How to Screen Mirror Your PC to Your TV

What screen mirroring does and which method works for your setup

Screen mirroring sends everything on your PC monitor to your TV in real time — your desktop, browser, videos, documents, whatever is on screen. Your TV becomes a second display that shows an exact copy of what your PC is showing. The connection can be wireless (over your home network) or wired (through an HDMI cable or adapter), and which one you use depends on what hardware you already have and how far your TV is from your PC.

The fastest route is usually a wired connection if your TV and PC are close enough. Wireless mirroring is more convenient if your PC is in another room, but it requires both devices to support the same wireless standard — and that standard varies by whether you own a Windows PC, a Mac, or a Linux machine.

Key Takeaways

An HDMI cable or USB-C to HDMI adapter is the most reliable method and works with almost any TV and PC combination.
Windows PCs can mirror wirelessly to compatible TVs using Miracast, which you turn on in Windows Settings under System > Display > Multiple displays.
Some smart TVs (Samsung, LG, Sony) have built-in wireless mirroring that works with Windows, but you must enable it on both the TV and PC first.
Wireless mirroring works best when your PC and TV are on the same Wi-Fi network and within 30 feet of each other.
If wireless mirroring fails, check that your TV supports the wireless standard your PC is using, and restart both devices.

Using an HDMI cable or adapter (wired connection)

A wired connection is the most straightforward method and works with virtually every TV made in the last 15 years. You need an HDMI cable (if your PC has an HDMI port) or a USB-C to HDMI adapter (if your PC only has USB-C ports, which is common on newer laptops). Plug one end into your PC and the other into any available HDMI port on your TV.

Once connected, your TV may automatically detect the signal and switch to that input. If it does not, use your TV remote to manually select the HDMI input — usually labeled HDMI 1, HDMI 2, or HDMI 3 depending on which port you plugged into. Your PC should then display on the TV. If you want to use your PC monitor and TV at the same time, right-click your desktop, select Display Settings, and choose "Extend" instead of "Duplicate."

The main limitation of wired mirroring is distance — you need an HDMI cable long enough to reach from your PC to your TV, which is usually 10 to 50 feet depending on the cable quality. HDMI cables longer than 50 feet can lose signal, so if your TV is very far away, wireless mirroring is a better choice.

Wireless mirroring on Windows using Miracast

Miracast is a wireless standard built into Windows 10 and Windows 11 that lets your PC send its display to a compatible TV without an HDMI cable. Not all TVs support Miracast — you need a TV made after 2015 that explicitly lists Miracast support in its specs, or a separate Miracast receiver (a small device that plugs into your TV's HDMI port). Many newer Samsung, LG, Sony, and Vizio TVs have Miracast built in.

To check if your TV supports Miracast, look in your TV's settings menu for an option called "Miracast," "Screen Mirroring," "Wireless Display," or "Cast." If you find it, turn it on. Then on your PC, open Settings, go to System > Display > Multiple displays, scroll down, and click "Connect to a wireless display." Windows will search for nearby Miracast receivers. Select your TV from the list and wait 10 to 30 seconds for the connection to establish.

Miracast works best when your PC and TV are on the same Wi-Fi network and within 30 feet of each other. If the connection drops or fails to start, restart both your PC and TV, then try again. If Miracast still does not appear in your Windows Display Settings, your PC may not have a compatible wireless adapter — this is rare on newer PCs but common on older ones.

Wireless mirroring using your TV's built-in casting feature

Many smart TVs have their own wireless mirroring system that works alongside or instead of Miracast. Samsung calls it SmartThings or Screen Mirroring, LG calls it Screen Share, Sony calls it ScreenShare, and Vizio calls it SmartCast. These systems often work with Windows PCs, though some are designed primarily for phones and tablets.

To use your TV's built-in system, turn on the feature in your TV's settings menu — the exact name and location varies by brand, but it is usually under Network, Connectivity, or Display settings. Then on your Windows PC, open Settings > System > Display > Multiple displays and look for your TV's name in the "Connect to a wireless display" list. If your TV does not appear there, try opening your TV's companion app on your PC (if one exists) and casting from within the app instead.

The advantage of using your TV's native system is that it sometimes works more reliably than Miracast, especially if your TV is a newer model. The disadvantage is that each brand works slightly differently, so troubleshooting can be harder if something goes wrong.

Troubleshooting wireless mirroring that will not connect

If your PC and TV are not connecting wirelessly, start by checking that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. Open your PC's Wi-Fi settings and your TV's network settings and confirm they are both connected to the same router. If they are on different networks, move one of them to the correct network and try again.

Next, restart both devices completely — turn off your TV and PC, wait 30 seconds, and turn them back on. Wireless connections often fail because of temporary glitches in the network stack, and a restart clears those glitches. After both devices are back on, try the mirroring process again from the beginning.

If the connection still fails, check that your TV actually supports the wireless standard your PC is using. Look up your TV's model number on the manufacturer's website and search for "Miracast" or "wireless display" in the specs. If your TV does not list Miracast support, you will need either a wired HDMI connection or a separate Miracast receiver device (which costs $20 to $60).

If your TV does support Miracast but Windows still cannot find it, try updating your PC's graphics drivers — outdated drivers sometimes break wireless display features. Go to Device Manager, find your graphics card under Display adapters, right-click it, and select "Update driver." Windows will search for the latest version online.

When to use extend instead of duplicate

Duplicate mode shows the same image on both your PC monitor and your TV — useful for presentations or watching something with others. Extend mode treats your TV as a separate display, so you can drag windows between your monitor and TV, or keep your video on the TV while you work on your monitor. To switch between these modes, right-click your desktop, select Display Settings, scroll down to "Multiple displays," and choose either "Duplicate these displays" or "Extend these displays."

Extend mode is more useful for everyday work because it gives you more screen space. Duplicate mode is better for presentations, movies, or gaming, where you want everyone looking at the same thing. You can switch between them at any time without unplugging anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a special TV to mirror my PC?

No. Any TV with an HDMI port works with a wired connection. For wireless mirroring, your TV needs to support Miracast or have a built-in casting feature — most TVs made after 2015 have one of these, but older TVs do not. If your TV is older, a wired HDMI connection is your only option.

Can I mirror my PC to multiple TVs at the same time?

Not with a single wired connection — one HDMI cable goes to one TV. Wireless mirroring also typically connects to one device at a time. If you need to display on multiple TVs, you would need separate cables or wireless receivers for each TV, or use a video splitter (a device that duplicates your HDMI signal to multiple outputs).

Why is my wireless mirroring laggy or keeps disconnecting?

Wireless mirroring is slower than wired because it sends data over Wi-Fi, which has more interference and latency. If your connection keeps dropping, move your PC and TV closer together (within 30 feet), make sure no other devices are using a lot of bandwidth on your Wi-Fi, and restart both devices. If lag is severe, switch to a wired HDMI connection instead.

What if my PC does not have an HDMI port?

Use a USB-C to HDMI adapter (usually $10 to $25) if your PC has a USB-C port. If your PC only has older ports like VGA or DisplayPort, you will need an adapter for that specific port type. Check your PC's manual or specs to see what video outputs it has.

Can I mirror just one window instead of my whole screen?

No — mirroring always sends your entire desktop. If you want to show only one window, you can minimize everything else or use full-screen mode on that window. Some applications like web browsers also have their own casting features (like Chromecast) that send only that app to your TV, but that is different from screen mirroring.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.