.

When choosing a Wi-Fi adapter, you need to take into account compatibility with certain television equipment, transmitter power, signal acquisition radius and operating frequency.

Popular utilities

In addition to the built-in system tools, exist and third party utilities, providing connection of a laptop to a television device. The most popular are:

home media server;
Share Manager (Samsung only);
Serviio.

Let's look at the process of organizing a connection using an example universal program Home media server. It is free to use and compatible with all popular models TV devices.

Video - How to connect a laptop with Windows 7, 8, 10 to a TV using WiDi

What is this for? Home users are primarily interested in this. They use this tandem of TV and laptop to view photos on big screen, movies and games. Many people do this for work, as it is much more convenient.

But not everyone knows how to transfer an image from a laptop to a TV correctly. And most are hearing about this for the first time.

There are several ways to establish a connection between a TV and a laptop. The following is a description of all these methods.

Transfer images wirelessly

If only a TV and a laptop are available, but there is no required cable, then don’t despair. It is possible to implement your plans. But how to transfer images from a laptop to a TV wirelessly? For this you will additionally need a router and special program, which must be installed on your laptop. Important! The TV needs to be connected to the router, but before that you need to make sure that it has the ability to connect to a Wi-Fi device.

Establishing a connection. Step by step instructions

Connect the TV to the router and check that it is really connected.
Establish a connection between the laptop and router via Wi-Fi.
Run a program similar to Extender on your laptop, establishing a connection with the TV.
Drag files into Media Center and enjoy watching them on your TV!

How to transfer an image from a laptop to

In this case, you will need a device that will stream video to the TV screen. It's called Apple TV. Connects via special cable, and then to Wi-Fi networks. Then you can enjoy watching videos and images through your Apple TV.

How to transfer an image from a laptop to a TV via an HDMI cable?

This method of data transfer is the most common. The connection has high quality. It differs in that not only the picture, but also the sound is transmitted through one cable.

Modern laptops and TVs are equipped HDMI ports. There are three types of HDMI connectors:

Most TVs have Type A.
For laptops and video cameras, a smaller connector is used - Type B.
Type C, micro-HDMI, designed for digital cameras, smartphones and tablets.

All these types of connectors can be combined using adapters. Therefore, do not despair if some connector does not fit right away.

You also need to know that HDMI cables come in two types:

Standard, for transmitting video with a resolution of 720x1080 pixels and a frequency of 74.5 MHz.
High-speed, for images with a resolution of 1080x2160 pixels and a frequency of 340 MHz.

So, there is the necessary cable and the necessary connectors have been found. How to transfer an image from a laptop to a TV via HDMI? It's very simple!

Turn off both devices and connect them with an HDMI cable. Then we turn on both the TV and the laptop. While the operating system is loading, you may see a message on the TV indicating a missing or weak signal.

Using the remote control, open the TV menu and select HDMI devices. Attention! You need to select exactly the device that was connected to the desired connector! If everything is done correctly, the laptop desktop will be displayed on the TV screen.

All! Now you can play games, watch movies and photos on the big screen and enjoy the quality!

If the image does not appear on the TV, then you need to right-click on the laptop desktop. Select "Screen Resolution" from the drop-down menu. A settings window will appear. In the “Screen” item you need to select “Multiple monitors”. The resolution will be set automatically, but you can change it at your discretion. In the “Multiple screens” item, you must set “Duplicate desktop on 1 and 2”. After all these manipulations, the image should appear on the TV.

Setting up the screen in the Windows 10 operating system

Many users have been using the latest OS for a long time, which is significantly different from previous versions. How to transfer an image from a laptop to a TV via HDMI Windows 10?

For users of this operating system, the connection between a laptop and a TV differs only in the screen settings.

To do this, you need to find and open the “Display Settings” section. A window will pop up with additional parameters. Here you need to select “connect multiple screens”. Be sure to click the “Save” button. The resolution is set in the next step. Here you can select the optimal quality for the monitor at your discretion. Then click “Apply”. You can also “fit” the image on the TV screen by scaling. This function is available on all digital TVs.

Establishing a connection between TV and other devices

So, it’s now clear how to transfer images from a laptop to a TV. But what should tablet and smartphone users do?

There's nothing special here either. If your TV supports Wi-Fi or has a connected Wi-Fi router, then establishing a wireless connection between it and your smartphone will be easy. You can use an HDMI cable, which is connected through the corresponding connectors on the devices.

Nowadays, technological advancement continues to progress and TVs with all the supporting features will soon be available. And then the question of how to transfer an image from a laptop to a TV will not be a problem. And everyone will be able to enjoy the pictures on the big screen.