This wikiHow teaches you how to connect a laptop or Mac desktop computer to a television. By connecting it, you can view the content on the computer screen on the television. You can use several different types of HDMI cables to connect your computer to your television, or use AirPlay to mirror your Mac screen to your Apple TV.
Step
Method 1 of 1: Using a Cable
Step 1. Look for the HDMI input on the television
Although televisions can use a variety of video inputs, HDMI is the most commonly used input for high-definition (HD) televisions. When connecting a computer to a television, you can get the best results using the HDMI input.
- The HDMI port is usually located on the back or side of the television. Most HDTVs have at least two HDMI ports.
- If your television does not support HDMI, you will need to find out which input your television uses for video and purchase an adapter once you know which output your computer uses.
Step 2. Specify the Mac computer's video output
Mac computers manufactured within the last 8 years can output video and audio through any of the following ports:
- Thunderbolt 3 - This oval port (also known as USB-C) is on the back of the latest iMac computers and all newer MacBook models. If your Mac computer has a Thunderbolt 3 port, you'll need a USB-C to HDMI cable.
- Thunderbolt 2 - This square-shaped port is found on most older Mac computers. If your computer has a Thunderbolt 2 port, you will need a Thunderbolt 2 to HDMI cable (or a Thunderbolt 2 to HDMI adapter and HDMI cable).
- HDMI - This port is usually found on older MacBooks. If your computer has an HDMI port, you can use a regular HDMI cable to connect your computer to your television.
Step 3. Buy the right cable for your Mac computer
You can buy a standard HDMI cable at most supermarkets that have a tech equipment segment. However, you may need to visit a tech specialty store (or shop online) for a USB-C to HDMI or Thunderbolt 2 to HDMI cable.
- Tokopedia and Bukalapak are the two most frequently visited sites to buy non-standard cables.
- If you need to purchase an adapter because your television doesn't support HDMI, look for a “[Mac out] to [TV in]” adapter (e.g. " USB-C to VGA " or " Thunderbolt 2 to VGA ") along with an audio to RCA cable to transmit sound to television.
- It's possible that you can't get an RCA adapter (component cable).
- HDMI, Thunderbolt 2, and Thunderbolt 3 cables (and all their adapters) support audio.
Step 4. Connect one end of the cable to the Mac computer
If you are not using a regular HDMI cable, connect the other end of the Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 2 cable to the computer.
- If you use an HDMI cable, you can connect either end of the cable to your computer.
- If you are using a non-HDMI adapter on the television side of your computer, you will also need to connect the single end of the auxiliary (auxiliary) cable to the computer's headphone jack.
Step 5. Connect the other end of the HDMI cable to the television
You can connect the other end of the HDMI cable to the HDMI port on the side or back of the television. This cable can only be inserted in one position so do not force it if the cable does not fit.
If you are using a non-HDMI cable to connect your computer to your television, plug the other end of the cable into the desired input, and then plug the red and white audio cable inputs into the red and white ports on the television
Step 6. Turn on the television
Press the television's power button or "Power"
to turn on the device.
Step 7. Change television input to HDMI input
Press the button " Input ” on the television or use the remote control device to select the input “ HDMI " The process of this change will depend on the display and remote control of the television.
For example, if the slot or port to which the HDMI cable is attached is labeled “HDMI 3”, you will need to change the television input to the “HDMI 3” option
Step 8.
Wait for the Mac computer screen to appear on the television.
As long as the computer is on, you can see what the computer screen looks like on the television within a few seconds of changing the input. Otherwise, you may need to change your computer's display and sound settings.
Using Apple TV
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Set up Apple TV. To use the AirPlay mirroring feature, you must have your Apple TV set up and connected to your television.
Connect a Macbook to a TV Step 16 -
Connect your Mac computer to the same network as the Apple TV. Both your Mac computer and Apple TV must be connected to the same WiFi network before you can mirror or broadcast your Mac screen to your television.
Connect a Macbook to a TV Step 18 - You can find the network name your Apple TV is currently using by opening the settings menu (“ Settings ”) on Apple TV, choose “ Network ”, and view the name of the currently connected WiFi network.
- If you want to connect your iMac to your Apple TV, make sure your computer is within 9 meters of the device.
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Turn on Apple TV. Press the power button on the television
Windowspower then press any button on the Apple TV remote control device.
If your television doesn't currently use an Apple TV input (e.g. “HDMI 1”), you'll need to switch to that input first before you can see the Apple TV display
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Turn on the AirPlay feature on Apple TV. While the AirPlay feature is usually enabled by default on AppleTV, you need to make sure it's turned on and ready to use by following these steps:
- Open the Apple TV settings menu (“ Settings ”).
- Choose " AirPlay ”.
- Choose " AirPlay ” at the top of the screen.
- Choose " Everyone ” from the displayed menu.
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Open Apple menu
Macapple1 . Click the Apple logo that appears in the upper-left corner of the screen. After that, a drop-down menu will be displayed.
- Click System Preferences…. It's at the top of the drop-down menu. After that, the “System Preferences” window will be displayed.
- Click Displays. This computer monitor icon is in the middle of the “System Preferences” window.
- Click the Displays tab. It's in the top-left corner of the window.
- Click the "AirPlay Display" drop-down box. It's in the lower-left corner of the window. A drop-down menu will appear after that.
- Select Apple TV. Click the Apple TV name from the drop-down menu. After that, you can see the contents of the Mac computer screen on the television screen.
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Change the television resolution. Check the " Scaled " box, then click a resolution option. With this option, you can adjust the resolution of your television to the resolution of your computer if your television has a high enough resolution or definition.
You cannot select a resolution higher than the television's default resolution (e.g. you cannot enable 4K resolution if the television only supports a maximum resolution of 1080p)
- Change screen scaling. Click and drag the " Underscan " slider at the bottom of the page to the left to view more computer screen content on the television, or to the right to enlarge the screen. With this scaling, you can adjust the Mac computer screen on the television if it looks too big or small.
- Open the "Sound" menu. Click the button " ⋮⋮⋮⋮ ” in the upper left corner of the “System Preferences” window, then select “ Sound ” in the main window. After that, the “Sound” window will be displayed.
- Click Outputs. It's at the top of the “Sound” window. A list of speakers currently accessible to the computer is displayed. One of the available options is your Apple TV.
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Select Apple TV. Click the Apple TV name (or select “ Apple TV ). With this option, the sound from your Mac computer will be streamed through your Apple TV.
Changing Display and Sound Settings
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Open the Apple menu on a Mac computer
Macapple1 . Click the Apple logo in the upper-left corner of your computer screen.
- Click System Preferences. It's at the top of the Apple drop-down menu.
- Click Displays. This monitor icon is in the “System Preferences” window. Once clicked, the “Displays” window will be displayed.
- Change the value in the " Underscan " option. Click and drag the " Underscan " slider at the bottom of the screen to the right to zoom in on the television, or to the left to zoom out. With this option, you can change the size of the picture on the television.
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Change the television resolution. Check the "Scaled" box, then select the desired resolution (eg. 1080p ”).
You cannot select a resolution higher than the maximum resolution of the television
- Click. It's in the upper-left corner of the window. Once clicked, you will be taken back to the “System Preferences” page.
- Click Sounds. This icon looks like a silver speaker.
- Click the Output tab. This tab is at the top of the “Sound” window.
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Select the HDMI option. Click the television name or label “ HDMI ” in the menu that appears at the top of the page. With this option, the sound from the computer will be output through the television speakers, not the computer speakers. Now your television is set up and can show Mac computer video and audio.
Tips
- Using a television to display a Mac computer screen is useful when you want to stream video or play a game.
- There are apps for smart TVs that you can download to your Mac to broadcast your screen display over WiFi instead of a wired connection.
Warning
- If your computer screen displays content at a resolution or number of frames (frames) that is higher than the level supported by your television, you may be experiencing graphics problems with your television.
- Using an older Mac computer to connect to a newer television (or vice versa) can have unexpected results. In fact, the two devices cannot be connected at all.
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https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201736
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