How to Connect a MacBook Pro to a TV

You can connect your MacBook Pro to a television.

You may wish to connect your MacBook Pro laptop to a television in order to display a video presentation, share home movies or play computer games. Although Apple offers a range of adapter cables for the MacBook Pro’s Mini Display Port, those cables are designed for attaching an external monitor or projector to the laptop; there is no single adapter available for the purpose of connecting your MacBook Pro to a television. However, you can enable that functionality by using Apple’s Mini Display Port to VGA adapter in conjunction with a third-party adapter.

Things You'll Need

• Mini Display Port to VGA adapter
• PC to Video EZ Video Converter with USB power cable

Instructions

1. Examine the array of ports on the left side of the computer and locate the Mini Display port (it’s the third port to the left of the ExpressCard slot). Plug the Mini Display Port to VGA adapter into the port.

2. Plug one end of the VGA cable into the port found on the Mini Display Port to VGA adapter. Plug the remaining end of the VGA cable into the port on the PC to Video EZ adapter labeled "VGA IN." Use the thumbscrews on each end of the VGA cable to secure the plugs in place.

3. Plug one end of the composite video cable into the port on the PC to Video EZ adapter labeled “VIDEO OUT.” Plug the other end into the corresponding port on your television.

4. Plug one end of the USB power cable into any available USB port on your computer; plug the remaining end into the PC to Video EZ adapter.

5. Set your television to the channel designated for the display of video input (those channels are usually labeled “LINE” or “INPUT”). Turn on your computer and log in as normal; your computer’s display will now be mirrored on the television.

Tips & Warnings

• There are two buttons on top of the PC to Video EZ adapter that you can use to modify the image displayed on your television: SIZE enables image cropping, and FINE TUNE enables small adjustments to image quality.

• You may have to adjust your laptop’s display settings in order to improve image quality. Access the “Displays” control panel by selecting “System Preferences” from the “Apple” menu and adjust the selected resolution as needed.

• The composite video cable and its corresponding port are color-coded; if you are uncertain which port on your television to use, look for the one with a yellow inner ring.

References

• Create Digital Motion: MacBook, PC Notebook with No Analog Output? Tested Solutions

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Apple: Mini Display Port to VGA Adapter
• Amazon: GrandTec PC to Video EZ Video Converter