With tons of media being available online, many users are looking for the best way to project Movies, Videos and TV programs from MacBook to the large screen of Home Television.
If you have an older MacBook, the simplest and the most frugal way to connect your MacBook to TV is by using a HDMI Cable. In the case of newer MacBook with USB-C or Thunderbolt Ports, you need to make use of Adapters to connect Mac to TV.
The other option is to go totally clutter free by using steaming devices like Chromecast that can connect MacBook to TV wirelessly, using your Home Wi-Fi Network.
Connect MacBook to TV
Now that we have briefly gone through different ways to connect MacBook to TV, let us go ahead and take a look at the steps to connect MacBook to TV.
1. Connect MacBook to TV Using HDMI Cable
As mentioned above, the simplest and most cost effective way to connect MacBook to TV is by using a basic HDMI cable that you can order from Amazon or pickup from Walmart and other stores.
1. Plug one End of HDMI Cable to HDMI Port on your TV.
2. Using TV Remote, change the Input Source on your Television to match HDMI Port to which HDMI Cable is attached.
3. Plug the other End of HDMI Cable to the HDMI Port on your MacBook.
Now, you should be able to see the screen of your MacBook appearing on the TV Screen.
The next step is to configure the display on TV as a Mirrored Display from Mac and optimize it for your model of TV.
1. Click on Apple Logo > select System Preferences in the drop-down menu.
2. On the System Preferences screen, click on Displays.
3. On the next screen, select your Television and select Best for your model of TV option (if available).
If the screen of your Mac is not mirroring on TV, remove the HDMI Cable from Mac and make sure Show mirroring option is selected.
After configuring the display, the next step is to ask MacBook to use the Speakers of your TV.
1. Click on the Apple Logo > select System Preferences in the drop-down menu.
2. On System Preferences screen, click on Sound.
3. On the next screen, select your Television as the sound output device.
Now, any Media that you play on your MacBook will be playing on the screen of your TV and the sound will also be coming from the speakers of the Television.
2. Connect MacBook With Thunderbolt Port to TV With HDMI Port
If you have a MacBook with Thunderbolt Ports and no HDMI Port, you can connect it to TV using a Thunderbolt to HDMI Adapter.
Image Source: Apple Support
1. Plug the Thunderbolt End of Adapter into Thunderbolt Port on your Mac.
2. Plug the HDMI End of the Thunderbolt Adapter to a HDMI Cable.
3. Plug the other End of HDMI Cable to HDMI Port on your TV
After connecting MacBook to TV using the Adapter, you need to configure the MacBook to use the TV screen and TV Speakers using steps as provided in the first method.
3. Connect MacBook with USB-C Port to TV With HDMI Port
If your MacBook has a USB-C port and no HDMI Ports, it is still possible to the MacBook to TV using USB-C to HDMI Adapter and a HDMI Cable.
Image Source: Apple Support
1. Plug the USB-C end of Adapter into USB-C Port on your Mac.
2. Plug the HDMI End of the Adapter to a HDMI Cable.
3. Plug the other End of HDMI Cable to HDMI Port on your TV
After connecting MacBook to TV, the next step is to configure the MacBook to use the TV screen and TV Speakers using steps as provided in the first method.
4. Connect MacBook to TV Using Chromecast
As mentioned above, you can go totally wireless by using Google’s inexpensive Chromecast Device, which allows you to connect MacBook to TV wirelessly using your Home Wi-Fi Network.
All that is required to connect MacBook to TV wirelessly using Chromecast is to plug the Chromecast Device to TV and go through a setup process as provided in this guide: How to Setup Chromecast on Mac.