This wikiHow teaches you how to connect a Macbook Pro laptop to an HDTV. You can use a cable such as an HDMI or Thunderbolt cable to perform this process on any HDTV. You can also broadcast content on your Mac computer screen to a television if you have an Apple TV.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using a Cable on an HDTV
Step 1. Determine the Mac computer's video output type
- MacBook Pro 2016 and newer – These computers use a Thunderbolt 3 port/out which requires a USB-C connection. You can buy a USB-C to HDMI cable that has a USB-C connector on one end and an HDMI connector on the other.
- MacBook Pro 2015 and earlier – These computers are equipped with HDMI ports so you can use a standard HDMI to HDMI cable.
Step 2. Purchase a video cable
You will need to purchase a Thunderbolt 3 to HDMI cable or a standard HDMI cable, depending on your computer model.
Step 3. Connect one end of the cable to the computer
Connect the USB-C end of the cable (MacBook Pro 2016 and later models) or one end of the HDMI cable (MacBook Pro 2015 and earlier) to the appropriate port on the right or left side of the MacBook Pro cover/shield.
The cable can usually fit snugly into the port, but make sure you don't force it in
Step 4. Connect the other end of the cable to the HDTV
The HDMI end can be plugged into any of the television's HDMI ports. These five-sided ports are usually found on the back or side of the television.
You may need to disconnect another HDMI cable in order to connect your Mac to your television, depending on the number of HDMI ports your television has
Step 5. Write down the HDMI input number
There is a name or number next to the HDMI port the cable is connected to. You need to know this number or name in order to select the right channel or channels.
Step 6. Turn on the HDTV
Press the HDTV power button
to turn it on.
Step 7. Change the television input
Switch the television input channel to the HDMI input number (e.g. “ HDMI 3 "). Usually you can change the input by pressing the “ Input " or " Videos ” on the television until it reaches the correct input, or use the “ Input " or " Videos ” on the television remote control.
Once you've entered the correct input, you should be able to see the MacBook Pro screen displayed on the television a few moments later
Step 8. Change the sound and video settings of the Mac computer if necessary
If the picture on the television is not showing properly or the sound of the video is playing through the computer's speakers instead of the television's speakers, you can change the relevant settings through the Mac's “System Preferences” menu.
Method 2 of 3: Using AirPlay on Apple TV
Step 1. Make sure your Apple TV and MacBook Pro laptop are connected to the same network
For AirPlay to work on Mac computers and Apple TV, both devices must be connected to the same WiFi network.
Step 2. Turn on the Apple TV
Turn on the HDTV and make sure the input is set to Apple TV, then press the button on the Apple TV remote control.
Step 3. Enable AirPlay on Apple TV
To activate it:
- Open menu " Settings ” on Apple TV.
- Choose " AirPlay ”.
- Choose " AirPlay ” at the top of the screen.
- Choose " Everyone ”.
Step 4. Enable AirPlay on MacBook Pro
To activate it:
-
Open menu Apple
Macapple1 - Click " System Preferences… ”.
- Click " Display ”.
- Click the tab " Display ”.
- Click the "AirPlay Display" drop-down box.
- Click " On ”.
- Check the box "Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available".
Step 5. Click the "AirPlay" menu
It's a square with a triangle in the upper-right corner of your Mac's screen. After that, a drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 6. Select the TV name
Under the " AirPlay To " heading, click the name of the Apple TV you want to mirror/show the Mac computer screen. You can see the computer screen displayed on the television afterwards.
You can turn off AirPlay by clicking on the “AirPlay” menu icon and selecting “ Turn AirPlay Off ” in the drop-down menu.
Method 3 of 3: Changing Sound and Video Settings
Step 1. Open Apple menu on Mac computer
Click the Apple logo in the upper-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear after that.
Step 2. Click System Preferences…
It's at the top of the drop-down menu. After that, the “System Preferences” window will be displayed.
Step 3. Click Sound
This speaker icon is in the “System Preferences” window. The “Sound” window will open after that.
Step 4. Click Output
This tab is at the top of the “Sound” window.
Step 5. Select television speakers
Click the option " TV " or " HDMI ” at the top of the page. With this option, sound will be channeled/played through the television's speakers, and not the MacBook Pro's speakers.
Step 6. Return to the “System Preferences” page
Click the " Back " button in the upper left corner of the window to return.
Step 7. Click Displays
This computer monitor icon is in the middle of the “System Preferences” window.
Step 8. Click the Displays tab
It's in the top-left corner of the window.
Step 9. Change the resolution of the television
Check the " Scaled " box, then click the desired resolution.
You cannot use a resolution higher than the television's default resolution (eg 4K)
Step 10. Rescale the screen
Click and drag the " Underscan " slider at the bottom of the screen towards the left to display more content on the computer screen, or towards the right to enlarge the screen.
