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How to connect a Chromebook to a TV
Chromebooks are generally low-end machines, but they can do many things right, including content consumption. However, most Chromebooks come with small and often not-so-pleasant screens. So what do you do when you want to watch Netflix or do some game streaming on a Chromebook? You hook it up to a TV, of course. There are a few ways to connect your Chromebook to a TV.
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QUICK ANSWER
To connect your Chromebook to a TV, you need an HDMI cable or an HDMI to USB-C cable. Connect the HDMI cable to the HDMI port on your TV and the other HDMI end or the USB-C end to your Chromebook. Alternatively, you can wirelessly cast your TV via Chromecast or Fire TV.
KEY SECTIONS
How to connect a Chromebook to a TV using HDMI
A wired connection is the best way to go about connecting your Chromebook to a TV. TVs mostly use HDMI for wired connections, so that’s going to be your only option. You also need to check whether your Chromebook has an HDMI port. If it does, you can use a standard HDMI cable.
If your Chromebook doesn’t have an HDMI port, you will need a USB-C to HDMI cable or a USB-C hub that has an HDMI port on it. Once you’ve arranged the compatible cable or hub, connect the HDMI end of the cable to the HDMI port on your TV.
Connect the other end of the cable to your Chromebook using HDMI, USB-C, or the hub.
Open the Settings app on your Chromebook. You can find it by clicking the time on the bottom right corner, and clicking the Settings gear icon, or via search.
In the left navigation pane in Settings, click Device.
In Device settings, click Displays. Your TV will be listed here.
To adjust your TV settings, click on the name of the TV in the listed devices. If you want to mirror the Chromebook screen on the TV, you can check the Mirror Internal Display checkbox.
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How to connect a Chromebook to a TV wirelessly
Connecting your Chromebook to a TV wirelessly isn’t ideal, but it can help you if you don’t have a compatible cable on hand. There are two ways to go about it, and both require you to have a casting device. To cast your Chromebook screen to a TV, you will either need a TV with Chromecast built-in, a Chromecast device attached, or a Fire TV device attached. The Chromecast and Fire TV procedures are similar but have a few differences.
Connect Chromebook to a TV using Chromecast
Chromecast is Google’s casting protocol. To connect a Chromebook to a TV via Chromecast, your TV needs Chromecast support. Some TVs get it built-in, and those that don’t will require you to hook up a Chromecast device to them via HDMI. Note that you will need your Chromebook and your TV/Chromecast connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
On your Chromebook, navigate to the website you want to cast, using Google Chrome. Click the three-dot menu button at the top right. Click on Cast… in the drop-down menu that appears.
The casting pop-up will list the available screens you can cast to. Click the name of the TV to which you want to connect your Chromebook.
You can also change the source from the tab to the desktop. Click on Sources in the casting pop-up and click the source you want to cast.
To stop casting, click the cast button present on the right end of the toolbar in Google Chrome, and click the name of your TV again.
Connect Chromebook to a TV using Fire TV
The method on the Chromebook side of things is the same as that above, but a few extra steps are needed to enable screen mirroring on your Fire TV device. Here are the steps to follow to cast Chromebook to TV using Fire TV.
Turn on your TV with the Fire TV stick remote. Once turned on, navigate to the Settings button, and select it with the select button on your remote. Under Settings, there will be a Display & Sounds button. Select it.
In the Display & Sounds settings, scroll down to Enable Display Mirroring and select it with the remote button.
Your Fire TV device will enter mirroring mode, and your TV screen will display a confirmation of the same.
On your Chromebook, navigate to the website you want to cast, using Google Chrome. Click the three-dot menu button at the top right. Click on Cast… in the drop-down menu that appears.
The casting pop-up will list the screens available for casting. Your Fire TV device should show up in this list. Click it.
To stop casting, click the cast button present on the right end of the toolbar in Google Chrome, and click the name of your Fire TV device again.
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FAQs
Yes, the process is similar to that of the Fire TV. Just enable screen mirroring in the settings of your Roku TV and find the Roku device in the cast settings of your Chromebook.
Your best bet here is Google Chromecast. It will provide the most stable wireless connection to your Chromebook.
Direct screen mirroring from Chromebook to TV is not possible over USB unless you’re using a USB-C to HDMI cable or hub.