Did you know that you can connect your MacBook Air to your TV for an immersive viewing experience? If you did not, you are in the right place. In fact, there are various ways to connect an Apple laptop to a TV, so you can browse the web, share presentations or pictures, watch Netflix, or create a bigger workspace.
What You Will Need:
Most MacBook Air models do not have an HDMI port, meaning you will need a conversion adapter to make things work. For this tutorial, we will connect the M1 MacBook Air to an LG OLED C1 using a USB-C to HDMI adapter and an HDMI cable.
How to Connect a MacBook Air to a TV
Step 1: Turn off both your TV and MacBook Air before proceeding.
Step 2: Plug the HDMI cable into the HDMI port on your TV.
Step 3: Now, connect the other end of the HDMI cable to the USB-C to HDMI adapter and attach it to your MacBook Air via the USB-C port.
Step 4: Power on your TV and switch to the correct HDMI input.
Step 5: Turn on the MacBook Air, and you should see your screen that’s now mirrored on the TV.
How to Connect a MacBook to a TV Wirelessly
If you want to go wirelessly, then you can use AirPlay. However, your TV needs to support AirPlay. Or, you can AirPlay from your Mac to an Apple TV box connected to your TV. Here is how to do it.
Step 1: Ensure that your Apple TV and MacBook Air are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
Step 2: Select the AirPlay icon from your MacBook Air’s menu bar
Step 3: Select your TV from the drop-down list to initiate the connection.
Step 4: Select one of the below options:
- Mirror Built-In Display: This option matches the ratio and resolution of your TV.
- Mirror TV: This option reconfigures to your TV’s ratio and resolution.
- Use a Separate Display: Your TV serves as an additional display.
Step 5: If you want to disconnect your Mac from the TV, select the AirPlay icon on your laptop and turn AirPlay off.
The main advantage to AirPlay is that it’s completely wireless (no cables required), allowing you to mirror your Mac, iPhone, or iPad to your TV without the hustle of buying an additional adapter or cable.
Also read: How to AirPlay from Mac to Smart TV
How to Connect a MacBook Air to a TV using Chromecast
You can use the Chromecast TV dongle to transmit your Mac’s content to the TV wirelessly. However, audio sharing is not supported when using Chromecast to mirror your Mac to your TV. Here are the steps.
Step 1: Make sure your TV is set to display your Chromecast and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromecast.
Step 2: Open Chrome on your Mac, select the Chromecast icon on the top right corner and select the Cast tab.
Step 3: Select the TV you want to cast to, and you should see a blue circle icon.
If you want to mirror the entire screen to your TV, select Cast Desktop from the Sources tab and select your TV. Select Share from the popup menu to confirm.
How To Transmit a File From a MacBook Air to a TV
If you do not want to share your screen, you can send a specific file from your Mac to the TV. Here are the steps.
Step 1: Open Chrome on your MacBook Air and then select the Chromecast icon
Step 2: From the Sources tab at the bottom, click on it and select Cast File.
Step 3: Select the TV you want to cast to and choose a file you want to send from the file-picker menu.
