How to Connect a MacBook to a TV

Your MacBook has a beautiful display and is great for any type of laptop work, but if you want to watch your favorite show or play content stored on your Mac, you may want to connect it to a TV.

There are several ways to do this. Some require a physical cable, while others require nothing more than a stable Wi-Fi connection. Regardless of which method you choose, you'll be able to watch your favorite content on the TV, and it'll look pretty good, too.

Connect your Macbook with an HDMI cable

The most basic and easiest option is to connect an HDMI cable to your Macbook and the other end to your TV. Once you do this, simply switch the input to the correct HDMI port and your Macbook's screen will appear on your TV. Please note that your computer will change the resolution and it will appear scaled on the TV.

If you're using an older Macbook Pro, it may have an HDMI port. If it's a newer Macbook model, you may need a Thunderbolt to HDMI adapter. Some older-model Macbooks also support Mini DisplayPort, giving you even more connection options.

If you don't have an HDMI port, you can also use a USB-C port to HDMI or DVI adapter. Most newer MacBook Pro or MacBook Air models are equipped with Thunderbolt 2 or Thunderbolt ports, but other Apple devices like the Mac Mini have different types of ports.

Connect your MacBook with Screen Mirroring

One of the easiest ways to share your MacBook screen with another device is through screen mirroring. A smart TV will work fine for this, but if you don't have a smart TV, you can connect a Roku, Google Chromecast, or Amazon Firestick to achieve the same result.

• Select Control Center at the top right of your screen.

Select the Screen Mirroring icon and then select the device you want to cast to. All compatible devices will appear; if none appear, make sure your MacBook and the streaming device are on the same Wi-Fi.

If you haven't connected to this device before, you'll be prompted to enter a code on your MacBook. Once you enter it, it will automatically connect to the device and your Mac screen will appear on it.

To stop mirroring your screen, select the device within Control Center again. Your MacBook screen will return to normal.

When mirrored, any content will appear the same in both. Even if you use something like Flux to reduce the brightness on your Mac, connecting an external monitor will disable it.

Connect your MacBook with AirPlay

Most modern smart TVs support AirPlay. This allows you to stream video and audio over your Wi-Fi network directly to your TV. AirPlay is pretty much the same as screen mirroring, but you can often choose to AirPlay directly from the content.

• Open Apple Menu > System Preferences > Settings > Displays.
• Select Add Screen.

Your Macbook will automatically add it as an external display. You will be able to adjust your settings. If your TV's resolution is higher than your Macbook's, the image may be pixelated. In situations like this, view content in windowed mode.

AirPlay works with many streaming devices, but it's most effective when paired with an Apple TV. You can also use AirPlay to stream content from your iPhone or iPad.

Although it may not seem like it, the choice of video input is important. It affects the resolution and the final quality of the transmission. For example, watching Netflix directly on your TV will look different than watching it on your Mac and streaming it to the big screen. Streaming over Wi-Fi is more convenient, but a stable connection like an HDMI cable will have better output.

Of course, it also depends on your TV screen. If your TV isn't an HDTV, then no matter what you use, the content will look noticeably worse than on a high-end screen. If you plan to watch a lot of content, but don't have a modern TV, consider looking into a smart TV option. Both Vizio and Samsung have affordable, budget-friendly options that make upgrading a lot easier than you might think.