How to Connect a Mac to a TV

Using cable

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Search for the TV's HDMI input. Although TVs may have different video inputs, HDMI is the most common input for high-definition TVs. You'll get the best picture quality when you use the HDMI input on your TV to connect to your Mac.

The HDMI port is usually located on the back or side of the TV. Most newer HDTVs (High Definition Televisions) have at least two HDMI ports.

If your TV doesn't support HDMI, you'll need to find out what input your TV uses for video, and then buy an adapter once you know which output your Mac uses.

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Defines the Mac's video output. Macs manufactured in the last 8 years will have both video and audio output in one of the following ports:

Thunderbolt 3 — The oval port (also known as USB-C) is located on the back of iMac computers and on all recently manufactured MacBook models. If your Mac has a Thunderbolt 3 port, you'll need a USB-C to HDMI cable.

Thunderbolt 2 — The port is rectangular in shape on most older Macs. If your Mac has a Thunderbolt 2 port, you'll need a Thunderbolt 2 to HDMI cable (or a Thunderbolt 2 to HDMI adapter and an HDMI cable).

HDMI — Available on older MacBook computers. If your Mac has an HDMI port, you can use a standard HDMI cable to connect your Mac to the TV.

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Buy the right cable for your Mac. You can buy a standard HDMI cable at most retailers that have a tech department, but you're more likely to need to visit a tech store (or shop online) for a USB-C converter cable. to HDMI or Thunderbolt 2 to HDMI.

Best Buy and Amazon are the two most popular sites for buying non-standard cables.

If you need to buy an adapter because your TV doesn't support HDMI, search for an [Mac output] to [TV input] adapter (such as "USB-C to VGA" or "Thunderbolt 2 to VGA") along with an audio to RCA cable to connect the audio to your TV.

You will be hard pressed to find an RCA adapter (component cable or multiple sockets).

HDMI, Thunderbolt 2, and Thunderbolt 3 cables (and their adapters) all support audio.

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Plug one end of the cable into your Mac. If you're not using a traditional HDMI cable, you'll plug the end of a Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 2 cable.

If you're using an HDMI cable, you can plug the other end of the cable into your Mac.

If you're using a non-HDMI adapter on your Mac's TV section, you'll also need to plug one end of the auxiliary cable into your Mac's headphone jack.

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Plug the end of the HDMI cable into your TV. The HDMI portion of the cable should be plugged into the HDMI port on the side or rear of your TV. Cables can only be plugged in one way, so don't try to mess around with them.

If you are using a non-HDMI cable to connect to your TV, plug the end of the cable into the desired input, then the red and white ends of the audio cable into the red and white ports on the TV, respectively. .

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Turn on the TV. Press the TV's "Power" button to turn it on.

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Switch the TV's input to the HDMI input. Press the Input button on your TV or use the remote to select the HDMI input. This step will vary depending on the type of TV and the included remote.

Example: If the HDMI cable socket is marked "HDMI 3", you should switch the TV's input to HDMI 3.

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Wait for your Mac's screen to appear on your TV. As long as your Mac is still on, you should see your Mac's screen appear on your TV after a few seconds of changing the input. If you don't see anything yet, you may need to change your Mac's display and sound settings.

Using Apple TV

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Install Apple TV. To use AirPlay Mirroring (playing things on your Mac screen to your Apple TV), you need to set up your Apple TV and connect it to your TV.

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Connect your Mac to the same network as your Apple TV. Both your Mac and Apple TV must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network to be able to broadcast your Mac's screen to the TV.

You can find the name of your Apple TV's current network by opening Settings on your Apple TV, selecting Network, and looking at the current "Wi-Fi" name.

If you're connecting your iMac to your Apple TV, make sure the iMac is within 9 feet of the Apple TV.

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Turn on the Apple TV. Press the TV's Power button, then press any button on the Apple TV remote.

If your TV isn't using an Apple TV input (such as HDMI 1), you'll need to switch to it first before you can view the Apple TV screen.

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Turn on AirPlay on Apple TV. While AirPlay is usually enabled on AppleTVs, you should make sure it's set up by following the steps below:

1. Open Apple TV's Settings
2. Select AirPlay
3. Select AirPlay at the top of the screen.
4. Select Everyone in the menu.

Our experts agree that: With AirPlay, you can play and share content from your Apple computer or any other compatible iOS device to your AppleTV or AirPlay2 compatible smart TV.

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Open the apple-shaped menu. Click the apple icon in the upper left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.

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Click System Preferences… . It's near the top of the drop-down menu. This is the step that opens the System Preferences window.

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Click Displays . This desktop icon is located in the center of the System Preferences window.

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Click the Displays tab . This tab is located in the upper left corner of the window.

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Click the "AirPlay Display" drop-down box. This option is located in the lower left corner of the window. A drop-down menu will appear.

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Select Apple TV. Click the name of the Apple TV in the drop-down menu. Usually you will see the contents of your Mac screen appear on your TV after performing this step.

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Change the resolution of the TV. Check the "Scaled" circle, then click a resolution. This step helps the TV's resolution match the Mac's resolution if your TV has a high enough resolution.

You can't use a higher resolution than your TV's built-in resolution (for example, you can't allow 4K resolution on your TV if your TV only supports up to 1080p).

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Change the screen ratio. Click and drag the "Underscan" slider at the bottom of the page to the left to show more of your Mac's screen on the TV, or to the right to enlarge it. This is the step that will help you make your Mac's screen match your TV's if the picture on the TV is too big or too small.

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Open the Sound menu. Click ⋮⋮⋮⋮ in the upper-left corner of the System Preferences window, then click Sound in the main window. This is the step to open the Sound window.

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Click Output . It's at the top of the Sound window. This is the step that opens the list of speakers that your Mac currently has access to, one of which is the Apple TV.

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Select Apple TV. Click the name of the Apple TV (or click Apple TV). This is the step that ensures that the Apple TV will output sound from your Mac.

Change screen and sound settings

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Open your Mac's apple-shaped menu. Click the apple icon in the upper left corner of the screen.

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Click System Preferences . This option is near the top of the apple drop-down menu.

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Click Displays . This monitor-shaped icon is located in the System Preferences window. When clicking on it, the Displays window will be opened.

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Change the "Underscan" value. Click and drag the "Underscan" slider at the bottom of the page to the right to enlarge the TV's screen, or to the left to zoom out. This is the step that helps you change the size of the picture on the TV.

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Change the resolution of the TV. Check the "Scaled" circle, then choose a resolution (such as 1080p).

You cannot select a resolution higher than the maximum resolution of the TV.

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Click . _ This button is located in the upper left corner of the window. This is the step that takes you back to the System Preferences page.

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Click Sound . This icon looks like a silver speaker.

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Click the Output tab . This tab is at the top of the Sound window.

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Click the HDMI option. Click the name of the TV or the word HDMI in the menu at the top of the page. This step ensures that your Mac outputs sound through the TV's speakers, not through the Mac's speakers. Your TV is now set up to display Mac's picture and sound.

Lesley Montoya

Update 08 March 2022