How To Use Your Tv As A Second Monitor For Your Computer

Windows HDMI - A six-sided, tapered port. Transmits both audio and video. DisplayPort - Similar to a USB port, but with one crimped corner. Transmits both audio and video. VGA - A blue trapezoid with holes in it. VGA transmits video, but you will need a separate audio cable (such as A/V cables) to transmit sound. Mac HDMI - Found most often on Macs manufactured between 2012 and 2016. Also found on the backs of iMac computers. Thunderbolt 3 (also known as “USB-C”) - Found on the sides of modern MacBooks and the backs of iMacs. You can’t connect a USB-C cable directly to a TV, but you can buy a USB-C to HDMI adapter.

Other common input ports include DVI, VGA, and A/V inputs.

Several options, such as USB-C to HDMI or VGA to HDMI, are available as single cables rather than needing adapters.

If you bought an adapter to bridge the gap between two separate cables, you’ll instead plug the computer’s cable into one end of the adapter, attach the other end of the adapter to the other cable, and plug the other cable into the TV.

Use a standard 3. 5mm stereo cable to connect the Audio Out port on your computer to the Audio In port that matches the input you’re connected to on the TV. The Audio Out port on your computer is usually green, and may have a symbol indicating that it is sending signal out.

You can also use the Input or Video button on your TV to cycle through the available inputs.

Any content on your computer’s screen will remain as it was before extending the display. Think of the TV as a screen immediately to the right of your computer’s screen.

You can’t use a resolution that’s higher than your TV’s built-in resolution (e. g. , 4K).

This will help you fit your Mac’s screen to your TV if the image on the TV is too large or too small.

Skip this step if the box is unchecked.

The screen icon with the white bar at the top of it is your Mac’s screen.

Any content on your computer’s screen will remain as it was before extending the display.