How to connect a TV to a computer or laptop via Wi-Fi: screen mirroring

Many users prefer to watch videos on large screens rather than on computer monitors. Thanks to wireless communication and special programs, your TV can, if necessary, play the role of a large display that works in conjunction with a computer via Wi-Fi.

How to connect a TV to a computer or laptop via Wi-Fi?

The TV is connected to the computer not only in different wired ways, but also via Wi-Fi. The signal source can be either a desktop computer or a laptop. The screen can be used to view video and audio from the hard disk.
Almost all methods used to connect a TV to Wi-Fi require that it has wireless support. That is, the TV must have a Wi-Fi adapter. Most modern TV devices have a similar device.

How to transfer images and videos from a computer to a TV via Wi-Fi (DLNA)

This method of wirelessly connecting TVs is considered the most common. This and all subsequent instructions are written for Windows 7, 8.1 and Windows 10 operating systems TV requirements:

• the presence of a Wi-Fi block;
• the TV is connected to a router, from which computer equipment works with video and audio materials.

If the TV supports Wi-Fi Direct, a router is not required – you can connect directly to the TV network. To connect, you need to go to the corresponding TV menu. The DLNA function can be used to play content without setting up a DLNA server. Condition – the computer and the TV must be in the same local network – connected to the same router or via Wi-Fi Direct. Procedure:

1. Set up a DLNA server on your computer . You need to open access to the necessary files. To do this, in the network settings, select the “Home” type. All other folders – with documents, images, music and videos become available by default. To open access to a specific folder, simply right-click on it. Select the “Properties” and “Access” tabs from the context menu.
2. Turn on sharing . The quickest option is to open File Explorer and select Network. If you then receive information that network discovery and access have been disabled, click on the message and follow the instructions that appear.

Windows Access Setup:
If this message does not appear, and computers and media servers are displayed instead, DLNA is most likely already set up. Otherwise, you will have to configure the DLNA server. When DLNA is set up and connected, open the TV menu and see which devices are connected. The algorithm of actions depends on the brand of the TV, for example:

• in Sony Bravia , press the Home button, and then, selecting the desired section – Music, Movies, Images, view the contents of the computer;
• in LG , select SmartShare , there you will see what is in the folders, even if you do not have this program on your computer.

On TVs of other brands, you have to perform approximately the same manipulations using the appropriate programs. Accessing files via Wi-Fi DLNA on TV:
When DLNA is connected, go to the desired folder on your computer and, by clicking on the video file in Explorer, select “Play to …”. Instead of dots, the name of your TV will be indicated. Next, Wi-Fi video transmission will start – from a computer / laptop to TV.

Even if the TV has support for MKV movies, “Play to” does not work for them in Windows 7 and 8, so they will not be visible in the TV menu, the easiest way to fix the problem is to rename these files to AVI on the computer.

TV as a wireless display (WiDi)

We figured out how to play computer files on a TV screen, and how to make them available. Next, we will learn how to watch any picture from a computer / laptop on TV. The TV will act as a wireless monitor. To implement the task, one of two technologies is used – Intel WiD or Miracast. The connection does not require a router, as they establish a direct connection – using Wi-Fi Direct. What you need to know about your computer:

1. If your computer equipment is equipped with a third generation Intel processor , it has an Intel wireless adapter with an integrated Intel HD Graphics chip, then it supports Intel WiDi in Windows 7 and 8.1 versions. You may need to download Intel Wireless Display. You can download the program on the official website of Intel .
2. If Windows 8.1 was preinstalled on the computer / laptop and there is a Wi-Fi adapter, then there should be Miracast support. With a self-installation of Windows, the option can be any – with or without support. Earlier versions of the operating system – up to 8.1, do not support Miracast.

To use Miracast, support from the TV is required. A couple of years ago, you would have had to buy a special adapter, but today many TVs come with built-in support for Miracast technology, or get it after flashing it.

Miracast on TV:
Connection process:

1. Turn on WiDi or Miracast support on your TV. It usually works by default. It happens that the TV does not have such a setting at all, then it is enough to turn on the Wi-Fi module. In Samsung, for example, this feature is called “Screen Mirroring”, it is located in the network settings.
2. Enable WiDi by launching Intel Wireless Display and select a wireless monitor. You may be asked for a code – it will appear on the TV screen. Looking for a wireless WiDi monitor:
3. To enable Miracast in Windows 8.1, open Charms – this panel is on the right. Click the “Devices” and “Projector” tabs in sequence. Then click on “Add Wireless Display”.

If this item is not present, then your computer does not support Miracast technology, in order to correct the situation, you will have to update the drivers of the Wi-Fi adapter.

Connecting a laptop to a Smart TV via WiFi wirelessly

Most televisions today are equipped with a feature that allows them to access interactive content. You can display movies, music, games, and more on the TV screen. This technology is called
Smart TV . Smart is implemented in Samsung TVs, similar technologies are available from other manufacturers – Sony, Philips, Panasonic and others. Let us consider in more detail the procedure for connecting a TV with Smart technology to a regular laptop via Wi-Fi. Procedure:

1. Connect your laptop and TV to the same Wi-Fi network . If the computer equipment is already connected to the router, it remains to do the same for the TV. Turn on the TV and use the remote control to enter its “Settings”, and then to the “Network” tab.
2. Turn on the Wi-Fi adapter . Select the laptop connection point from the list. Both devices are now connected to the same local network.
3. Set up a DLNA server . Open folders containing videos and other content on your laptop. This is done in the “Network Control Center”. Go to the “View active networks” section, and change the general network to the local one. DLNA server setup:

4. Expand file access . For example, you need to watch a movie that is on your hard drive. Locate the My Videos folder and click on it to open the context menu.
5. In the drop-down list, select “Access”, and from it go to “Advanced settings” . Check the box at the top next to Folder Sharing. Click “Apply” and then “OK”. Selecting “Advanced Setup”:
6. There is another way to enable sharing . Open File Explorer and select Network. Click the tab that disables network discovery and file sharing. Then follow the instructions.
7. After turning on DLNA, take the remote control and find the section on viewing content located on the computer in the menu . For example, on Sony poppy TVs, this item is called “Home”, on LG – “SmartShare”.

Selecting content from a computer:
If all the settings are correct, you will include video from a laptop in two clicks:

1. Highlighting the file you like in the laptop, right-click on it and select “Play to …” from the menu.
2. Find your TV model in the list of devices. Click on it, and the video file will be broadcast on the screen.

Connecting via Wi-Fi to a regular TV without a wireless adapter via HDMI input

If you haven’t got a modern Smart TV, nothing is lost. A simple TV can also be used to solve the problem. The main thing is that the device has an HDMI input. To achieve the goal, you will need one of the following devices:

• Google Chromecast. This little device is called a digital or network media player. This is a Google product. The device is designed to transfer video and audio files via Wi-Fi from the Internet or local network. What Google Chromecast looks like:
• android mini pc. It looks like a flash drive. Connects via HDMI port to TV.
• Intel Computer Stick. The size of a pack of chewing gum can turn any monitor with an HDMI input into a full-fledged computer with high-quality graphics and wireless connectivity. The size of this compact computer is 11.5 cm.

https://youtu.be/ilP4_oVATQQ Laptops have many options for synchronization, in addition to the above algorithm. You can duplicate the image – the two screens will have the same picture. If you make one screen the main one, then the second one will automatically turn off. Instead of a laptop or computer, you can use a smartphone. This makes screen management even more convenient. Modern TVs can be used to access the Internet, while they do not lose their main function – they play video on a large screen. How to connect a TV to a computer via wifi: https://youtu.be/kM8lQp_pwTU

Wireless connection of a computer / laptop to a TV in Windows 10 via Miracast

To connect, press the key combination
Win + P. A menu with video display options will pop up on the right. Select Connect to a Wireless Monitor. If this option is not available, then your vehicle does not support this feature. After clicking the specified item, the computer will start searching for wireless devices. Turn on Miracast/Intel WiDi on your TV. For example, in older LGs, for this you need to go to the “Network” section. Enabling Miracast/Intel WiDi function on LG brand TV:
The procedure depends on the brand of TV:

• on Samsung TVs, go to the menu and select the signal source – “Screen Mirroring”;
• Sony select “Screen mirroring” by pressing the appropriate button on the remote control;
• in Philips, go to “Settings”, click “Network settings” and “Wi-Fi Miracast”.

If your TV does not support Miracast, buy a special adapter and connect it via the HDMI port to your TV:

1. Select your TV that appears in the search, then the connection will start.
2. If necessary, confirm that the computer is connected (confirmation is not always required).

Sometimes you can’t connect right away. Try restarting both devices. Another option is to change the projection mode. You can, for example, enlarge the screen or duplicate the image on two screens. Changing the projection mode:
TV connection can be made by adding a new device in the settings. To do this, go to the “Devices” tab. There you need to select “Add Bluetooth / other device”. For this:

1. Select Wireless Display or Dock.
2. Select Miracast on your TV. After that, it will appear in the list of devices. Click on your TV and the connection will begin.

https://youtu.be/5BqjJEoRI20

How to control sound when connected via Miracast

Miracast can transmit sound in the same way as through a wired connection. Sound from the computer should come out of the TV speakers. If “Digital Output” is set by default in the settings, you can change the item by selecting the desired playback device.
By doing this manipulation, you will receive sound from the computer’s speakers. Set “Digital Output” back if necessary.

If Miracast does not work and the item “Connect to a wireless display” is missing

If in previous versions of the 10th version of Windows, the system, “realizing” that Miracast was not supported, issued a corresponding message, then new versions simply do not have an item about connecting to a wireless monitor in the menu called by the Win + P combination. Project menu:
For the desired function to work, support from adapters is required – Wi-Fi and graphics. Verify by typing “netsh wlan show driver” at the command prompt. If “Wireless Monitor Supported” appears, great. If there is no support, do the following:

• update the Wi-Fi adapter driver, the probability of success is small, but there is a chance that this manipulation will help;
• try changing the Wi-Fi adapter;
• connect your TV with an HDMI cable.

Can’t connect to wireless display

If the TV cannot connect for a long time, then an error message appears. Or computer equipment cannot “see” the TV and it is not even displayed in the list of available devices. Unable to connect to display:
Try to reconnect using one of the following methods:

• Click restart your computer and turn off the TV power for a few minutes.
• The reason may lie in the low quality of the signal. Therefore, try to reduce the gap between appliances, and at the same time check if Miracast is active.
• Update the driver for the Wi-Fi adapter.
• If you have another TV, connect to it to test the connection.
• Try disabling the discrete graphics card.

Don’t disable the integrated one. To do this, go to Device Manager. Thus, you turn off the video adapter. It happens that this method helps to solve the problem.

Turn off your graphics card:
Then, when you’re not using your TV as a wireless monitor, turn your graphics card back on.

What to do if there is a problem duplicating a computer screen on a TV via wifi

If you cannot use the TV as a monitor, due to the fact that it does not display the items necessary for setting up, it is probably due to device incompatibility. The TV manual can help you – you can download it to your smartphone. Another solution to the problem is to update the Wi-Fi adapter driver. You can find out how this is done on
the Microsoft website . Many users have noticed that broadcasting content to a TV screen is more difficult than from a laptop. Possible causes of problems:

• incorrect work of WiDi or Miracast;
• No internet connection;
• the router is faulty;
• TV settings are incorrect.

Media Center Extender

This program is built into OS 7 and 8 versions of Windows. To open Media Center Extender, click “Start” and write the name of the program in the search box – this is for the seventh version. In Windows 8, you need to move the courses to the right-up and select “Search” from the menu. It happens that a suitable OS is installed on the computer, but still it is not possible to find the desired option. Then you have to put it in. To do this, visit the Media Center Extender website and download the necessary updates. After installing the program, go to the settings. Select “Media Attachment”, and then its “Install”:
Using the program does not require special knowledge. It is enough to follow the instructions that will be displayed on the screen. When the TV and computer are successfully connected, send the necessary files to the media attachment – to the TV.

Third Party Programs

The Internet is teeming with a huge number of programs with the help of which it is possible to display information from computer equipment on a television screen. Choosing the right option is not so easy, so we advise you to focus on versions that have been tested by time and users. Top Programs:

• Samsung Share;
• home media server ;
• share manager.

The second option is especially attractive. It has a simple interface and great functionality. True, the program is applicable only to Samsung TVs. When used with other brands, malfunctions may occur.

Types of adapters

There are two types of adapters – built-in and external. In the first case, to connect the TV to the signal source, it is enough to set up the connection. External devices are connected via USB. If you are buying an adapter to connect your TV to a network, first check the list of supported devices by going to the TV manufacturer’s website. Approximate cost of Wi-Fi adapters:

• Up to 1200 rubles . 802.11n standard. Transfer speed – 150-300 Mbps.
• From 1200 to 2500 rubles . 802.11ac standard. Transfer rate – 300-867 Mbps.
• More than 2500 rubles . Support speeds of 1300 Mbps or more.

There are many ways to connect a TV to computer equipment. When choosing one or another option, it is necessary to take into account the TV model and other technical nuances. If you cannot connect the first time, try again, try different ways to solve the problem.