To connect a laptop to a TV without HDMI, use an adapter that matches the video port your laptop does have (USB-C, DisplayPort or VGA) and plug a normal HDMI cable from the adapter into the TV. No video port at all? Go wireless with Miracast or a Chromecast-type device.
Identify your ports
Look along both sides of the laptop:
| Port | How to spot it | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| USB-C with a DP (D-shaped) or lightning-bolt logo | small oval port | USB-C to HDMI adapter or cable |
| DisplayPort / Mini DisplayPort | D-shaped, one corner cut | DP or Mini DP to HDMI adapter |
| VGA | blue, 15 pins, screws either side | VGA to HDMI converter (with audio) |
| USB-A only | ordinary rectangle | USB display adapter (DisplayLink) or wireless |
Not sure? Search your model number plus “specifications”.
USB-C to HDMI
The neatest option on most newer laptops. Not every USB-C port carries video: it needs DisplayPort Alt Mode or Thunderbolt, usually shown by a small DP or lightning-bolt symbol next to the port. Our explainer on Thunderbolt ports shows the logos.
- Plug a USB-C to HDMI adapter (or a USB-C hub with HDMI) into the laptop.
- Run an HDMI cable to the TV and select that HDMI input.
- On Windows, press Windows + P and choose Duplicate or Extend.
A hub with a charging port lets you power the laptop at the same time.
VGA to HDMI (and audio)
Common on older ex-UK laptops like earlier ThinkPads, Dell Latitudes and HP ProBooks. VGA carries picture only, not sound.
- Buy an active VGA to HDMI converter, a small box rather than a plain cable, because VGA is analogue and HDMI is digital. A plain VGA-to-HDMI cable without a box generally won’t work in this direction.
- Most converters have a 3.5 mm audio lead to plug into the laptop’s headphone jack, and a USB lead for power.
- Picture tops out around Full HD and can look slightly soft on a big TV; set the laptop to the TV’s resolution or 1366×768 if text is blurry.
Some older TVs still have a VGA (PC) input. If yours does, a VGA cable plus a separate audio cable works with no converter.
No ports at all: go wireless
- Miracast: built into many Windows laptops and smart TVs. Press Windows + K and pick the TV. See how Miracast works.
- Chromecast or a Google TV: cast a Chrome tab or the whole screen; our guide to casting a laptop with Chromecast has the steps.
- USB display adapter (DisplayLink): plugs into USB-A, outputs HDMI and needs a driver. Fine for slides and documents, less smooth for video.
Wireless adds slight lag, so it suits films and presentations more than gaming. The same adapters work for projectors too; see connecting a laptop to a projector.
Why plain USB cables don’t work
A standard USB-A to USB-A cable, or a USB-to-HDMI cable without electronics, doesn’t carry a video signal. The TV’s USB port is for playing files from flash drives, not for receiving a laptop screen. Only video-capable USB-C ports or a powered DisplayLink adapter can turn USB into HDMI.
Quick answers
Use the port you have: USB-C to HDMI, DisplayPort to HDMI, or a VGA-to-HDMI converter box. With no video port, use Miracast, a Chromecast or a USB display adapter.
Not a plain one. USB-A cables don’t carry video. A video-capable USB-C port with an HDMI adapter, or a DisplayLink USB adapter, will work.
