Connecting a laptop to a TV, and even via Wi-Fi, may seem like a difficult task only at first glance. This article will prove to you that it is quite simple, especially since there are several methods to choose from.
Many users may have a logical question: why connect via wi-fi if you have a DVI or HDMI cable? However, if such a wire is not available, then this decision is the best option. Agree that after learning this technology, there is no point in running to the store to buy a cable. Plus, even with HDMI available or DVI cables, wireless technologies still remain the most convenient.
This type of connection is relevant if a person, for example, wants to use a TV to watch movies. And viewing any other video content using a large diagonal screen is much more comfortable. In addition, using the TV, you can perform two tasks simultaneously on different screens.
On all operating systems Windows family You can use the following methods:
- DLNA;
- WiDi;
- Wi-Fi adapter.
DLNA connection
To be able to connect via Wi-Fi to a TV, the computer and TV must be on the same subnet. If they are connected wirelessly to the router, then this is - suitable option for you. For modern TVs With Wi-Fi Direct technology, you don’t have to connect to the same router. Since the TV itself creates the network, you can simply connect to it from your laptop.First, set up the DLNA server. This setting means opening network access to data folders. To carry out this manipulation, turn on the “home” view of the Wi-Fi network on your computer. Folders Music, Video, Pictures can then be viewed from TV.
If you want to make any other folder accessible, go to the "Sharing" tab in its properties. Next, click “Advanced settings”, check the box next to the phrase “Share…” and confirm the action by clicking “OK”.
Access through the explorer opens even faster. In it, click on “Network”. A message should appear with the text " Network discovery..." Click on it. Consistently following the assistant's prompts, you will reach the goal you need.
But if the message does not appear, then the folders from the computer are already available on the TV.
Immediately after activating DLNA, you can use the remote control to find settings on the TV external connections. There you can view the contents of connected sources. For example, on LG TVs you need a Smart Share section and a specific item - connection to a PC. Same simple order action is also found in other modern TV.
At correct setting DLNA select the movie you want to watch on your TV, click on it right click, then “Play on...” and click on the name of the TV device. All that remains is to enjoy the video content.
By the way, TVs are not capable of playing the MKV format. Therefore, please perform extension conversion before viewing.
WiDi
For DLNA, the mandatory procedures were sharing and issuing public access. WiDi has the ability to simply duplicate an image from computer monitor using a wireless channel. This feature is often called Miracast.There are several features when using this technology. Computers Intel third generation since Wi-Fi module from Intel and the same built-in graphics, then you will be able to fully use WiDi.
Drivers for the wireless display will most likely need to be downloaded from the official website Intel. There is absolutely support for the described function on computers that have a Wi-Fi card and Windows 8.1 was immediately installed. But if you installed the system yourself, then the availability of this feature is not guaranteed.
But that's not all. It is important that the TV can work with WiDi. A few years ago, special adapters were purchased for this. Now in most modern TVs they are built in at the factory. Before purchasing a TV, ask whether it has the appropriate firmware.
Step 1
Step 2
When connecting, you must enable WiDi on the TV. If you don't find this setting, then try activating Wi-Fi. On your computer, you will need the Intel Wireless Display utility, designed for a wireless monitor.
You may have to enter the code that appears on TV.
To finally launch Wi-De, go to Charms in the operating system. Click "Devices", then "Projector". On this page, add the required screen. If the TV is not found, update the Wi-Fi drivers.
Using adapters
If your TV does not have a so-called Smart TV, but only has an HDMI port, then a solution has already been invented for you. Such users need to purchase a special device. Google Chromecast is a prime example of such a device, which makes it possible to broadcast images from a computer to a TV.
Especially for Android systems there is Android device Mini PC. Another option for people who do not have a SMART TV is a compact version of a small flash drive, the Intel Compute Stick.
This Wi-Fi flash drive can be inserted into the USB input on some TVs. Sometimes a Miracast adapter is purchased separately. It all depends on the specific TV and its specifications.
Modern progress allows you to enjoy all the benefits of connecting a TV and a computer. To do this, you can use any of the described technologies.
If the laptop screen size is not enough for you, or you want to expand the functionality of the TV by connecting a laptop, then there are several ways to connect these two devices. The simplest option is to use . But a wired connection is inconvenient: equipment must be placed nearby and cables must be hidden.
The problem can be solved simply: if you figure out how to connect a laptop to a TV via wifi, you can establish a stable connection without unnecessary wires that interfere with normal movement around the room. Let's look at three main installation methods wireless communication according to the Wi-Fi standard.
How to connect a laptop to a TV via wifi
Setting up a home server
Don't be intimidated by the title, you won't need any special knowledge to set up Windows environment home server. For correct operation laptop and TV must be connected to the same wireless point. If the TV supports Wi-Fi Direct technology, then you can establish a connection directly, without a router.
To connect your TV to Wi-Fi:
When both devices are connected to one wireless network, set up a DLNA server on your computer. Right-click on the wireless connection icon in the notification panel and launch Network and Sharing Center. 
Look up the network value; if you have a public network, change it to private.
The preparation is complete, now you need to “share” the folders from which you want to play media content on the TV screen. Let's see how this is done using the “Music” catalog as an example.
After setting up DLNA on your computer, take the TV remote control and find in the device settings the item responsible for playing content from external sources. For example, on LG you need to select “PC Connection” from the “SmartShare” menu to access shared folders. 
To view a media file stored on your laptop, right-click on it and open the Play on... menu. Select TV and the broadcast will start automatically.
Note: MKV video files cannot be played via DLNA server. If you downloaded a video from YouTube or downloaded a movie from another source, then make sure that the file has an AVI extension or convert it.
Screen mirroring using WiDi (Miracast)
No need to configure DLNA server and “share” folders. If the laptop is built on the basis Intel processor third generation, equipped with an Intel Wi-Fi module, and had pre-installed Windows version 8.1, this means that the laptop supports direct data transfer via Wi-Fi technology Direct. Additionally, you may need to install the Intel Wireless Display component. More information about the technology can be found on the Intel website; There you can also download the WiDi Compatibility Tool, which will check the hardware and software, and then it will tell you whether your system can work with WiDi.
The TV must support Miracast (WiDI) technology for direct connection. Previously, this required a special adapter, but today most modern models support this technology by default.
The devices are paired. Now the image from the laptop screen will be duplicated on the TV.
Adapters for older models
If the TV does not have a Wi-Fi module, but there is HDMI port, then you can establish a wireless connection using adapters and micro PC. Several options:
- Android Mini PC.
- Google Chromecast.
- Miracast adapter.
- Intel Compute Stick.
These devices allow you to expand the functionality of your TV. For example, main Google function Chromecast is a way to broadcast video from a computer to TV, and a Miracast adapter will help you set up duplicating images from your laptop screen. It is important to make sure that your TV can work with them before purchasing these devices. Read the hardware specifications carefully to see if you should try to expand its capabilities.
In this article we will look at 3 ways to connect a laptop to a TV via WiFi. Choose the appropriate option.
You can use Wi-Fi technology to wirelessly connect your laptop and TV. There are several ways to establish a connection. The choice of method largely depends on the characteristics of the TV, although the laptop must also meet certain requirements.
Using DLNA
Probably the most common way is to connect devices via Wi-Fi router. If the TV panel and laptop are connected to the same wireless network, then half the work is already done. In addition, if the TV supports Wi-Fi Direct technology, you can do without a router at all: it will be enough to connect your laptop to the network created by the TV.
Look at the network type. If the network is public, you need to make it private:
- Open the "Administration" section of the control panel.
- Go to the subsection " Local politics security."
- Select “Network List Manager Policies” on the left. Find the connection and open its properties.
- Go to the tab " Network location" and select "Personal".
If the network was private, then nothing should be changed. You just need to share folders with media content. Moreover, on Windows 10 you don’t even need to set up a separate DLNA server: if the TV and laptop are connected to the same network, just right-click on the file and select the desired equipment in the “Bring to device” submenu.
You can configure the DLNA server using the media streaming settings. Find the tool of the same name in Start and turn on streaming. You can give the server any name, and also set up exceptions or add folders.
The same operation is performed through Windows Media Player: click on the "Stream" button and set the resolution to remote control. After turning on streaming on your laptop, take the TV remote control and find the section in the settings that is responsible for communicating with external devices: USB drives, multimedia server.
Select media server or PC connection. Inside you will see folders that are allowed to be shared on the laptop - Pictures, Music, Videos. If you want to add another content folder, do it through Windows Media Player:
Once added to the list, the folder will be available on the TV. If the directory does not appear, try turning off/on the TV or disconnecting/establishing a connection. Some TV models cache the list of available files, so it will not be possible to display new data without a restart.
Wireless monitor
If the TV and Wi-Fi adapter on the laptop support Miracast technology, then all you need to do to establish a connection is to connect to the wireless display. Before doing this, activate the Miracast option in your TV settings. If there is no such item, just turn on Wi-Fi on your TV.
On your laptop, you need to press the Win+P combination, and then select a connection to a wireless display. After a short wait, a connection to the TV will be established. The image from the laptop screen will be duplicated on the TV display, that is, you will get a full external monitor.
Using additional equipment
If the TV has nothing but HDMI and USB, then it can also be connected to a laptop via Wi-Fi, but only if you use additional equipment. Some models support working with an external Miracast adapter - you can check this in the specification of your television equipment. If nothing works with Miracast, you can use mini-computers or multimedia set-top boxes.
- Google Chromecast.
- Apple TV.
- Intel Compute Stick.
- Android Mini PC.
Google Chromecast and Apple TV are multimedia set-top boxes from Apple and Google, equipped Wi-Fi adapter. They allow you to build a much more developed multimedia network than a simple connection between a laptop and a TV.
The main advantage of a wireless connection is that the laptop is not tied to the location of the TV, and in some interiors this is critical. However, it is desirable that both devices are located in the same room, since the iron reinforcement of the main wall can interfere with the passage of the signal, significantly reducing its quality.
You should also remember that connecting a laptop to a TV via Wi-Fi is not the best option for streaming data, for example, for displaying a computer game on the screen. Such actions are possible, but the signal is often unstable, may be interrupted, and this creates inconvenience. Ideally, this connection is best used for listening to music, viewing photos or videos.
In this article we will look at how to connect a laptop to a TV via Wi-Fi in various ways depending on the available wireless signal transmission technology.
DLNA connection
This is the most common conventional type of wireless connection, available on almost all modern TVs. The only condition is that they have a built-in Wi-Fi module. Although sometimes you can do without it, as will be discussed below.
The main disadvantage of connecting using this technology is that it is not suitable for displaying a desktop image or a computer game from a laptop to a TV in real time, since it does not ensure synchronization of actions. You can only view photos, videos or listen to music that are pre-loaded into the TV’s memory.
Two options for connecting your TV via DLNA
Now let's move on to setting up the laptop.
Setting up a laptop in two steps
You can open access to folders in several ways:
By default, the Pictures, Videos, Music, and Documents folders are shared on system disk(usually C). So you can just move necessary files to these folders.
To start watching files on TV You should press the HOME button on the remote control and select the desired folder from the list of available ones on the network.
Also for convenience of working with shared folders and files in home network exist special programs, for example, Windows Media Center, which is part of the Windows operating system starting with the Vista edition, or a similar program from a third-party manufacturer - Home Media Server. They greatly simplify the setup process, which usually comes down to just selecting a TV from a list of available ones. network devices And required folders from the catalogue.
Connection using WiDi technology
The Wireless Display (WiDi) or Miracast function is available on most modern Smart TVs and laptops with a built-in Intel 3rd generation video adapter or higher. Moreover, full support for this technology is guaranteed on proprietary Intel laptops with pre-installed operating system Windows system 8.1 or Windows 10. For earlier editions (Windows 7/8) may require additional drivers, which can be found on the Intel website.
The convenience of WiDi technology is that all actions on the laptop are synchronized with the TV, which actually plays the role of a second display. Therefore, this connection is suitable for computer games, surfing the Internet and other streaming activities.
Establishing a wireless connection in this case is quite simple:
Connecting with an adapter
This feature is convenient for TVs that do not have a built-in Wi-Fi module, but have HDMI or USB ports. In this case, you need to purchase a special adapter that installs a virtual operational network and does possible use almost all modern wireless Smart technologies TV, including Miracast.
As a rule, such adapters are “plug and play” devices, i.e. all the necessary drivers are located on the device itself and are automatically activated when connected to the TV. Next, the configuration occurs in the ways described above.
Problems connecting a laptop to a TV wirelessly
| Description of the problem | Possible reason |
|---|---|
| The TV does not see the laptop via Wi-Fi |
|
| The laptop does not see the TV via Wi-Fi |
|
| There is a delay in transferring images from the laptop to the TV, and the video freezes. |
|
Allows you to comfortably view videos and photos, play computer games or just surf the Internet. Therefore, many users connect their laptop to their TV. This can be done using a special HDMI cable. Then the screen of the TV device will become like a second monitor, projecting the image from the laptop. But it’s much easier to connect your laptop to your TV via wifi. There will be no need to place equipment as close to each other as possible or connect and hide wires. So today we will tell you how in different ways connect your laptop to your TV via wifi.
Most modern TV devices are equipped with a feature that allows you to access interactive content. Due to this, you can easily display a wide variety of information from the Internet on the TV screen - films, videos, music, games, blogs, etc. This technology is called smart.
The most common and advanced platforms are: Samsung Smart TV and LG Smart TV. Other manufacturers are actively implementing similar technology - Sony, Philips, Panasonic, Thomson, etc.
So we will connect such a TV with Smart TV to the laptop. This is done as follows:
If you have configured everything correctly, you can start movies in two clicks. Simply “highlight” any video file on your laptop, click on it with the auxiliary mouse button and select “Play on...”. In the list that opens, you just need to click on your TV model. For example, Sony Bravia KDL-42W817B. After which the broadcast on the big screen will begin automatically.
For reference! Videos in MKV format will most likely not be played with this connection. Therefore, choose files with the AVI extension.
Connecting the TV to the laptop using WiDi
First of all, this method is good because it does not require any “sharing” of folders and sharing settings. WiDi technology uses the Wi-Fi standard and simply duplicates the image from the laptop to the screen of the TV device. True, there are a couple of nuances. You can organize a connection in this way only if the laptop:
- Built on a third generation Intel processor;
- Equipped with Intel Wi-Fi module;
- Integrated Intel graphics;
- OS – Windows 7, 8, 10.
In some cases, you may also need to install Intel Wireless Display software. As for the TV itself, it must support Miracast (WiDI) technology. Most modern models that have been produced since 2012-2013 have this function by default.
The WiDi connection procedure itself includes several stages:
It also happens that you have done everything as described above, but the TV does not see the laptop. Then open the Charms panel on the laptop, click the “Devices” tab. Then select “Projector” and add your wireless screen. We also update Wi-Fi drivers.
We connect the TV to the laptop using special software
You can connect two devices via wifi to display an image using various programs. Today there is a lot of all kinds of software for playing content on a TV without using wires. Although the most in demand are:
- Samsung Share (has a simplified interface, but is mainly compatible only with Samsung devices);
- Share Manager.
Moreover, of all these programs home media server– the most stable application in operation. In addition, it fits almost all TV models from different manufacturers. Using a home media server as an example, we’ll tell you how to display an image from a laptop to TV:
- Download the distribution kit for free from the official website of the developer - http://www.homemediaserver.ru
- Install the program on the laptop.
- Let's launch it. A table with a list will appear various devices. In this list, you need to select the one to which the content will be transferred. That is, we search and click on your TV model. Click the “Next” button.
- The program will offer to share certain folders. By default, these are “Video”, “Music”, “Images”. However, you can manually specify other folders where you store your movies or photos, so that you can then watch them on the TV screen. Just click on the “Add” button on the right with a big green plus.
- Then we confirm the scanning procedure. Click “Ok” and “Finish”.
Now the various contents that you have specified in the home media server program will be displayed on the big screen of your TV.
Other similar applications work on the same principle. So there shouldn’t be any difficulties when using them. So you have learned how to connect a laptop to a TV via wireless wifi network using special software.
What to do if there is no wifi module on the TV?
A wireless connection to a laptop via Wi-Fi is impossible unless there is a special module. For example, it is not available on older models of TV devices that were released more than 5 years ago. Naturally, you can’t connect a laptop to such a TV without a cable. How can this be? You will have to use additional devices.
For example, an adapter can help expand the capabilities of a TV. Usually it is inserted into the HDMI port. What similar gadgets can we recommend? This:
- Google Chromecast;
- Android Mini PC;
- Compute Stick;
- Miracast adapter.
All of the adapters listed above will allow you to establish a wireless connection and transfer images from your laptop to your TV.
