Sometimes you want to watch a movie on the big screen, lying on the couch with a bag of chips, but there is no TV. In such a situation, a projector can come to the rescue, because you don’t even need to buy a special screen for it – a regular white sheet or a flat wall will do.
But it’s not that simple. It’s not enough to just buy everything you need, you also need to figure out how to connect the projector to your laptop, how to set it up, and what wires to hook up. Fortunately, almost all modern equipment has an HDMI connector that works to transfer images to another medium.
What you will need
First of all, let’s figure out what kind of output port your laptop has. HDMI comes in different types, and you need to first determine which type you have. To figure this out, look at the picture below.
Sometimes the cables come in the kit, but most often you have to buy them separately. The price is 300-500 rubles, but the cost of the cable will quickly pay for itself. HDMI will allow you to connect your laptop to any device that can receive an incoming signal, so it is useful to have it with you.
You will also need the projector itself and a flat white background. A painted wall, light wallpaper or a white sheet will do. This is necessary so that the image is as bright and correct in color as possible. And don’t forget about a table or other surface on which the equipment will be located.
How to connect
Via cable
HDMI, VGA or even USB can be connected to devices that are already turned on. However, you should not do this to avoid static discharge that accumulates on your clothes. So before connecting the projector to a laptop via HDMI or another cable, we recommend checking that their power is off and only then inserting the contacts. This will avoid problems with the ports.
So, we have inserted the cable, what to do next? You will need to activate the broadcast function to several displays in the system settings. This is necessary so that the image from the monitor is transmitted to the projector, and at the same time you can view it from the laptop. This method is used, for example, during the educational process, so that you can control what is displayed on the screen.
For home use, you can enable the second monitor mode. In this case, the device screen will darken and you will only see what the projector shows.
To quickly access the image output settings on Windows, press Win+P. On versions up to and including 7, a special system window will open, in which you can do everything. In versions 8 through 11, a small curtain will appear on the right side of the screen, where you can immediately select the output type.
Also, some devices have a special setting that is triggered by pressing the Fn + F4 combination. It also allows you to quickly open the menu when connecting the projector to a laptop and set the image display mode.
Via Wi-Fi
Another way to connect a projector to a computer is to use a wireless network. To do this, you need to make sure that both devices are connected to Wi-Fi and ready to work.
If everything is OK, go to Start, open Settings, and in the System tab, go to the Display section. In the curtain that appears on the right, you will see the item Multiple displays – click on it and select Connect to a wireless display. After that, a curtain will appear on the right with a list of available devices, where you just need to select the projector.
Confirm your consent to connect and wait a bit for your PC to establish a connection. After that, you can start broadcasting even from the other end of the house, but consider several factors:
- Playback may be delayed;
- The lower the signal quality, the worse the image will look;
- The signal may be lost if the devices are too far apart.
Possible problems
Poor quality image
You can’t just plug in a wire and output a picture. It needs to be adjusted. This is usually done with a remote control or manually. The projector body has a lens that is responsible for outputting the image. You can turn it to adjust the focus.
You also need to select the distance so that the frame fits completely on the screen and looks even. You can reduce the size of the picture if your device has such a function, and adjust the output format. For example, for old films you can set 4:3, and for YouTube – 16:9.
The laptop did not recognize the device
Before connecting the projector, you should make sure that both devices are in good working order and the cable (HDMI, VGA or USB) works. You can connect the laptop to any other device or insert the cable into the connector and check the contacts with a multimeter.
If you are trying to connect via Wi-Fi, check that the signal is stable and the equipment is not too far from each other. It would also be a good idea to update the drivers and check again whether the projector supports the ability to connect “over the air”. If everything is OK, then the problem may be in the built-in module and you will have to send the device for repair.
Output error
This can only be fixed by internal configuration. Some laptops may not recognize the signal via cable, so you will have to manually configure it via the control panel.
Again, you will need to check the drivers and contacts on the cable and the devices themselves. If there is something wrong with them, such as damaged copper tracks, this will need to be fixed.
There may also be various software errors. Usually, their solutions can be described in the instructions for the projector, so do not rush to throw it away after purchase.
We explained how to connect a projector to a laptop and sorted out several errors. Remember that everything may differ depending on what equipment you use, and always read the operating instructions to avoid problems.