Miracast is one of the technologies for wirelessly transmitting image and sound to a TV or monitor, easy to use and supported by many devices, including computers and laptops with Windows 10, if you have an appropriate Wi-Fi adapter (see How to connect a TV to a computer or laptop via Wi-Fi). This instruction will tell you how to enable Miracast in Windows 10 to connect your TV as a wireless monitor, as well as the reasons why such a connection fails and how to fix them. Please note that your Windows 10 computer or laptop can also be used as a wireless monitor.
Connecting to a TV or wireless monitor via Miracast
In order to enable Miracast and transfer images to the TV via Wi-Fi, in Windows 10, just press the Win+P keys (where Win is the key with the Windows logo, and P is the Latin key).
At the bottom of the list of display projection options, select “Connect to a wireless display” (see below for information on what to do if there is no such option).
The search for wireless displays (monitors, TVs, etc.) will begin. Once the screen you want is found (note that most TVs require you to turn them on first), select it from the list.
Once selected, the Miracast connection will begin (may take a while), and then, if everything went smoothly, you will see the monitor image on your TV or other wireless display.
How to use your TV as a second monitor via cable
The previous instructions described connecting via a wireless network. But sometimes either the devices do not support something, or there is a problem with the Wi-Fi modules. In general, it is not possible to connect. In this case, you should use a cable. Most modern TVs use an HDMI port. Therefore, to connect you will need a special cable, which you must first purchase.
Important! If your laptop does not have the required jack, then you should also buy an HDMI-USB adapter.
Step-by-step connection guide:
- Connect the HDMI cable to the corresponding socket on the laptop.
- Insert the other end of the cable into the TV. Some TVs have more than one connector. In this case, you need to remember the specific number so that you can select it later when setting up.
- On the remote control you need to press the source selection button. As a rule, this is “Source”.
- The next step is to select the appropriate connector. On some devices, it shows which port something is connected to.
- Now you need to go to the laptop desktop, right-click and select “Screen Resolution” or “Display Settings”.
- In the window that opens, select the duplication option and click “Apply.”
Note! After these settings, the TV will begin to display the same as the laptop, but the sound will not be transmitted. To solve this, you need to click on the speaker icon in the lower right corner, and then on the “Playback devices” item. In the window that appears, select the appropriate TV. The last step is to click on “Default” in the corner.
If Miracast doesn't work on Windows 10
Despite the simplicity of the steps required to enable Miracast, often not everything works as expected. Next are possible problems when connecting wireless monitors and ways to eliminate them.
The device does not support Miracast
If you don't see the "Connect to a wireless display" option, it usually means one of two things:
- Projecting Windows 10 (Windows 10) how to connect a second screen
- The existing Wi-Fi adapter does not support Miracast
- Required Wi-Fi adapter drivers are missing
The second sign that the problem is one of these two points is the display of the message “The PC or mobile device does not support Miracast, so wireless projection from it is not possible.”
If your laptop, all-in-one PC, or computer with a Wi-Fi adapter was released before 2012-2013, we can assume that the problem is the lack of Miracast support (but not necessarily). If they are newer, then it is more likely the problem is with the wireless network adapter drivers.
In this case, the main and only recommendation is to go to the official website of the manufacturer of your laptop, all-in-one or, possibly, a separate Wi-Fi adapter (if you purchased it for a PC), download the official WLAN (Wi-Fi) drivers from there and install them. By the way, if you did not manually install the chipset drivers (but relied on those that Windows 10 installed itself), it is better to install them from the official website.
At the same time, even if there are no official drivers for Windows 10, you should try those provided for versions 8.1, 8 or 7 - Miracast can also make money on them.
Cannot connect to TV (wireless display)
The second common situation is that the search for wireless displays in Windows 10 works, but after selecting it, it takes a long time to connect via Miracast to the TV, after which you see a message that the connection could not be made.
In this situation, installing the latest official drivers for the Wi-Fi adapter can help (as described above, be sure to try), but, unfortunately, not always.
Moreover, I don’t have clear solutions for this case, I only have observations: this problem most often occurs on laptops and all-in-one PCs with 2nd and 3rd generation Intel processors, that is, not on the newest equipment (accordingly, the Wi-Fi used in these devices -Fi adapters are also not the latest). It also happens that on these devices, the Miracast connection works for some TVs and does not work for others.
From here I can only assume that the problem with connecting to wireless displays in this case may be caused by incomplete support of the Miracast technology variant that is more used in Windows 10 or on the TV side (or some nuances of this technology) on the part of older equipment. Another option is that this equipment is not working correctly in Windows 10 (if, for example, in 8 and 8.1 Miracast turned on without problems). If your task is to watch movies from your computer on your TV, then you can set up DLNA in Windows 10, this should work.
- How to enable Miracast on Windows 10 and what kind of technology is it?
That's all I can offer at the moment. If you have or have had problems with Miracast to connect to your TV, share both problems and possible solutions in the comments. See also: How to connect a laptop to a TV (wired connection).
Author: · 06/23/2019
This technology was developed by Microsoft. Thanks to it, it became possible to connect a computer monitor, laptop, tablet or smartphone based on Android OS to a TV without using HDMI cables. This standard has its pros and cons. Below we will tell you how to enable Miracast in the Windows 10 operating system.
Using additional equipment
Another interesting option is to use an adapter. If the wireless connection does not work, then you should use an intermediary. This method is similar to the previous one (using HDMI), but without wires. The Chromecast adapter is perfect for such purposes. The principle of operation is simple: after connecting to one device, the intermediary creates a network to which the second gadget needs to connect.
Chromecast adapter for broadcasting images to a TV
Step by step guide:
- Connect chromecast to your TV. Change the source so that Chromecast appears on the display.
- Log in to your Chromebook account.
- Follow the instructions on the screen.
For your information! The Chrome browser has a standard “Broadcast” function. This is one of the fastest and easiest methods for duplicating an image from a computer to a TV.
Using TV as a display is convenient. However, users often have a large number of questions, since there are many options in the gadget parameters. The instructions above will help you connect your PC or laptop to your TV.
Flaws
Of course, like any technology, Miracast also has its downsides. These include:
- Microsoft's wireless display delivery method needs further improvement, as only what's happening on the source screen is transmitted to the device. Competitors have much more functionality;
- Miracast technology does not always work stably. Periodic failures are possible. Especially if the receiver and source are located at a great distance. In this case it will be very inconvenient to use;
- As practice shows, not all devices will connect to each other without fail.
Setup on a laptop or PC
In order to connect to a TV (Samsung, LG, etc.) using Miracast, you must have Wi-Fi adapters for both gadgets.
Please note that:
- Your PC must have Windows 8.1 or higher operating system installed;
- your TV must be modern and support Miracast or Screen Share (the name of the technology depends on the model).
Sometimes this feature does not appear on the TV until you connect it to a wireless network.
To duplicate the display, you need to follow these steps.
- Turn on your TV and make sure it is connected to Wi-Fi. This happens differently on different models. Here is an example for LG.
Setting up the DLNA service
How to connect your phone to LG TV via Wi-Fi
The essence of the connection via DLNA technology is to provide the TV with access to certain folders on the computer where the necessary files are located: videos, photos, music, etc. The TV must have a built-in player. The main condition is the presence of technology in TV. If the device does not support DLNA, you will not be able to connect.
Note! You can find out whether the device is suitable for broadcasting images on the manufacturer’s website. But almost all modern devices are capable of using this technology.
The following instructions are suitable not only for TV, but also for smartphones with the Android operating system. However, you can only control media playback on your TV. How to connect two devices? The process is automatic. The main task of the user is to create a shared folder on the laptop. Then make it available to all devices connected to your home network. The IP addresses of the devices should not be changed so as not to repeat the settings each time.
Step-by-step guide to setting up DLNA service:
- Create a folder on disk with any name. It should be written in Latin letters, for example, “Movies”. Next, right-click on it and select “Properties”.
- In the window that opens, go to the “Access” tab. Then click "Advanced setup".
- In additional options, you need to click on the checkbox next to “Share this folder.” Then confirm by clicking “Ok” in the second and first windows.
If the TV is equipped with an old Smart TV module or set-top box, the system may not connect to the Windows operating system. The TV will not be able to find the folder with the necessary files. For such cases, there is another way. To use it, you will need to make sure that the TV is visible in the home network tab:
- To do this, click on the “Network” item in Explorer. The tab is on the left side of the window. Available connections should appear in the list that appears.
- Next, you need to find a video with the .mp4 extension, right-click on it, and select the “Transfer to device” option. On TV you will need to accept the request.
Transfer to Device feature on Windows
Connection on Android
First, you need to turn on the TV and launch the Screen Share application.
Instructions on this issue are described above in the PC connection section.
After this, you need to perform the following steps.
- Check if your Wi-Fi is turned on on your phone.
If you don't have this icon on your phone, it means your wireless connection is turned off. You can enable it in the settings.
- After that, go back to the settings and open the “Xperia Connections” item (in our case). This feature may be called differently on different phone models.
Analogue Miracast
There are other technologies. For example - WiDi. Many modern TVs support it. The big difference compared to Miracast is that in this case it is necessary to install additional software - Intel Wireless Display.
It is worth noting that this program has certain requirements, due to which it does not work on every computer or laptop.
In this regard, Miracast wins, since Windows 8.1 and older are sufficient for its operation. There is no need to install any additional programs.
The advantages of WiDi include the ability to connect to a receiver, which, in turn, is connected to the TV if it does not have a built-in Wi-Fi adapter.
Laptop - set-top box - TV
Happy owners of Smart TVs can connect their laptops to them in many ways. If one doesn't fit, there is always an alternative. And owners of ordinary, especially old television receivers, sometimes have to suffer: either the required adapter is not on sale, or the connection does not work.
In this case, the best solution would be to buy a set-top box with SMART functions, like Apple TV or Android Box. It’s not very expensive, and it also eliminates the hassle of connecting other equipment to the TV forever.
Video instruction
If you still have any questions, you can additionally watch a video in which you can learn something new.
Quite often, users connect a laptop or PC to other devices to display images, sound or video, such as a TV. There is no need to use cables for this, since the computer has a built-in Wi-Fi adapter with such capabilities. How to enable Miracast Windows 10 on a PC, laptop and enjoy the absence of cables can be found below.
Content
How to find out if you can connect your TV via Wi-Fi or not
To connect, the TV must meet certain requirements:
- availability of Smart TV;
- Wi-Fi adapter with Direct function;
- DLNA connection possible.
How to connect a PC or laptop to TV
To begin with, it’s worth understanding each item and what it is.
Smart TV
Smart TV is a system that expands the standard functionality of a TV. There is a built-in function or a special attachment. The device is sold in electrical stores. The option allows you to do the following:
- watch videos on YouTube;
- watch films and other multimedia in online cinemas;
- use social networks via TV;
- read data from USB drives;
- use a browser to search for information, banking, view weather forecasts, news;
- listen to music;
- send letters by email.
These are not all the possibilities. Probably the most important thing for most users is connecting to other devices via a Wi-Fi Direct network.
Note! Smart TV set-top boxes are a cheaper option. However, embedded devices have their advantages. For example, the ability to install different operating systems. The most common is Android.
Wi-Fi Direct
Many users have come across such an item in their smartphone’s connection settings. This is a new technology for wireless connection and information transfer. Direct allows devices to connect with each other without using additional gadgets - a router. The function allows you to transfer files. That is, a module with Direct capability is practically a mixture of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. In addition, the network speed is the same as conventional technology.
However, not all smartphones and TVs can connect via Wi-Fi Direct. To do this, the phone and the other side of the connection must be equipped with a special module that supports this feature.
Note! If both devices meet the requirements, then in this way you can connect, for example, to a projector and display the picture on the wall.
A less common use is to connect a smartphone to a printer to print something. Most often, users use the option to duplicate picture and sound on a TV in order to enjoy higher resolution when watching a movie or game.
You can add more than one device to the network, creating entire groups.
Wi-Fi Direct to connect TV with other devices
DLNA
Often, all content (audio, video, photos) is stored on the hard drive of a PC or laptop. This standard allows you to transmit multimedia images and sound via an Ethernet cable or a wireless Wi-Fi network. The advantage of this technology is that you don’t have to understand the setup or read a bunch of articles about what DLNA is. The device can automatically set the necessary parameters.
For your information! The abbreviation "DLNA" stands for "Digital Living Network Alliance". Translated, this means “Integration of digital networks for the home.”
The main advantage of DLNA is that the standard is supported by many devices. Therefore, compatibility problems are extremely rare. The technology also ensures high quality connections. It is thanks to DLNA that users can connect computer devices (PCs and laptops) to the TV and stream multimedia content.
What is Miracast
Miracast technology is one of the developments of Microsoft. It is designed to wirelessly transmit sound and images to other gadgets: computer monitors or TVs. The transfer can also be carried out to other devices capable of displaying a picture and playing sound.
The function is available for any type of gadget that has a built-in Wi-Fi adapter. The main thing is that it is possible to transmit and receive a wireless signal on both devices.
Advantages and disadvantages
Among the advantages of the technology, users note the following points:
- Ability to transmit images and sound without using cables.
- No need to transmit the signal through a router. Devices are synchronized using a different technology and create their own communication channel, which no one can interfere with.
- The image transmission speed is very high. Even when playing complex games you will not feel any lag or drop in FPS.
- The technology heavily compresses files. So even very voluminous documents will be transmitted in a minimum amount of time.
- Supports 3D video broadcasts.
- Miracast is a very easy-to-use feature with a simple interface. Any user can enable and use it without additional instructions.
- This function is built into almost all modern devices, computers and laptops, televisions, for example, brands LG and Samsung.
Among the shortcomings, only one is noted, namely, the maximum quality of image or video transmission reaches only 1920x1200. This indicator does not make it possible to transmit video in UltraHD quality. But the average user will almost never encounter this problem, since devices that support such a high resolution are rare and are very expensive.
How to set up on laptop and PC
The function is present in most modern laptops and computers. The main thing is to figure out how to configure it and connect the PC to another screen.
Settings
There are many ways to customize Miracraft. The user can choose the most convenient option for him. Regardless of the method used, the result will be the same.
Keyboard shortcut
Enabling and configuring Miracast using a keyboard shortcut takes literally a few minutes. How to enable Miracast on a laptop with Windows 10 is shown in the instructions:
- Activate the wireless network on your PC. You should also enable this feature on your TV or connected device.
- Press keyboard shortcut Win+P on the keyboard of a laptop or computer (works also on the on-screen keyboard).
- This will bring up the Projection . At the very bottom of the panel that pops up, you need to click on “Connect to a wireless screen” .
- After which the display will show that a search is in progress for devices available for connection. When it ends, select the required display from the displayed list.
- As soon as the connection is made, the computer desktop image will be displayed on the second screen.
Advice! It is recommended to find out in advance how exactly the name of the TV is displayed when searching for devices available for connection.
System parameters
To set up a wireless connection between two displays, you need to do the following:
- Go to the Start and go to Settings . This can also be done using the key combination VIN+I .
- Go to panel "Devices".
- Through the side menu, go to the “Connected devices” . Here it is possible to connect a PC to a new one by clicking on “Add device” .
- After this, the system will search for available gadgets. You must select the one you need from the list that appears.
Via WiDi
There are other technologies similar to Miracast. One of them is WIDI. It is also supported by modern TVs and screens. But unlike Miracast, it requires installing additional “Intel Wireless Display” software to work.
Widi is good because it can be used to connect to a laptop even a TV that does not have a Wi-Fi adapter. The connection in this case goes to the receiver, which in turn has a direct connection to the screen.
Problems during connection
Some problems may occur during connection. The most common one is the message “Unable to connect” . Also, the connection can take a very long time and be unsuccessful.
In this case, the reasons may be the lack of the latest version of drivers on the adapter or the fact that it does not support such a function. The drivers can be updated, but in the second case nothing can be done.
It is also recommended to try connecting with different devices. It's just that some of them can connect and others can't.
Firewall problems
If the connection is not established or is reset at the very last moment, then the problem may be with the Firewall. You need to disconnect it and try to connect again. If everything went smoothly, it is recommended to switch the Firewall to interactive mode. In this case, it will ask for permission for suspicious connections.
Useful: How to disable the firewall
Failed to connect to wireless display
If your computer detects an external display via Miracast, but you get a "Unable to connect" error when you try to connect, try the following steps:
- Restart both devices (both computer and TV/projector);
- Check whether the Miracast function is enabled in the TV/projector settings, try moving the laptop closer to the wireless display (to eliminate the influence of Wi-Fi signal interference);
- Try updating the Wi-Fi driver on your computer.
In my case, manually connecting the wireless display as a new device helped. To do this, in Windows 10, go to Settings -> Devices -> Add Bluetooth or other device .
Select Wireless Display or Dock.
Wait until the scan finishes. Your TV with a wireless adapter should appear in the list. Select it. After some time, your wireless display will appear in the list of devices.
Press the Win+P key combination and try connecting to your wireless display again. The connection should be established successfully.
