How to connect your HP laptop to a TV
With or without a cable, we'll show you steps for both
💡 Need to know
- Try screen mirroring first. If your TV supports Miracast, you can connect without moving the laptop or hunting down a cable.
- Press Windows + K to get started. Windows will show compatible wireless displays nearby.
- No wireless connection? HDMI is a reliable fallback that carries both picture and sound.
- Check compatibility before buying an adapter. USB-C-to-HDMI only works if the laptop's USB-C port supports video output.
Sometimes the HP® laptop screen is plenty. Movie night, a photo slideshow, or a presentation to a room full of people? Suddenly, 14 inches feels overly ambitious.
We help people connect and troubleshoot their everyday tech at Asurion, and getting a laptop onto the big screen doesn't need to involve a pile of cables. Here's how we'd connect an HP laptop to a TV, starting with the easiest wireless option.
Start with screen mirroring
If your TV supports Miracast, Windows can mirror the HP laptop screen wirelessly. Turn on the TV and open its screen-mirroring or wireless-display feature if needed, then:
- Press Windows + K on the HP laptop.
- Wait for the TV to appear in the list of available displays.
- Select the TV.
- Accept the connection on the TV if prompted.
Once connected, whatever appears on the laptop can appear on the bigger screen too. No HDMI cable stretched across the room, and the laptop can stay right where you're using it.
If the TV doesn't appear, make sure both devices support Miracast and that Wi-Fi is turned on. Moving the laptop closer to the TV or router can also help while you're setting up the connection.
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Use HDMI when wireless isn't an option
Not every TV or HP laptop supports wireless display connections, and that's where HDMI earns its keep. It's also a good choice when you'd rather have a direct connection for movies, presentations, or anything where wireless lag would be annoying.
If both devices have HDMI ports:
- Connect one end of an HDMI cable to the laptop.
- Connect the other end to the TV.
- Use the TV remote to select the matching input, such as HDMI 1 or HDMI 2.
- Press Windows + P on the laptop.
- Choose the display mode you want.
Duplicate puts the same picture on both screens, which works well for movies and presentations. Extend turns the TV into extra desktop space, while Second screen only sends the picture to the TV and turns off the laptop display.
No HDMI port on the laptop? A USB-C-to-HDMI adapter may work if that USB-C port supports video output. Check the specifications for the HP model before buying an adapter—the shape of the port alone doesn't guarantee it can send video.
If the picture works but the sound doesn't
Got the movie on the TV but the dialogue is still coming from the laptop? Windows may simply be using the wrong audio output. Open Settings > System > Sound and look under Output. Choose the TV or HDMI audio device, then play something again.
For a wired connection, reconnect the HDMI cable if the TV doesn't appear as an audio option. With screen mirroring, disconnecting and reconnecting the wireless display can refresh the audio connection too.
If your TV doesn't appear for screen mirroring
When Windows + K doesn't show the TV, first make sure the television's wireless-display or screen-mirroring feature is turned on. Some TVs are ready to receive a connection automatically, while others need you to open a specific mirroring screen first.
Then check the laptop:
- Make sure Wi-Fi is turned on.
- Restart the laptop and TV.
- Install available Windows updates.
- Update the laptop's Wi-Fi and graphics drivers if needed.
- Try the connection again with the devices closer together.
If the TV simply doesn't support Miracast, don't spend an afternoon trying to convince it otherwise. Switch to HDMI or another casting option supported by the TV.
No picture over HDMI? Check the connection
If you've moved to HDMI and the TV shows No signal, make sure the selected TV input matches the port you actually used. Then unplug and firmly reconnect the cable at both ends.
Still nothing? Try another HDMI port or a known-good cable. Press Windows + P and choose Duplicate to make sure Windows is sending an image to the second display.
Those simple swaps can also tell you where the problem lives. If another cable works, you've found the culprit. If the HP laptop connects normally to another TV, focus on the original television or its HDMI settings rather than changing more laptop settings.
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FAQ
Can I connect my HP laptop to a TV wirelessly?
Yes, if the TV supports Miracast. Press Windows + K and select the TV from the available wireless displays.
Why does my TV say No signal when the HP laptop is connected?
The TV may be on the wrong HDMI input, the cable may be bad, or Windows may be set to PC screen only.
How do I make the TV show the same thing as my laptop?
Press Windows + P and choose Duplicate.
Why is there a picture on the TV but no sound?
Windows may still be using the laptop speakers. Open Settings > System > Sound and select the TV or HDMI device under Output.
Do I need an HDMI adapter for an HP laptop?
Only if the laptop and TV don’t share a compatible video port. A USB-C-to-HDMI adapter can work when the laptop’s USB-C port supports video output.
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