How to Connect a Mac Computer to a TV: 3 Easy Options

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Sync your Mac screen and audio to a TV with this guide

Co-authored by Chiara Corsaro and Megaera Lorenz, PhD

Last Updated: August 17, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Using an HDMI Cable
|
• Using AirPlay
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• Using Chromecast
|
• Changing Your Settings
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• Video
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• Q&A
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• Tips

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This wikiHow article teaches you how to connect your MacBook or desktop Mac computer to a TV. Doing so allows you to view the contents of your Mac's screen on your TV. You can use several different types of HDMI cables to attach your Mac to your TV, or you can use AirPlay to show your Mac's screen on an Apple TV.

How to Connect Your Mac to a TV

• You can connect your Mac to most TVs with an HDMI cable. If your Mac only has USB-C or Thunderbolt ports, you’ll need an adapter.
• If you have an Apple TV or an AirPlay-enabled smart TV, you can connect wirelessly using AirPlay.
• Stream from the Chrome browser to your TV with Chromecast.
• If your display or sound isn’t working as expected, change your Mac’s display or audio settings.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using an HDMI Cable

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1. 
   1
   Find your TV's HDMI input. While TVs can use a variety of video inputs, HDMI is the most commonly used one for modern, high-definition televisions. You'll have the best results using the HDMI input on your TV when connecting to your Mac.

   • The HDMI port is usually on the back or the side of the TV. Most modern HDTVs have at least two HDMI ports.
   • If your TV doesn't support HDMI, you'll need to figure out which input your TV uses for video and then buy an adapter once you know which output your Mac uses.
2. 
   2
   Determine your Mac's video output. Modern Macs will output both video and audio through one of the following ports:

   • Thunderbolt 3, 4, or 5 — These oval-shaped USB-C ports are standard on all modern Macs since around 2017. If your Mac has this type of port but no HDMI port, you’ll need a USB-C to HDMI adapter.
   • Thunderbolt 2 — Squared-off port found on most older Mac computers. If your Mac has a Thunderbolt 2 port, you'll need a Thunderbolt 2 to HDMI cable (or a Thunderbolt 2 to HDMI adapter and an HDMI cable).
     • If your Mac is old enough to have a Thunderbolt 1/Mini DisplayPort port, Thunderbolt 2 cables should still be compatible with it.
   • Mini DisplayPort — Before Thunderbolt came to replace it, Mini DisplayPort was Apple's most common form of video projection. The port is identical in shape to Thunderbolt 1 or 2. To use Mini DisplayPort with your TV, you'll need a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI connector (or a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter and an HDMI cable).
     • Mini DisplayPort replaced DVI on most Macs, so any computer older than 2008 will likely feature a DVI port.
   • HDMI — This type of port is available on newer Mac Studio computers, the Mac Mini, and recent MacBook Pro 14 and 16-inch models. You can also find it on older MacBook Pro 13 and 15-inch models. If your Mac has an HDMI port, you can use a standard HDMI cable to connect your Mac to your TV.
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3. 
   3
   Buy the correct cable for your Mac. You can buy standard HDMI cables in most retail stores that have tech departments, but you may want to visit a tech store (or shop online) for a USB-C to HDMI cable or a Thunderbolt 2 to HDMI cable.

   • Best Buy and Amazon are two of the most commonly used options for buying non-standard cables.
   • If you have to buy an adapter because your TV doesn't support HDMI, look for a [Mac output] to [TV input] adapter (e.g., "USB-C to VGA" or "Thunderbolt 2 to VGA") along with an audio to RCA cable to connect audio to your TV.
   • You most likely won't be able to find an RCA (component cable) adapter.
   • HDMI, Thunderbolt 2, Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, and Thunderbolt 5 cables (and their adapters) all support audio.
4. 
   4
   Plug one end of your cable into your Mac. If you're not using a traditional HDMI cable, this will be the non-HDMI end of the cable.

   • If you are using an HDMI cable, you can plug either end of it into the Mac.
   • If you're using a non-HDMI adapter on the TV side of your Mac, you'll also need to plug the single end of the auxiliary cable into your Mac's headphone jack.
5. 
   5
   Plug the HDMI end of the cable into your TV. The HDMI portion of the cable should plug into the HDMI port on the side or back of your TV. The cable only plugs in one way, so don't force it.

   • If you're using a non-HDMI cable to connect to your TV, plug the end of the cable into your preferred input instead, then attach the audio cable's red and white inputs to the red and white ports on your TV, respectively.
6. 
   6
   Turn on your TV. Press your TV's "Power"

   

   button to turn it on.
7. 
   7
   Change your TV's input to the HDMI input. Press the Input button on your TV, or use the remote to select the HDMI input. This step will vary depending on the appearance of your TV and its remote.

   • For example, if the slot you plugged the HDMI cable into was labeled "HDMI 3", you would change your TV's input to HDMI 3.
8. 
   8
   Select your preferred display settings on your Mac when prompted. When your Mac detects the TV, a notification will pop up prompting you to choose how you want to share your screen. For example, you can choose to mirror your screen (so the same thing appears on both your Mac and your TV), extend your Mac’s screen (use your TV as a second monitor), or just share a single window.

   • If you want, click Set as Default to save your selection so you don’t have to choose your preferred behavior every time you connect your Mac to a TV.
   • Need to make further adjustments? Skip down to Changing Display and Sound Settings.
9. 
   9
   Wait for your Mac's screen to appear on the TV. As long as your Mac is on, you should see its screen appear on the TV within a few seconds of changing the input. If not, you may need to change your Mac's display and sound settings.
10. 
    10
    Double-check your Audio settings. If you require your computer's audio to come through your TV, this may work automatically. If not, navigate to System Settings > Sound > Output. Make sure your TV is selected as the audio output.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using AirPlay

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1. 
   1
   Set up your Apple TV or AirPlay-compatible Smart TV. In order to use AirPlay Mirroring, you'll need either an Apple TV device or an AirPlay-enabled streaming device. This could include a wide variety of smart TVs, as well as several Roku devices.

   • Click here for a full list of AirPlay-enabled devices.
   • Check out our guide to setting up an Apple TV.
2. 
   2
   Turn on your Apple TV or AirPlay-compatible TV. Press your TV's Power button

   

   , then press any button on the Apple TV remote. If you're using an AirPlay-compatible smart TV, simply turn on the TV.

   • If your TV isn't using the Apple TV's input (e.g., HDMI 1), you'll first need to switch to that input before you can view the Apple TV's display.
3. 
   3
   Connect your Mac to the same network as the Apple TV or AirPlay-enabled TV. Both your Mac and your streaming device/smart TV must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network before you can mirror your Mac's screen to your TV.

   • You can find the name of your Apple TV's current network by opening Settings on the Apple TV, selecting Network, and looking at the current Wi-Fi name.
     • Consult with your smart TV's manufacturer's guide if you have trouble finding the network settings, or check out this wikiHow article for updating your Roku's Wi-Fi settings.
4. 
   4
   Enable AirPlay on your Apple TV or smart TV. There is usually no need to enable AirPlay on a compatible third-party device, but your Apple TV may not have the setting enabled by default. Ensure that it's set up by doing the following:

   • Open your Apple TV's Settings
   • Select AirPlay & Apple Home
   • Toggle on AirPlay.
   • Select Allow Access and select who you want to be able to stream to your TV (e.g., for easiest access, you can select Everyone or Anyone on the Same Network).
   • If you have an AirPlay-compatible smart TV or other streaming device, you may need to go into the settings to enable AirPlay. Check the manual that came with your device or the manufacturer’s website for instructions.
5. 
   5
   Open the Control Center on your Mac. The easiest way to do this is to click the

   

   Control Center icon on the right side of the menu bar at the top of your screen.
6. 
   6
   Click the Screen Mirroring icon. It is represented by two overlapping rectangles.
7. 
   7
   Click on your device's name. If your Mac and your smart TV/streaming device are on the same network, you should see the device listed here. Click on its name to connect to it.

   • You may be prompted to enter a matching code to what appears on your TV.
   • When prompted, choose how you want to stream to your TV. For example, you can mirror your Mac’s whole screen, use the TV as an extended display, or just share a specific window. Click Set as Default if you want to save your selection.
   • You should now see your Mac's display on your TV. If you want to extend your screen as opposed to mirroring it, click the Screen Mirroring icon again and choose "Use As Separate Display".
8. 
   8
   Stream video directly from a media player to your TV. If you don’t want to project your entire screen to your TV, you can just stream a video (if you’re using a website or media player that allows it). To do this, click the icon that looks like a rectangle with a triangle at the bottom. Select your smart TV or Apple TV from the list of device options.

   • To stop casting, click the symbol again and select your Mac from the list of devices.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using Chromecast

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1. 
   1
   Attach a Chromecast device to your TV (if needed). Many modern Smart TVs are already Chromecast-enabled, but if not, you can attach a Chromecast device to your TV’s HDMI port. If your TV is already Chromecast compatible, just turn it on.
2. 
   2
   Open Google Chrome on your Mac. The easiest way to cast with Chromecast is from the Chrome browser. Launch the Chrome app on your Mac.
3. 
   3
   Navigate to a video you want to watch or a page you want to cast. You can also drag a video file from your desktop into a Chrome browser window.
4. 
   4
   Click the ⋮ icon at the top right corner of Chrome. A menu will open.
5. 
   5
   Select Cast, Save, and Share > Cast. Chrome will scan for compatible devices.

   • Click the Sources button to choose whether to cast just the tab you’re in or your entire screen. The option to cast your whole screen might not be available for all devices.
6. 
   6
   Select your TV from the list. Your Mac will start casting the tab or your whole screen to the TV or Chromecast device, depending on the settings you selected.

   • Click Stop next to your device to stop casting.
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Changing Display and Sound Settings

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1. 
   1
   Open your Mac's

   

   and click System Settings. It's near the top of the Apple menu.
2. 
   2
   Click Displays. It’s in the left sidebar. Your display settings will open in the right-hand menu pane.
3. 
   3
   Select Overscan or Underscan if your display doesn’t fit the screen. This option may not be available with all TVs. However, if it is, you can use the “Overscan” and “Underscan” settings to adjust how the image from your monitor fills the TV screen.

   • If you don’t see these options in your Mac’s settings, they might be available in your TV’s settings.
4. 
   4
   Change your TV's resolution. If you don’t see an Overscan or Underscan option, you can adjust the display resolution. Select your TV in the list of displays at the top. Click one of the resolution options under the thumbnail showing your display.

   • You cannot set a resolution that's higher than your TV's maximum resolution.
5. 
   5
   Click Sound. If your sound isn’t working right, you might need to adjust your output settings. Click Sound in the left sidebar of the System Settings menu.

   • To get a better sense of the audio quality, you can even connect your AirPods to your Apple TV!
6. 
   6
   Click the Output tab. It’s about halfway down the Sound menu.
7. 
   7
   Select your TV or the HDMI option. Click your TV's name or the word HDMI in the list of available audio output devices. This will ensure that your Mac outputs audio through your TV's speakers, not its own. Your TV should now be all set up to display your Mac's audio and video.
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Community Q&A

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• Question

  Can I use the USB port on my Mac?

  

  Community Answer

  The USB port will not help with an HDMI connection to your TV. You have to use the port designated for that HDMI connection.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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  Not Helpful 7 Helpful 14
• Question

  How do I make the sound come from the TV and not the Mac?

  

  Community Answer

  Go to Sound in System Preferences. Under the output tab, click type, and click on the HDMI option.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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  Not Helpful 2 Helpful 8
• Question

  How do I get the audio to come from my TV and not my Mac when it is connected to the TV with an HDMI cord?

  

  Community Answer

  On your Mac, open System Preferences and click "sound." Under the Output tab, find "type" and select the HDMI option.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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  Not Helpful 14 Helpful 17

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Tips

• If your Mac's screen plays content at a higher resolution or frame rate than your TV supports, you may notice some graphical issues on your TV itself.
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• Using an exceptionally old Mac to connect to a new TV (or vice versa) may have unpredictable results, or may not work at all.
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