How to Connect Your Computer to a TV

Connect your computer to a TV to save space and money.

Instead of having a separate monitor for your computer, you can save space and money by hooking up your LCD or plasma TV to your computer. No special tools are required and in most cases, the hookup process merely involves plugging in a cable. This procedure should work for most flat-screen televisions and even projectors.

Things You'll Need

• LCD or plasma TV
• VGA cable

Instructions

1. Inspect your LCD or plasma TV and determine what type of connection ports are available. In particular, look for a VGA port, which has three rows of pin holes. If your TV is equipped with this port, purchase a VGA cable. These cables are inexpensive and can be purchased online or from a local computer retailer.

2. Plug one end of the VGA cable into the corresponding port on your TV.

3. Plug the other end of the VGA cable into the VGA port on the back of your computer.

4. Switch the input source on your TV using your remote control. Typically, the correct source is "RGB" or "VGA." Once you've selected the correct mode or source, the output from your computer should display on the TV screen.

Tips & Warnings

• This procedure should also work with most laptops. If you have an extra TV or monitor, you can also enable dual-screen mode.

References

• Microsoft: Connect Your Computer to a TV
• Digital Inspiration: How to Connect a Laptop Computer to Your Television Screen