When we come together with friends and family, sharing the wonders of the internet is a natural tendency. While some still adhere to traditional TV viewing, modern smart TVs offer a convenient solution to bridge the digital and analog worlds.
In the past, connecting a computer to a TV required lengthy cables, but with the rise of smart TVs supporting technologies such as Miracast this process has become more streamlined. Furthermore, most modern Windows versions include built-in support for this technology too, making it even easier to set up.
This article serves as a companion to our YouTube video, providing an entertaining and quick video of connecting your Windows computer to a compatible smart TV.
Setup
Before proceeding ensure you have a compatible Windows computer and Smart TV.
Your Windows computer must support Wireless Display. Miracast was introduced to Windows 8.1, so any version of Windows 8.1 and up should meet this requirement out of the box.
Your Smart TV must support screen mirroring through a technology such as Miracast. Alternatively you can purchase a Miracast wireless display adapter that connects to an HDMI port on your TV.
Both your computer and your smart TV must also be connected to the same wireless network in order for the devices to become discoverable to each other.
Connecting to your Tv
Open the Windows start menu by pressing the Windows key or clicking the Windows Start button on the left hand side of your taskbar.
Search for “Connect to a wireless display” and select the result from system settings.
In the newly opened window under ‘Multiple displays’ click “Connect to a wireless display” written in blue.
Note: If this option is grayed out or missing you may need to follow the ‘troubleshooting‘ section of this article.
On the right-hand side of the screen, select your TV to initiate the connection.
And that’s it! You have now successfully connected to your TV and can start using it as a remote display. If your connection fails or you do not see your TV listed follow the troubleshooting section below to see if this resolves any connection issues.
Troubleshooting
A lot of issues could arise through the process of setting up and connecting your smart TV as a remote display. We have summarized the three most important solutions to a lot of problems we have personally encountered. If none of our troubleshooting steps help resolve your issue you could always browse through the official Microsoft website or seek help from others on forums online.
Software issues
Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve connectivity issues. Turn off both your computer and smart TV, then power them back on after a few minutes.
Driver issues
Ensure your computer’s graphics and network drivers are up to date. Outdated drivers can hinder wireless display functionality. Visit the manufacturer’s website to download and install the latest drivers for your graphics card.
Firewall issues
Windows Firewall might be blocking the connection between your computer and the TV. To allow this connection to take place through Windows firewall open your start menu and search for ‘allow firewall’, then select ‘Allow an app through Windows Firewall’ from the list of results. Under Name, find Wireless Display, make sure Private and Public are selected, then select OK.
Other
If you encounter any other common issues during setup and have a solution, please let us know in the comments below! We would love to add them to the article to help others in the future.
Conclusion
In this guide, we’ve explored the simple process of wirelessly connecting your Windows computer to a smart TV. After finishing this article you can now share your favorite content with friends and family on the big screen.
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