Connecting laptop to TV, that’s still handy

Connecting your laptop to your TV can be very handy. Read here how you can do that quickly and easily.

Computers and televisions are becoming more and more alike. But sometimes it really happens that you would like to show something that is on your laptop, but not on your smart TV. This can happen if you want to watch a series of Netflix on your not so smart TV via your laptop, or if you want to show your killer presentation on your big TV. So there are (still) situations where you would want to do this. We describe some easy solutions below.

Connect laptop to TV

You can actually distinguish between Google and Apple here. If you are an Apple user, AirPlay is the easiest way for you. AirPlay is an Apple setting that lets you cast Apple devices to another AirPlay device. The downside is that it only works on Apple compatible devices that include the AirPlay feature. Currently that means some Samsung, LG and Sony models, but the list is growing as many manufacturers are now including it in the new sets.

Google actually does the same thing with the Chromecast. Just like with Airplay, you can connect to similar devices with this. Your TV’s user manual will tell you if your device is Chromecast compatible. Did you buy a new TV? It’s also usually written on the box. Is your TV not compatible? Don’t worry, it might still be possible. Chromecast offers a similar solution by using a streaming player connected to your TV via HDMI. This allows you to cast different devices and apps. Another big advantage of Chromecast, as opposed to AirPlay, is that you can’t use Google products. This can be done by using a third-party app, such as Streamer, and then linking it with, for example, your Apple computer.

Old school solution

If the above does not work, then you have really old devices. But maybe you are very frugal! Then there is still a solution, but it is also old-fashioned. That means that you have to pull a cable between your TV and laptop. The best option is to use an HDMI cable, which plugs into the inputs labeled HDMI on your TV. Good luck.