How to Use Your Smart TV as a Secondary Monitor: Easy Setup Guide

Are you contemplating the advantages of a multi-monitor setup or seeking ways to enhance your smart TV usage beyond movie nights? Transforming your smart TV into a second display is an excellent solution, and it’s surprisingly easy to achieve.

Connecting Your PC or Mac to a Smart TV via HDMI

TV HDMI ports — Christian Cawley/MakeUseOf

The easiest way to utilize your smart TV as a secondary monitor is by employing an HDMI cable for a direct connection to your computer. This method is primarily plug-and-play, often taking less than a minute for setup.

To begin, plug one end of the HDMI cable into your PC or Mac and the other end into the HDMI port of your TV. Ensure that your laptop is situated close enough to facilitate the cable reach.

If your laptop is a modern model lacking an HDMI port, don’t worry—simply use a USB-C to HDMI adapter, which can also come in handy for connecting smartphones to your TV.

The benefits of an HDMI connection include unparalleled reliability. Experience a sharp, lag-free visual display and seamless audio, making it perfect for both mirroring and extending your screen functionalities.

After connecting the cables, use your TV remote to switch the input source to the appropriate HDMI port. Initially, your PC or Mac will mirror the display. To extend your screen to use the TV as a second monitor, simply press Windows + P and select “Extend.”

For Mac users, navigate to System Settings > Displays, and select “Extended display”from the Use as dropdown menu. This allows for seamless window dragging between your laptop and TV, enhancing multitasking or facilitating content viewing while you work.

Wireless Connection for PCs and Macs to Smart TVs

If a wired connection isn’t feasible, consider wirelessly connecting your Windows or Mac computer to your smart TV, provided it supports wireless display technologies like Miracast or AirPlay.

Most contemporary smart TVs are equipped with wireless display capabilities. However, if yours lacks this feature, a wireless HDMI display dongle can be the solution. This device connects to your TV’s HDMI port and links to your Wi-Fi, enabling you to mirror or extend your computer screen just like integrated wireless display features.

For Windows 10 or 11 users, Miracast allows for a wireless connection to your smart TV. Ensure both devices are linked to the same Wi-Fi network and follow these simple steps:

Press Windows + K on your keyboard.
A sidebar displays available devices. Choose your smart TV from the options.
If your TV isn’t displayed, go to Settings > Bluetooth & devices, then click Add device.
Select Wireless display or dock and choose your TV.
Enable the checkbox for Allow mouse, keyboard, touch, and pen input from this device, then click Done.

At this stage, your TV should be wirelessly operational as a display, allowing you to navigate using your PC’s keyboard and mouse, reminiscent of utilizing a conventional second monitor.

For Mac users, AirPlay serves as the primary method to wirelessly link to a smart TV. Follow these steps:

Open the Control Center from the menu bar.
Click the Screen Mirroring icon.
Select your smart TV from the list. A four-digit code may appear on your TV screen for verification.
Access Display Settings, and opt for the Extended Display setting to fully utilize your TV as a second monitor.

click on target airplay receiver for screen mirroring in the pop up

Bear in mind, while a wireless connection provides additional convenience, you may encounter minor lag compared to a wired setup. However, it is typically sufficient for media streaming, casual browsing, or light multitasking, assuming a robust Wi-Fi signal.

Adjusting Display Settings

Upon connecting your smart TV via HDMI or wirelessly, you may want to customize your display settings. On Windows, right-click on your desktop and choose Display settings. This screen will display both your primary monitor and the smart TV.

To designate the smart TV as your main display, check the option labeled Make this my main display. You can also modify various settings, including resolution, refresh rate, orientation, and enable features like Night Light for enhanced user comfort.

For Mac users, go to System Settings > Displays, where a visual representation of your screens will be shown. Rearrange and adjust their positions to ensure intuitive mouse movement between displays. If you prefer mirroring your main screen rather than extending it, you can easily toggle the Mirror Displays option in the same menu.

Transforming your smart TV into a secondary monitor offers a practical way to expand your visual workspace without the need for a separate display. The entire connection process is straightforward and efficient, making it accessible even for those less technically inclined.

While this setup might not be optimal for high-end gaming or professional design tasks that demand precise color fidelity, it serves as a fantastic solution for everyday use, casual multitasking, or simply creating a more organized browser space.

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