How To Hook Up Smart Tv To Apps
With the advent of LCD TVs, many people want to connect TV to PC as an LCD makes for an excellent computer monitor. Those who want to hook up PC to TV often ask: Which cables do i need to connect my PC to a TV?
This article talks about how to connect hotspot to Smart TV because something established connection still doesn’t work and you can learn how to make it work here. Check that your TV is compatible with Alexa. Connect the TV to the same Wi-Fi network as your Alexa. Open the Alexa app on your phone/tablet. Tap the plus icon (+). Tap to choose your TV brand.
In this article, I’ll explain in simple terms how to hook up your PC to your TV and which cables you need to connect PC to TV. To succeed in this PC to TV Connection, you need only your eyes and a little bit of common sense.
After looking at the diagram below, and determining your situation, I will point out which cable that you need to buy.
Which Cables Do I Need To Connect My PC to a TV
Take a look at the diagram below. This diagram illustratrates connections between your PC and your LCD TV. As you view the diagram, take a look at both your computer and your TV to determine what connections are available. Below the diagram, you will find the proper cable for your situation.
Situation #1: HDMI to HDMI Connector To Connect TV to PC
This is the most common situation in the year 2020 and works on virtually all setups.
As I wrote about in connecting your laptop to your LCD, you only need one thing to make this happen — an HDMI cable. I recommend this one as it will allow for the newest technologies and fastest streaming.
Situation #2: VGA to VGA Connector To Connect TV to PC
Before the advent of HDMI, a VGA connection was the most common way to connect your computer to your television.
Still today, this is the only option for some people with older TVs or laptops.
For this VGA to VGA connection, you’ll want to purchase the Belkin F3H982-25 Pro Series High-Integrity VGA/SVGA Monitor Replacement Cable (25 ft.). Last I checked this cable was under $25 and can be delivered to your doorstep the next day.
Situation #3: DVI to DVI To Connect TV to Hook Up PC to TV
I did not represent this situation in the diagram above because it is somewhat archaic nowadays. Most modern laptops no longer have DVI outputs. However, if both your LCD TV and your laptop computer have DVI you will want to purchase this cable: Cables To Go – 26911 – 2M DVI-D M/M Dual Link Digital Video Cable (Black). As of this writing, it is less than $7 and can be delivered immediately.
Connect TV to PC: Software Setup
After you have purchased and connected the proper cable to hookup your TV to your PC, you will need to get it up and running with your computer.
We will take a look at the general software setup with laptops and desktops separately. Laptops and desktops differ slightly because the laptop has a built-in screen. With each of these situations, you will need to find the input button on your TV so that you can set it to the proper input.
Note: If you prefer how to videos, you may want to consult How To Connect Computer To TV for video instruction.
Connect Laptop To LCD TV
After you have physically connected your laptop to your PC, you basically now have two monitors connected: the laptop screen and the LCD TV.
You now want to hit your TV remote input button until you get to the desired choice (it’s usually labelled “PC” or “HDMI” depending on your selection above). Now, on your laptop screen, you will want to right-click a vacant area of the desktop and then choose properties. Then, click the settings tab. You should now see a second choice in the monitors window. If you want to use the LCD only, you should click the monitor and then select the “Use this device as the primary monitor” checkbox. If you want to use both the laptop screen and the LCD TV at the same time, then select “Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor” and you can use both monitors at the same time! This is my preferred choice.
I use a Dell laptop and you can switch on the fly between using the laptop monitor, the LCD, or both at one time by pressing the function key (Fn) and F8 at the same time.
Connect Desktop Computer To LCD TV
From a software perspective, connecting your desktop computer to your LCD TV is very simple.
After you have made the physical connection in one of the three ways above, simply change the input on your TV to reflect the appropriate choice (HDMI, VGA–often labelled PC, or DVI). You may want to modify the settings on both your TV and your PC for optimum resolution.
Add Apps To Tv
If you would like to use both your standard monitor AND your LCD TV, you will need a graphics card that is capable of dual monitors. Many of the new ones are. I recommend this VisionTek Radeon graphics card if you would like an HDMI dual-display output from your desktop PC to multiple LCDs..
If you want to have a two monitor setup with your desktop, right-click a vacant area of the desktop and then choose properties. Then, click the settings tab. You should now see a second choice in the monitors window. If you want to use the LCD only, you should click that monitor and then select the “Use this device as the primary monitor” checkbox. If you want to use both the computer monitor and the LCD TV at the same time, then select “Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor” and you can use both monitors at the same time! (Note: Your video card supplier may have incorporated different video software in which case the instructions will differ slightly.)
Connect TV to PC: Summary
If you would like to connect your PC to your TV, the process is relatively easy and you do not need to be a technical genius. As illustrated above, you need 1 of the following 2 cables:
1.) 4K HDMI 10 Foot Cable: This HDMI to HDMI cable will have you all setup for today and the advanced streaming of the future.
2.) Belkin F3H982-25 Pro Series High-Integrity VGA/SVGA Monitor Replacement Cable (25 ft.): Use this for a VGA connection. The works with virtually every computer and every LCD TV.
The benefits of connecting your computer to your TV are amazing. This is a great way to show a room full of friends your latest pictures and videos. LCD TVs also perform well as gigantic computer monitors for everyday use.
We hope that this article has illustrated to you how to connect your PC to your TV and answered the question: Which cables do i need to connect my PC to a TV?
Richard Cummings
Get your copy of his latest book entitled Obvious Conclusions, stories of a Midwestern emigrant influenced and corrupted by many years living in San Francisco and abroad. It just received its first outstanding review '...reminiscent of David Sedaris or Augusten Burroughs' on Amazon UK.
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Today’s world is interconnected thanks to smart devices that control everything from your thermostat to your TV. One of the latest ways to connect technologies is using Amazon’s Alexa with your smart TV. Take a look below at the smart TVs on the market, how they work with Alexa, and how you can hook them up to work together.
Smart TVs currently on the market
If you’re looking for a Smart TV that works with Alexa, you have several options. You can buy a TV that has Alexa already connected, such as Amazon’s Fire TV Edition models, select Hisense 2018 4K Smart TVs, Sony’s 4K HRD TV series and certain LG models.
You can essentially make a regular TV a smart TV by using a Fire TV device, the Logitech Harmony remote control system, Roku, or Dish or DirecTV.
How does a smart TV work with Alexa?
The way your TV works with Alexa depends on what you’re using.
Smart TVs with Alexa already integrated offer the most basic set-up. If you’re using an external Fire TV device, you have to go through the required set-up process. With Roku, you can use the quick remote, and there’s an entirely different process for hooking up Alexa with Dish or DirecTV Satellite Boxes.
How To Hook Up Smart Tv To Apps On Pc
How to hook up your Samsung Smart TV to Alexa
We’re going to focus on how to connect your Alexa to your specific smart TV. Samsung is one retailer to announce its 2019 TVs will work with voice assistants such as Alexa. Here’s how to hook your Samsung smart TV up to Alexa:
- Start by connecting your Samsung smart TV with the SmartThings Hub.
- If it’s compatible, turn your TV on and put it on the same network as the hub.
- Press the button your TV remote and select “Settings.“ Go to “System” and then select “Samsung Account.” Your TV should now show up on your SmartThings app.
- Open the Alexa app and tap “Menu.” Click on “Smart Home” on the dropdown list and turn it on.
- Use the search bar at the top and search for “SmartThings.” When you find it, tap “Enable.”
- A new window will come up asking you to sign into your SmartThings account. Fill in the details and hit “Sign in.”
- You will see a new page with a drop-down area. Click on the bar with the arrow and choose “Live.SmartHomeDB.com.” Click “Authorize.”
- You should get a message telling you Alexa was successfully linked with SmartThings.
- Close the window, find a pop-up menu and click “Discover devices.”
- You should see the SmartThings skill added to your Alexa app with a blue button below it. Tap the blue button that says “Discover,” and wait for Alexa to notice all the connected devices.
The process will vary based on what smart TV you purchase. For example, if you buy a Fire Edition TV, you simply open the Alexa app and tap the “Menu” icon. Then you select “Music, Video and Books” and click on “Fire TV.”
The app will give you additional setup instructions, and all you need to do is tap “Link Devices” to make sure everything is confirmed.
How can you use the Alexa app?
Once you get your Alexa app hooked up to your Smart TV, you have plenty of options for how to use the app to control the TV and other apps, such as Netflix, Hulu, Fox Now, NBC, Bravo, ESPN and more. Here are a few commands Alexa knows:
- “Alexa, watch The Office” (or the TV show of your choice)
- “Alexa, watch The Office on Netflix.”
- “Alexa, tune to ESPN on PlayStation Vue.”
Alexa also supports playback options in apps. For example, you can use pause, play, rewind or even rewind five minutes to get where you need to go.
Alexa will also play the next episode for you on a platform, such as Hulu or Netflix. You have additional options with the Fire TV since Alexa supports searching with this device. Alexa can show you Indiana Jones movies or help you find a romantic comedy on Netflix.
How To Hook Up Smart Tv To Apps Free
Start using Alexa
Don’t wait to hook up your Smart TV with Alexa. Although the setup process differs by TV, it’s relatively straightforward, and you get the benefits of using voice commands to make your watching experience even better.
Do you use Alexa with your smart TV? What do you like about it? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.