How to Use HDMI on a Windows 11 Laptop

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To use HDMI on a Windows 11 laptop, connect an HDMI cable from the laptop to the TV or monitor, set the TV or monitor to that HDMI input, and press Windows key + P to choose how the screen appears. Pick Duplicate to show the same thing on both screens, or Extend to use the second screen as extra space.

This guide covers Windows 11 laptops connected by cable to a TV, monitor or projector. It follows Microsoft’s instructions for using multiple monitors in Windows. The same shortcut also works in Windows 10, although the Settings pages look a little different there.

What You Need

• A video output on the laptop. Look along the sides and back for a port labeled HDMI. Some smaller laptops use a mini or micro HDMI port, which needs a cable or adapter with the matching plug.
• An HDMI input on the TV, monitor or projector. These are usually numbered, such as HDMI 1 and HDMI 2. Note which one you use.
• A cable long enough to reach. An HDMI cable with a full-size plug on both ends fits most laptops and TVs.
• An adapter, if the laptop has no HDMI port. If your laptop only has USB-C ports, add a USB-C to HDMI adapter. Microsoft says that with a USB-C port you may be able to use an adapter for video output, so it is not guaranteed. Check the laptop maker’s specifications to confirm that the USB-C port supports a display before you buy one.

Connect and Switch to HDMI

1. Plug one end of the HDMI cable into the laptop and the other end into the TV or monitor. Push both ends in firmly.
2. Turn on the TV or monitor. Use its remote or buttons to open the input or source menu, then select the input that matches the port you used, such as HDMI 1.
3. Look at the second screen. Windows often shows the desktop on it within a few seconds without any further steps.
4. On the laptop, press Windows key + P. A short menu of display options opens.
5. Choose Duplicate, Extend, or Second screen only. The screens may go black for a moment while Windows switches.

Which Display Mode to Pick

The Windows key + P menu has four choices. Microsoft describes them this way:

Option	What you see	Good for
PC screen only	Things appear on one display only, the laptop screen.	Stopping the HDMI picture without unplugging the cable.
Duplicate	The same thing on all your displays.	Presentations and showing someone what is on your laptop.
Extend	Your desktop across both screens. You can move items between them.	Working with one app on each screen.
Second screen only	Everything on the second display only.	Watching a movie on the TV with the laptop screen dark.

If you pick Extend, the two screens act as one wide desktop, and you drag a window off the edge of one screen to move it to the other. For the layout options, see how to extend your display on Windows 11. To choose which screen holds the taskbar and opens apps first, see how to change the main display in Windows 11.

Confirm It Worked, or Go Back

To confirm that Windows sees the HDMI screen, open Settings > System > Display. You should see two numbered boxes at the top, one for each screen. Select Identify and a number appears on each screen so you can tell which is which.

To undo the change, press Windows key + P again and choose PC screen only, or simply unplug the HDMI cable. Nothing about this is permanent. When you plug the same screen in again, Windows can put your windows back where you had them. That behavior is controlled by Remember window locations based on monitor connection under Settings > System > Display > Multiple displays.

If Nothing Shows on the Screen

Work through these in order. The first few take seconds and fix most blank screens. They come from Microsoft’s guide to troubleshooting external monitor connections.

1. Check that the TV or monitor is on the correct HDMI input. A TV set to HDMI 2 shows nothing from a cable in HDMI 1.
2. Press Windows key + P and make sure PC screen only is not selected. Choose Extend or Duplicate.
3. Make sure the cable is secure at both ends, then try a different cable. If the new one works, the old cable was faulty.
4. Unplug any docks, dongles or adapters you don’t need. Microsoft notes that connected accessories can cause conflicts.
5. Open Settings > System > Display, expand Multiple displays, and select Detect.
6. If the laptop has more than one video output port, try a different one. Also try a different HDMI port on the TV and switch the TV to that input.
7. Press Windows key + Ctrl + Shift + B to reset the graphics driver. If that does not help, restart the laptop.
8. Install updates through Settings > Windows Update > Check for updates. Graphics driver updates can arrive this way, and the laptop maker’s website may have newer ones.
9. Connect the TV or monitor to a different computer or device. This tells you whether the problem is the screen or the laptop.

If the HDMI screen worked before and stopped after an update, Microsoft’s guide linked above also explains how to roll back or reinstall the display driver in Device Manager. Those steps change system software, so read them through before you start.

Play Sound Through the TV

HDMI can carry sound as well as picture, but Windows may keep playing through the laptop speakers. To switch:

1. Select the Speakers icon on the taskbar.
2. Select the arrow to the right of the volume slider. Its tooltip reads Select a sound output.
3. Choose the TV or HDMI device from the list. Sound moves to it right away.

You can do the same thing in Settings > System > Sound. In the Output section, select the device you want. Microsoft notes that selecting a device there also makes it the default. To send sound back to the laptop, repeat the steps and choose the laptop speakers.

One thing to watch for: if you connect a monitor that has no built-in speakers and it becomes the output device, you will hear nothing at all. Switch the output back to the laptop speakers or headphones. For other causes, see how to fix no sound on Windows 11.

Fix the Size or Resolution

Resolution is the number of pixels Windows sends to a screen. If the picture looks soft, stretched, or has black edges, the resolution probably does not match the screen.

1. Open Settings > System > Display.
2. Select the box for the HDMI screen at the top of the page. Changes below apply only to the selected screen.
3. In the Display resolution row, choose the option marked (Recommended).
4. If text and apps are too small or too large, select Scale in the Scale & layout section and choose a different percentage.

Microsoft explains these settings in Change your screen resolution and layout in Windows. If motion looks choppy, select Advanced display on the same page and check Choose a refresh rate. The rates listed depend on what the screen supports.

For more detail on sizing, see how to adjust screen size on a second monitor in Windows 11. If brightness looks off, see how to change brightness on a second monitor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I connect without a cable?

Yes, if the TV supports wireless display or has a wireless display adapter plugged into one of its HDMI ports. Press Windows key + K to open Cast and select the TV or adapter. See how to cast your laptop to a TV in Windows 11.

Can I use the laptop HDMI port as an input?

Usually not. The HDMI port on a typical laptop is a video output, so plugging a game console or another computer into it shows nothing on the laptop screen. A small number of laptops have a separate port labeled as an HDMI input; check your laptop maker’s specifications. Without one, showing another device on the laptop generally requires extra hardware, such as a USB video capture device, plus an app to view it.

Why is there no sound through HDMI?

Windows is probably still using the laptop speakers. Select the Speakers icon on the taskbar, select the arrow next to the volume slider, and choose the TV or HDMI device. Also check that the TV is not muted and its volume is turned up.

Can I use two HDMI screens with one HDMI port?

Not as two separate screens. Microsoft says a laptop with one video output port supports a single external monitor by default, and a display splitter only duplicates the same signal. For more than one external screen you need a docking station or, if you have a USB-C port, possibly a USB adapter. See how to set up multiple monitors in Windows 11.

Can I close the laptop lid and keep using the TV?

Yes, but by default closing the lid may put the laptop to sleep. Change the lid setting first, as shown in how to keep a Windows 11 laptop on with the lid closed.

Does Windows remember my HDMI display choice?

Windows has a setting named Remember window locations based on monitor connection in Settings > System > Display > Multiple displays, which restores your windows when you reconnect a screen. If the display mode is not what you want after reconnecting, press Windows key + P and choose again.

Next Step

Once the picture and sound are working, set the resolution to the recommended value and pick the display mode that suits what you are doing. Giving a presentation over HDMI? You can also hide the toolbar in PowerPoint’s full-screen slide show.