# Getting video & audio from laptop to TV. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 18, 2017, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-video-audio-from-laptop-to-tv/782476 "2017-03-18T13:44:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-video-audio-from-laptop-to-tv/782476/1 "2017-03-18T13:44:29Z")
I’m trying to watch Hulu and Netflix on my non-smart bigscreen TV. I got the right cable which goes from video output on the laptop to HDMI3 input on the TV. The video is fine and plays on the TV but the audio plays only on the laptop. I need help getting the audio to play on the TV. The laptop is HP Probook 6550b. The TV is Insignia NS-55E480A13A. Thanks in advance… ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-video-audio-from-laptop-to-tv/782476/2 "2017-03-18T14:05:52Z")
Is it video output only? I’m not familiar with that particular laptop, but [this document](http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01409647) might help. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-video-audio-from-laptop-to-tv/782476/3 "2017-03-18T14:07:08Z")
That’s odd. HDMI is usually pretty foolproof. Are you sure the laptop is switched to full output on the port, and not just passively mirroring the video? (Usually a function key setting?) Is, um, the TV volume turned up… maybe for that input? ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-video-audio-from-laptop-to-tv/782476/4 "2017-03-18T14:21:52Z")
Windows does allow you to select the audio playback device, if it doesn’t default to the desired one. On Windows-10, right-click on the speaker icon on the task bar, select “Playback Devices” and see if the TV (or HDMI output port) is available as a choice. On Windows-7 I think it’s in the Control Panel under Sound. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-video-audio-from-laptop-to-tv/782476/5 "2017-03-18T15:25:42Z")
Some laptops do not include audio in the HDMI-out (presuming that’s what you’re using). You may need a double-ended stereo audio cable to plug into laptop speaker jack and TV audio in. As SCR4 says, check the audio devices and see if the TV device is selected or selectable. On my Windows 10, the option is “Playback Devices” and I have my choice of Audio Jack (Speakers) or LG Display Device (my HDMI is connected to an 43" 4K LG Smart TV - best monitor ever!) Oddly enough though, same as you, I get no audio through the HDMI connection. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-video-audio-from-laptop-to-tv/782476/6 "2017-03-18T15:27:59Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > Some laptops do not include audio in the HDMI-out… What a ridiculous corner cut. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![SuperAbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@SuperAbe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuperAbe)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-video-audio-from-laptop-to-tv/782476/7 "2017-03-18T17:20:28Z")
> [@Mr.Duality](#): > > I’m trying to watch Hulu and Netflix on my non-smart bigscreen TV. I got the right cable which goes from video output on the laptop to HDMI3 input on the TV. The video is fine and plays on the TV but the audio plays only on the laptop. I need help getting the audio to play on the TV. > > The laptop is HP Probook 6550b. The TV is Insignia NS-55E480A13A. > > Thanks in advance… Hang on - does this laptop actually have an HDMI port or are you using a Displayport-to-HDMI adapter? (There are some incarnations of DP that support inline audio - DP++, I think - but it’s not part of the standard base DP spec). ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-video-audio-from-laptop-to-tv/782476/8 "2017-03-18T18:04:17Z")
> [@SuperAbe](#): > > Hang on - does this laptop actually have an HDMI port or are you using a Displayport-to-HDMI adapter? (There are some incarnations of DP that support inline audio - DP++, I think - but it’s not part of the standard base DP spec). Specs say DisplayPort and VGA. Good catch. ---
**Author:** ![dstarfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dstarfire/32/5762_2.png) [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2017, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-video-audio-from-laptop-to-tv/782476/9 "2017-03-18T19:06:44Z")
All audio goes to the default audio device unless an application directs it elsewhere. This is most likely going to be your laptops speakers since that’s where you want sound to go most of the time. I think most web browsers do NOT have a setting to redirect audio, so you’ll need to temporarily change the default audio device. Google can tell you how to change it. The audio device you want to change it to will have HDMI somewhere in the name (probably). ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-video-audio-from-laptop-to-tv/782476/10 "2017-03-19T02:50:27Z")
> [@SuperAbe](#): > > Hang on - does this laptop actually have an HDMI port or are you using a Displayport-to-HDMI adapter? (There are some incarnations of DP that support inline audio - DP++, I think - but it’s not part of the standard base DP spec). Using a displayport-to HDMI cable. So if my DP doesn’t support audio, I’m out of luck? Using Windows 7. Went to control panel & found where the TV is a recognized device, but still no audio via the TV. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-video-audio-from-laptop-to-tv/782476/11 "2017-03-19T03:22:49Z")
Chromecast is $30 or Ultra 4K version $69. They’re pretty bulletproof. ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-video-audio-from-laptop-to-tv/782476/12 "2017-03-19T03:43:20Z")
Display Port doesn’t support audio if it is encapsulating DVI. (To a good first approximation HDMI is DVI with audio and anti-copy added. In reality it is much more messy.) DVI has no audio. You may find that buying an HDMI audio inserter is a good solution. Note that you will almost certainly need one that takes analog inputs - there are quite a few that only have digital (Toslink. S/PDif) inputs. Unless your laptop supports S/PDif output. Some do many don’t. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-video-audio-from-laptop-to-tv/782476/13 "2017-03-19T04:18:50Z")
> [@Mr.Duality](#): > > Using a displayport-to HDMI cable. So if my DP doesn’t support audio, I’m out of luck? You need to get an audio cable + 3.5mm adapter, and connect the laptop’s headphone output to the TV’s audio input. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-video-audio-from-laptop-to-tv/782476/14 "2017-03-19T05:02:09Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > Chromecast is $30 or Ultra 4K version $69. They’re pretty bulletproof. I use this and the [Videostream for Google Chromecast](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/videostream-for-google-ch/cnciopoikihiagdjbjpnocolokfelagl?hl=en) app. Even the free version finds every new file I add ready to stream. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Duality](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.duality/32/4098_2.png) [@Mr.Duality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Duality)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-video-audio-from-laptop-to-tv/782476/15 "2017-03-19T14:09:28Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > You need to get an audio cable + 3.5mm adapter, and connect the laptop’s headphone output to the TV’s audio input. I believe this will be the solution. I hope I can get that locally so I don’t have to wait a week for an eBay order to arrive. Thank you one and all. I’ll research Chromecast and the rest of everything that was mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-video-audio-from-laptop-to-tv/782476/16 "2017-03-19T16:19:13Z")
Rather than a chain of six more useless adapters, I’d go with the Chromecast. Much more universal (and wireless!) ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-video-audio-from-laptop-to-tv/782476/17 "2017-03-19T17:18:11Z")
Wireless has pros and cons. A wired connection is not susceptible to dropouts in a noisy wifi environment. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2017, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-video-audio-from-laptop-to-tv/782476/18 "2017-03-19T17:57:10Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > Wireless has pros and cons. A wired connection is not susceptible to dropouts in a noisy wifi environment. I preach the wired gospel, myself. Especially for the audiences I’m talking to about streaming video entertainment. It’s one less layer to fup uck all the time. But for the OP, it might be the right choice over a kluge of adapter cables to come unplugged and drag all over the floor.