To connect a laptop to a TV wirelessly on Windows, turn on the TV’s screen mirroring, press Windows + K and pick the TV. On a Mac, use Screen Mirroring in Control Centre with an AirPlay TV, and on a Google TV, cast from Chrome instead.
Which method your TV needs
| TV | Works with |
|---|---|
| Samsung, LG, Hisense (VIDAA), older Android TVs | Miracast (Windows + K) |
| Google TV (many new TCL, Hisense and Sony sets) | Google Cast from Chrome |
| Many Samsung and LG sets from about 2018, Apple TV | AirPlay from a Mac |
Casting and AirPlay need both devices on the same Wi-Fi. No router? Turn on the laptop’s mobile hotspot and connect the TV to it. Miracast makes its own direct link, so Wi-Fi just needs to be on. For cables, see the main guide to connecting a laptop to a TV.
Windows: Win + K step by step
- On the TV, open Screen Mirroring (or the brand’s version, below). Switch the laptop’s Wi-Fi on.
- Press Windows + K to open the Cast panel.
- Click your TV’s name and accept the prompt on the TV.
- Press Windows + P and choose Duplicate (same picture) or Extend (TV becomes a second screen).
To stop, press Windows + K again and click Disconnect. More on how this works in Miracast explained.
Brand tips
- Samsung: Windows + K usually finds it directly. If not, allow access under Settings > General > External Device Manager > Device Connection Manager.
- LG and Hisense: open Screen Share (LG) or Anyview Cast (Hisense VIDAA) first.
- TCL and Hisense Google TV: these won’t appear in Windows + K. In Chrome, click ⋮ > Cast, save and share > Cast. Full steps are in casting a laptop with Chromecast.
Mac: AirPlay
- Connect the Mac and TV to the same Wi-Fi.
- Click Control Centre (the two-switch icon in the menu bar) > Screen Mirroring.
- Pick the TV and type the code shown on screen if asked.
- Choose to mirror the display or use the TV as a separate display.
No AirPlay on the TV? Use Chrome casting or a cable.
TV not showing up? Fixes
- Turn mirroring on at the TV first. Many TVs only listen while that screen is open.
- Check the laptop supports Miracast. Run
dxdiag, click Save All Information and look for “Miracast: Available”. If not, use Chrome casting or HDMI. - Same network, not the guest network, for casting and AirPlay.
- Firewall or antivirus can block the link; pause it briefly to test.
- Update Wi-Fi and graphics drivers, then restart both devices.
Still nothing? A cable is the most reliable option, even without an HDMI port: see connecting a laptop to a TV without HDMI.
Lag and quality
Wireless always adds a short delay, usually a fraction of a second. Fine for films, slides and church services; poor for gaming.
- For video, cast the video itself (the cast icon in YouTube’s player) rather than mirroring, so the TV streams it in full quality.
- If sound stays on the laptop, click the speaker icon and choose the TV.
Quick answers
On Windows, open screen mirroring on the TV, press Windows + K and select the TV. On a Mac, use Control Centre > Screen Mirroring.
Windows + K for Samsung, LG and Hisense; Chrome’s Cast option for Google TVs.
The TV’s mirroring screen may be closed, the laptop may lack Miracast, or it’s a Google TV that only accepts Chrome casting.
