How to Connect a PC to a TV with HDMI: Step-by-Step Guide

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Easily connect a Windows 11 or 10 computer to any TV

Co-authored by Nicole Levine, MFA Reviewed by Stan Kats

Last Updated: February 8, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Connecting the PC to the TV
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• Changing Display Settings
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• Troubleshooting
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• Video
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• Q&A

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Connecting your PC to your TV allows you to display your computer screen on your TV like a second monitor. This makes it easy to watch movies, browse the internet, and even play games on the big screen. All you will need to connect the PC to the TV is an HDMI cable, and possibly an adapter if your computer doesn't have an HDMI port. This wikiHow guide will teach you how to connect a PC to a TV using an HDMI cable, and provide helpful troubleshooting tips and fixes for anything that could go wrong.

Quick Steps

1. Connect one end of the HDMI cable to a port on your PC.
2. Connect the other end of the cable to a port on your TV.
3. Press Source or Input on your TV remote to select the HDMI port.
4. Right-click the desktop and select Display settings.
5. Select the display labeled as number 2.
6. Choose whether to extend the screen or show it only on the TV.

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

Connecting the PC to the TV

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1. 
   1
   Connect one end of the HDMI cable to the PC. If you have a desktop PC, the HDMI port is usually on the back of the computer. On a laptop, you'll usually find the HDMI port(s) on the side of the keyboard.

   • Some PCs don't have HDMI ports. However, you can still connect them to your TV by identifying the port and buying an adapter or special cable. If your PC doesn't have an HDMI port, look for an HDMI mini, MiniDisplayPort, DisplayPort, or USB-C port instead.
   • If your PC has a USB-C port instead of an HDMI port, buy a USB-C to HDMI adapter online or at any electronics retailer. One end of the adapter is a USB-C connector that plugs into your PC, and the other end is an HDMI port into which you can plug an HDMI cable.
   • For HDMI mini, MiniDisplayPort, and DisplayPort, you can buy a cable that has a regular HDMI connector on one side and an HDMI mini or MiniDisplayPort cable on the other.
   • Older computers may have VGA or DVI ports. You can connect your PC to a TV with a VGA-to-HDMI adapter or a DVI-to-HDMI adapter, but the audio will still come out of your computer instead of your TV.
2. 
   2
   Connect the other end of the cable to the TV. Find a free HDMI port on your TV–they're usually on the back–and connect the other end of the cable to it. The ports are usually numbered and labeled with "HDMI".

   • Make a note of which HDMI port you are connecting to.
   • Make sure you use an HDMI cable that is long enough to connect from your PC to your TV. Measure the distance if needed.
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3. 
   3
   Use the TV remote to select the HDMI source on the TV. Look for a button on the TV or remote that says "Source", "Input", or something similar. Use this button to select the HDMI port you connected your PC to.

   • If you haven't already, turn on both the PC and your computer first.
   • After connecting the PC to the TV and selecting the HDMI port with your remote, the TV should display what’s on your computer monitor. If it is blank, or you want to change how you're seeing the screen, jump to Adjusting Your Display Settings in Windows.
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Section 2 of 3:

Adjusting Your Display Settings in Windows

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1. 
   1
   Open your Windows Settings

   

   . To get there, click the Start menu (or press the Windows key on your keyboard), then click the Settings gear icon.
2. 
   2
   Click System. If you're using Windows 11, you'll see this in the left panel. On Windows 10, click the System icon, which looks like a computer.
3. 
   3
   Click Display. On Windows 11, it's at the top of the right panel. On Windows 10, it's the first option in the left sidebar. This opens your Display settings.
4. 
   4
   Select display 2 (the TV). At the top of the right panel, you should see 2 rectangles representing the screens connected to your computer. For example, if you're using a laptop, your built-in screen will be screen 1, and the TV will be screen 2.
5. 
   5
   Detect the TV if it doesn't appear. If the Display panel is only showing one option, it isn't detecting your TV. You can force Windows to detect it by clicking the Detect button. If you're using Windows 11, you'll find the Detect button in the "Multiple Displays" section. On Windows 10, it's just below the visual depiction of your displays.

   • Adjust the resolution as needed so it looks good on your TV. If you have an HDTV, select 1920 x 1080 in the "Resolution" drop-down menu. If you have a 4K TV, select up to 3840 x 2160 or the highest possible resolution in the "Resolution" drop-down menu.
6. 
   6
   Choose how to display your computer screen on your TV. Once your TV is detected and selected in the Display panel, you can choose whether you want to see things on the TV only, on the computer only, on both the TV and your computer's normal monitor, or see the same desktop across both screens.

   • On Windows 11, click the drop-down menu in the top box to the right of the "Identify" button.
   • On Windows 10, scroll down to the "Multiple displays" section and click the drop-down menu.
   • Select an option:
     • Extend these displays: This extends your desktop so that you can drag windows to and from your TV.
     • Duplicate these displays: Shows the same thing on your TV and your PC.
     • Show only on 1: Shows things only on your computer screen.
     • Show only on 2: Shows things only on your TV when it's connected.
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Section 3 of 3:

Troubleshooting

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1. 
   1
   Audio isn't playing through the TV. If, after connecting your PC to your TV with HDMI, you don't hear the sound coming through your TV, you'll just need to change the audio output.

   • Click the speaker icon in the system tray (near the clock).
   • Click the arrow next to or above the volume slider.
   • Under "Output device" (Windows 11) or "Playback device" (Windows 10), select your TV.
2. 
   2
   The computer screen isn't displaying on the TV. If you're not seeing your computer's desktop on the TV screen, try these quick fixes:

   • First, make sure all the cables are securely inserted into their ports and that both the TV and PC are powered on.
   • Try plugging the HDMI cable into a different port on your TV, then use the Source or Input button to switch to that numbered port instead.
   • In Windows, right-click a blank area of the desktop and select Display Settings. Then, click the display labeled "2" and try selecting a different resolution under "Display resolution."
     • If you don't see two displays listed, click Multiple Displays and then click Detect.
   • Reboot your computer and your TV.
   • Try a different HDMI cable.
3. 
   3
   The text and images on the TV screen are too large or too small. You can change the display scale in your Windows display settings:

   • Right-click a blank area of your Windows desktop and select Display settings.
   • Click the display labeled "2".
   • On Windows 11, click the drop-down menu next to "Scale" and increase or decrease the size as needed.
   • On Windows 10, select a larger or smaller scale option under "Change the size of text, apps, and other items."
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Community Q&A

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• Question

  Can I hook up the TV monitor first and then hook up the regular monitor for my desktop?

  

  Community Answer

  Yes, actually, if you have enough outputs. Have the television connected to the 1 output, boot up the PC, attach the secondary monitor, go to graphics properties, and adjust the monitor settings to your preference.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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  Not Helpful 38 Helpful 42
• Question

  Do I have to connect HDMI to the graphics card HDMI or the PC HDMI?

  

  Community Answer

  In most cases, you should use the graphics card, because the PC HDMI is often disabled. Some PCs allow you to use either connection, so it depends on your computer.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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  Not Helpful 49 Helpful 67
• Question

  What do I do if the screen is zoomed in when connecting my laptop to my TV via HDMI?

  

  Community Answer

  Change your TV's aspect ratio from the picture settings.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 35 Helpful 44

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