How to Connect Your Laptop to Your Television

Use the right cable to connect your laptop to your television.

Virtually all new laptops come with the ability to connect to a television. Connect your laptop to your TV to take advantage of a larger viewing screen, as well as watch movies streamed to your laptop on your television. Connecting your laptop to your television can be accomplished with the correct cable.

Things You'll Need

• HDMI, DVI or VGA cable

Instructions

1. Check your laptop's manual as well as your television's manual to determine the type of connection cable to purchase. Numerous laptops and televisions have either an HDMI, DVI or VGA port. If your laptop and television have both a VGA and HDMI port, HDMI is the better cable to purchase, because the picture quality is better.

2. Power off both your television and your laptop.

3. Connect the HDMI or VGA cable to the HDMI or VGA ports on your laptop and on your television.

4. Turn the television on and switch the mode from "TV" to either "HDMI" or "PC," depending upon if you used an HDMI or VGA cable.

5. Power on your laptop. If you do not see your laptop's screen on the television, press the "Function" and "LCD/CRT" keys on your keyboard to switch your laptop's display to the correct mode. The laptop's screen will then be displayed on your television.

References

• SFSU: Laptop Hookup Instructions