How do I connect a laptop to a TV or an external monitor?

Step 1: identify the ports

Look at the sides of the laptop and the back or side of the screen. Common video ports are HDMI, USB-C or Thunderbolt (the same oval connector), DisplayPort and the older VGA. Apple's guide to connecting displays puts it this way: before you start, find out what video ports your Mac has, how many displays it supports, and whether you have the right cables. The same three questions apply to any laptop.

A USB-C port is not guaranteed to carry video. Some USB-C ports only handle data and charging. Look for a small display or Thunderbolt symbol beside the port, or check the specifications page for your model.

Step 2: pick the cable

Laptop port	Screen port	What you need
HDMI	HDMI	A standard HDMI cable
USB-C or Thunderbolt	HDMI	A USB-C to HDMI cable or adapter
USB-C or Thunderbolt	DisplayPort	A USB-C to DisplayPort cable or adapter
USB-C or Thunderbolt	USB-C	A USB-C cable that supports video
HDMI	VGA (older monitor)	An HDMI to VGA adapter, which often needs separate power or gives a lower picture quality

Apple's adapter article gives the same advice for Macs. If you connect a display through a USB-C or Thunderbolt adapter, the adapter has to support DisplayPort Alt Mode, Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4. Its examples: an HDMI display uses a USB-C to HDMI adapter or cable, a DisplayPort display uses a USB-C to DisplayPort adapter or cable, and a Mac with an HDMI port can connect to an HDMI display without an adapter. The rule is not Apple-specific, so apply it to Windows laptops too.

Step 3: connect and choose a mode

Windows 10 and 11

1. Turn the TV or monitor on and select the right input (HDMI 1, HDMI 2, DisplayPort and so on) with its remote or buttons.
2. Plug the cable into the laptop.
3. Press Windows key + P and choose a mode: PC screen only, Duplicate, Extend or Second screen only.
4. For more control, open Settings > System > Display. If a screen is not detected, scroll to Multiple displays and choose Detect. Drag the screen icons so they match the physical layout, and select Identify to see which number belongs to which screen.

Mac

1. Connect the display and choose the right input on it.
2. Open Apple menu > System Settings > Displays.
3. Arrange the displays or choose mirroring from there. Apple notes you can also adjust resolution, brightness and colour profile in the same place.

Menu names differ between macOS versions, so use the search box in System Settings if a name does not match.

Step 4: fix the common problems

• No picture. Check the TV input, reseat both ends of the cable, and try another cable or port. On a Mac, hold Option in Displays settings to show Detect Displays, as Apple describes, then click it.
• Blurry or wrong size. Choose the screen's native resolution in Display settings. On a TV, look for a picture mode called Game, PC or Just Scan, which stops the TV from stretching the image. Names vary by manufacturer.
• Only one external screen works. Apple points out that the number of displays depends on the model and tells you to check the tech specs under Help > your Mac's name Specifications. Windows laptops publish the same limit on their spec sheets. A dock does not necessarily add outputs.
• No sound on the TV. On Windows, right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar and choose the TV as the output device.
• Laptop closes and the screen goes black. In Windows, Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options > Choose what closing the lid does lets you set it to Do nothing while plugged in.

TV or monitor: what changes

A monitor is designed for close viewing, and it usually sits at the correct sharpness at its native resolution. A TV is designed for distance, so text can look soft up close, depending on its settings. For daily work, a monitor is usually more comfortable; a TV is fine for films and presentations.

If a hub or dock is part of the setup and the Wi-Fi starts dropping, the Wi-Fi drops thread covers the checks. Running an external screen all day also keeps the laptop under steady load, so the temperature thread is worth a look if the fan gets loud.