It’s been a frustrating journey but I’m here to share with you my experience trying to get my HDMI laptop to TV connection to work. I’ve done a bit of research, compared pros and cons, and come up with some tips and tricks for making this connection work. In this blog post, I’ll talk about the possible causes and how to fix the HDMI laptop to TV connection. Hopefully, my story and advice will help you out if you’re also struggling with this issue.
Usually, various software and hardware issues can cause an error with the HDMI connection between your laptop and TV. A few examples include an incorrect HDMI input, a damaged cable, or, sometimes, using the wrong resolution.
| Issue | Possible Causes | Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| Damaged/Loose HDMI Cable | Cable is not securely connected or is damaged. | Check the connection and try a different HDMI port. Replace the cable if necessary. |
| Incorrect HDMI Input | Wrong HDMI input selected on the TV. | Use the TV remote to select the correct HDMI input that matches the connected port. |
| Clogged HDMI Port | Dirty HDMI port disrupting the signal. | Turn off devices and gently clean the HDMI ports with a microfiber cloth. |
| Broken HDMI Port | Worn out or damaged HDMI ports. | Seek assistance from a repair technician. Use high-quality HDMI cables to avoid damage. |
| Incompatible Resolution | TV doesn’t support the laptop’s resolution. | Adjust the laptop’s display resolution to match the TV’s built-in resolution. |
| Outdated TV Software | Bugs caused by outdated TV software. | Update the TV’s software through the settings menu. |
| Outdated Laptop Drivers | Outdated USB or graphics card drivers. | Update the drivers manually or automatically using Driver Updater Tools. |
Why Is HDMI Laptop to TV Not Working?
Like other modern electronic devices, HDMI isn’t impervious to glitches in connection, and here are a few reasons that may lead to this undesirable scenario:
- Damaged/Loose HDMI Cable
A loose or damaged cable is one of the major reasons why your laptop and TV fail to establish an HDMI connection.
So, make sure that the cable is connected securely. You can also try plugging it into a different HDMI port.
If the issue isn’t resolved, it might be a damaged HDMI cable. In this case, you’ll need to replace it with a new one.
Some of the best HDMI cables that you can go for are:
- Incorrect HDMI Input
Another reason why the HDMI laptop to TV isn’t working is an incorrect HDMI input.
To check if you’ve selected the right HDMI input, click the Input button on your TV remote. For instance, if your cable is connected to HDMI2, then you should choose HDMI2 on your device.
- Clogged HDMI Port
A dirty HDMI port can disrupt the signal between your TV and laptop. Hence, cleaning the HDMI port might resolve the issue.
First, turn off your TV and laptop. Then, use a microfiber cloth to clean the input ports.
Make sure that you wipe them gently, as HDMI sports are sensitive.
- Broken HDMI Port
Over time, excessive usage can lead to damaged HDMI ports. It’s more common if you’re using HDMI cables that are hard to plug in. They can wear out the chip of your HDMI ports.
If you’ve cleaned the gunk out of ports but didn’t resolve the problem, the HDMI ports might be broken. In this case, you may have to reach out to a repair technician to solve the issue.
In the future, try using a high-quality HDMI cable to avoid damage to the ports.
- Incompatible Resolution
Another factor that can disrupt the connection between your laptop and TV is the resolution. If your TV doesn’t support the designated resolution on your laptop, it will result in distorted pictures or no connection at all.
You can fix the issue by adjusting the resolution on your laptop.
Navigate to Settings and click Display in the System menu. Then, scroll down to Display Resolution. Lastly, choose the resolution that matches the built-in resolution of your TV.
Additionally, you can check the display settings of your laptop by pressing the Windows and P keys together. Once the Project window pops up, you’ll see four options: PC Screen Only, Duplicate, Extend, and Second Screen Only.
Since you’re connecting to your TV, don’t choose the PC Screen Only Option. Instead, try clicking either one of the three other options to see if it resolves the issue.
Typically, the Duplicate option means the picture will be displayed on both your laptop and TV. The Extend option will expand the picture on your devices.
Lastly, the Second Screen Only option will show the display only on your TV.
- Outdated TV Software
Outdated software can cause lots of bugs on your TV, including an issue with HDMI connections.
To verify that your TV’s software is up to date, open Settings on your TV and select Software Update. If your device is outdated, a new software update will be available.
Choose Download, then install it.
- Outdated Laptop Drivers
An outdated device driver in your laptop can interrupt the HDMI connection between your TV and laptop, too. Worse, it may be the reason why the devices won’t connect at all, especially if your USB drivers and graphics card drivers aren’t up to date.
To update your drivers, you can either do it automatically or manually. If you want to update your drivers manually, you can go online and find your hardware device driver on your manufacturer’s website.
Make sure that the driver is compatible specifically with your device before downloading and installing it.
Alternatively, you can also update the drivers automatically by using Driver Updater Tools, like Driver Booster and Driver Easy. If you think manually updating your drives is too complex, a Driver Updater Tool is your best choice.
Wrapping Up
Generally, a non-existent HDMI connection between your laptop and TV is a result of software and hardware issues.
Make sure that you check the HDMI cable to see if it isn’t loose or damaged. In addition, you should check your HDMI ports and verify that they aren’t clogged with dust or broken.
For software issues, you should verify that the software on both devices is up to date.
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