The newer Vizio Smart TVs have Chromecast built-in, but the older ones do not. You can still use all the features for the TVs that don’t have the Chromecast built-in. So, if your VIZIO TV doesn’t have the Chromecast, all you need is an up-to-date Google Chrome browser. Let’s find out how to cast your laptop to a Vizio Smart TV.
Cast to Vizio TV from Laptop wirelessly
Did you know you can mirror whatever is playing on your laptop screen to your Vizio TV by using the Google Chrome browser? Here’s how you do it:
- First, make sure you have the latest version of Google Chrome downloaded to your computer.
- Next, confirm that the computer is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Vizio TV.
- Then open a tab and Google Chrome; click on the three dots in the top right corner.
- Then click cast. At the top, next to cast, click the down arrow.
- Click cast desktop.
- Choose the Vizio TV, where you want to cast to.
- If you’re already using Chromecast, your content will replace what’s on your TV.
- The content on your device should now be visible on your Vizio TV.
You can cast everything from photos to presentations, websites, and more. When you’re done, click cast, followed by a stop to end casting. You can also use casting to mirror the screen on your Android phone or tablet. Now you can enjoy what’s on your computer screen in a much bigger beautiful way, on your Vizio TV.
Cast to Vizio TV from Laptop via cable
How to connect the laptop to the Vizio TV by cable? The easiest way to bring the laptop screen to the TV is to use an HDMI cable for transmission. Through HDMI cable connection from laptop to TV, the laptop display can be shown on the TV in high resolution. The advantage of an HDMI cable over another cable connection, such as VGA or DVI, is the simultaneous transmission of audio signals from the laptop to the TV.
If you don’t want the hassle of making an audio connection via jack or RCA in addition to a DVI or VGA cable, you should go for an HDMI cable. A DVI cable can also transmit image signals in HD to the TV, but the audio signal is missing, and most current TVs don’t have a DVI input. The HDMI cable has become the standard, and most laptops have an HDMI output, which transmits from the graphics chip to the TV.
Connect the Laptop to a TV with an HDMI cable
- Select the stream on the laptop.
- Plug the HDMI cable into the HDMI output of the laptop.
- On the TV, plug the HDMI cable into the HDMI input port.
- Select the input source on the TV remote control.
In most cases, the laptop automatically takes over the HDMI output as soon as the HDMI cable is plugged in. If this is not the case, right-clicking on the desktop in Windows will help: only available screens are displayed here, and you can select the corresponding screen (in this case, the TV). The key combination Windows key + P also switches between the existing screens. On the Mac, the menu of existing screens can be accessed via System Preferences.
Again, the HDMI output should automatically detect the image from the Macbook when the HDMI cable is connected to the TV. Generally, it is rather on the TV that the input source, such as the HDMI port, must be selected. Once everything is set up, you can enjoy the stream or the laptop screen in large on the TV.
Alternatives to the HDMI cable
What can you do if the laptop has no HDMI output or you do not want to worry about the cable connection – cable tangle from the apartment over the balcony or terrace to the outside is always annoying. There are also alternatives for the transmission of the TV picture. We have briefly summarized for you three alternatives to the HDMI cable from the laptop to the TV:
Smart TV stream: If you own a smart TV, you do not need to worry about the transmission of the TV picture via the laptop any further. If the Smart TV is connected to the Internet via WLAN, you can start a corresponding app via the Smart TV menu that provides a stream. TV stations like ZDF and Das Erste already have corresponding apps for their media libraries.
Projector: Instead of a TV, you can, of course, connect your laptop to a projector and project this image onto a screen. Various beamer manufacturers build devices with high resolutions that are also connected to the laptop via HDMI. Here, however, the cable is involved again.
Screen Mirroring: With the help of complicated apps, the image from the laptop display can also be mirrored on the TV wirelessly via WLAN. This is usually very complicated and rarely works. Only Apple offers hardware with the Apple TV Box that can mirror the Macbook display well.
Best way to cast to TV from Laptop
It’s best to take the laptop outside, where the TV is also located, with which the laptop will be connected. If you want to watch the soccer match in the garden outside in good weather at the Euro 2023, you should protect both the TV and the laptop well from sunlight and use a cable drum for the power supply so that too-long power supply cables do not have to be used. Also, the HDMI cable should not be longer than two meters. Otherwise, the connection quality can suffer with poorly shielded HDMI cables.
Requirements of the laptop
Modern laptops all have a Miracast function. You have to use this, if you want to connect the laptop to the smart TV. First, the appropriate drivers have to be installed to be able to use the corresponding function at all. The easiest and fastest way to do this is to install Intel’s wireless Display software. The required drivers are included here.
