How to connect a MacBook to a TV

With more and more people watching their movies and TV shows through streaming services, the line between computers and television is blurring. But even if you're watching a show over Netflix, chances are your large flat screen TV will deliver a better viewing experience than the computer you use to go online.

Connecting your Mac to a TV lets you access web pages on a much larger screen. Using your TV with your Mac can also give you a second screen, making work or gaming more productive and enjoyable. And in many cases, you can even connect two external monitors or TVs at the same time.

To check your Mac's compatibility with external video hardware, click the Apple logo at the top left of the screen, then select About this Mac . In the pop-up window, select Support , then select Specifications in the next window. Your Mac will tell you the compatibility of your TV or external display device.

Note, however, that a TV isn't always a great computer monitor, as dedicated computer monitors are designed for close-up viewing, often with a much better resolution than a TV.

How to connect a Mac to a TV via a cable

If you have an old Mac with a Thunderbolt or HDMI port, you can connect your Mac to the latest TVs, just be aware that an HDMI-to-HDMI cable might be needed if you use a Thunderbolt port.

Connect your computer's output to the video player input on your TV, then on your Mac, press the Apple logo , then choose System Preferences , click Displays . On the next window, make sure Default for display is selected, as this is probably the best option.

How to connect a MacBook to a TV Picture 1

Most HDTVs can also play audio from a Mac via an HDMI cable, so next click on the Apple icon > System Preferences , then select Sound and select the connected TV. Both old computers or TVs require two devices to be connected via the Mac's audio jacks.

How to wirelessly connect a Mac to a TV

New Mac computers and Apple TVs make screen mirroring astonishingly easy.

Just turn on the TV and Apple TV, then on your Mac, click on the Apple logo> System Preferences , then click on Display and select TV from the AirPlay Display toolbar.

To mirror your Mac to other smart TVs without an Apple TV, you'll need to get a mirroring app designed to work with that brand of TV. For Samsung TVs, download the Samsung SmartThing app from the App Store. For Sony TVs, download the AirBeamTV app. A quick Google search can help you find the right app to mirror your Mac to any smart TV.

Lesley Montoya

Update 09 April 2021