You may need to connect a laptop to a TV via wifi if the owner intends to use it as an external monitor or wants to access content for playback on a TV, for example, movies, home video archives, or photos. This guide will show you how To Connect Laptop To Tv Wirelessly and what you might need to do.
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How To Connect Laptop To Tv Wirelessly?
This method is suitable if you want to open files stored on your laptop using your TV. To do this, you need to connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network. It is not necessary to do this through one router: there can be several of them in the home network, for example, a base station, and a repeater.
A smart TV must be equipped with a Wi-Fi module to connect to a router. Also, it must support the DLNA standard – a command protocol for exchanging data with a computer. Most modern Smart TVs have such capabilities. For older TV models, you may need to purchase an additional adapter to expand the functionality of the device.
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Setting up a router
The switch must be put into DHCP mode to automatically distribute network addresses. If you live in an apartment building, it also doesn’t hurt to set a password to access your local network. To get into the router settings, you need to enter one of the possible network addresses of the router in the browser of a computer or other connected device:
- 192.168.0.1;
- 192.168.1.1;
- 192.168.2.1.
It is better to change the settings of the router when connected via a network cable. When connecting “over the air” after making changes to the settings, communication with it may be cut off, and you will have to re-enter the settings menu again.
For authorization, you will also need to enter your username and password. By default, if the factory settings have not been changed, they are the same. This word is admin. Where exactly the necessary settings are located depends on the model of the router and on the version of its firmware. Usually, the login and password, as well as the password from the network, are indicated on the nameplate glued to the bottom cover of the router (or the back, if the device is placed vertically). If it is not there, look for the necessary data in the accompanying documentation.
It is recommended to change the network name (SSID). This allows you not to get confused if several identical routers are working nearby, connected to different home networks – for example, in an apartment building where the network equipment is provided by an Internet provider.
As a rule, the password for Wi-Fi can be set in the “Security” or “Network” tab, and the DHCP server can be activated in the tab of the same name. To do this, check the box next to Enabled or On. The device will need a reboot for the changes to take effect.
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Connecting laptop and TV to a local network
To connect a laptop to a TV via wifi, drivers for a Wi-Fi transmitter and a network card must be installed on it. The easiest way is to download them on the official website of the device manufacturer. After activating the wireless connection, the laptop should automatically “grope” the network and connect to it after entering the password.
To connect a TV – go to its menu in the “Network” section and go to the settings. Use the network connection wizard to create a new wireless connection. Select your home network in the list that opens, wait for the TV to receive the network address, and enter the password.
If the router supports WPS technology, this is even easier. To activate this mode, press the corresponding button on the router. Then create a new connection on the TV using the menu item of the same name (WPS).
Setting up a DLNA server on a computer
The next step is to share directories with content on a laptop for general access. Usually, to do this, in the settings of the current local network, it is enough to indicate that it is home (private). These networks share the Music, Videos, and Pictures folders by default.
To assign shared access to another folder, you need to right-click on it and select Properties from the context menu. All the necessary settings can be made in the “Access” tab. To do this, select the “Advanced settings” option and check the “Share this folder” checkbox.
After activating the DLNA server, you can watch movies from your laptop on your TV via Wi-Fi. Shared sections are accessed from the Smart TV menu.
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How do I connect my laptop to my TV with Intel WiDi?
This mode of operation is somewhat different. WiDi allows you to mirror your laptop screen by using your smart TV as an external monitor. To connect a laptop to a TV, you need to install the Intel Wireless Display application and start data transfer in it.
The TV must have Miracast / WiDi enabled. This can be done in the device settings in the “Network” tab. To connect an additional duplicate monitor on a laptop, you can use the Win + P key combination by switching to the “Duplicate” mode. The function is available in Windows versions not older than “Seven”.
Connection requirments
To use Miracast, paired devices must meet the following requirements:
- The laptop has a 3rd generation Intel processor or later.
- Integrated graphics chip Intel HD Graphics.
- It supports Intel WiDi technology.
- A dedicated WiDi driver is installed.
- The operating system is not older than Windows 7.
- The TV supports the Miracast data transfer protocol.
- Built-in Wi-Fi module on laptop and computer.
Important! A router is optional to use this technology. Laptop and smart TV communicate directly, without any “intermediaries”.
How To Connect Laptop To Tv Wirelessly via software?
With a home media server, the procedure can be greatly simplified. Samsung PC Share Manager is suitable for connecting Samsung devices. The program may not work correctly with TVs of other brands. How to share laptop content to TV:
- Connect both devices to the same home network. Optional through one router – you can use a router and repeater.
- Launch Samsung PC Share manager and select the directory where shared files will be stored.
- Click in the upper bar of the program on the folder with a green checkmark. In the dialog box that opens, select “Sharing” – “Set policy”.
- Set the status “Accepted” and confirm the changes.
If you did everything correctly, when you launch video files from the specified folder, they will automatically be broadcast on the TV screen. Alternatively, you can use the Share Manager or Home Media Server utilities.
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How can I connect my TV to WIFI without built in WIFI?
In the absence of a wireless module, you can expand the functionality of the TV using additional equipment. Relevant for consumer electronics models that were released relatively long ago. Typically, such an adapter is connected via an HDMI or USB port. The most popular devices among users are:
- Google Chromecast.
- Android Mini PC.
- Compute Stick.
- Miracast adapter.
All such devices are adapted for transferring images from a laptop to a TV via Wi-Fi. To avoid incompatibility errors, you should buy adapters made by the same brand as the TV. You shouldn’t buy a device from a Chinese noname-manufacturer on Aliexpress, being seduced by cheapness: there is a high probability that such an adapter and a TV will not find a “common language”.
As you can see, there are several ways to Connect Laptop To Tv Wirelessly to transfer images from a laptop to a TV, and setting them up is easy. Choose the one that is most convenient for you.
