I want to use my Windows laptop in one room and show whatever is on it on my TV in another room. I mostly want this for playing Steam games with a controller. The problem is my cats—they’re obsessed with my laptop, so I can’t leave it in the living room, and there’s no safe spot for it there.
The issue is my Samsung TV doesn’t have Bluetooth. I was thinking about getting a Bluetooth adapter but wasn’t sure if that’s all I need. Are there any other solutions I should look into?
Bluetooth and casting video are two different things. Bluetooth doesn’t work for video. Your laptop might be able to cast wirelessly, but your TV needs to support something like Miracast. If it doesn’t, you could get a dongle or a Roku to enable it. Keep in mind there might be some lag.
Bluetooth has a short range, around 10 meters.
Does your TV have Wi-Fi?
Nico said:
Bluetooth has a short range, around 10 meters.
Does your TV have Wi-Fi?
No, it doesn’t. I didn’t think about that. I was really hoping to avoid replacing the TV to make this work.
@Vale
Maybe you can look into getting a Wi-Fi adapter for it? Could be worth checking out.
Nico said:
Bluetooth has a short range, around 10 meters.
Does your TV have Wi-Fi?
Bluetooth isn’t designed for video—it doesn’t have enough speed. You’ll need Wi-Fi or a cable to mirror your laptop.
If your TV doesn’t have Wi-Fi, it’s tricky. Even if it does, it needs a casting option in the settings. If your TV is older but has an HDMI port, you could get a Chromecast or something similar. I’ve used both Chromecast and Roku for this, and they work well.
Are your cats just laying on your laptop? If so, you could change your laptop’s settings so it doesn’t shut down when you close the lid. Then, find a spot near the TV to stash it. You could even stand it vertically behind the TV. Wireless display options tend to add lag, which is bad for gaming. HDMI is simpler, less laggy, and more reliable. You might save money by getting a vertical dock or shelf instead of a wireless setup.
@Andi
Wait, you can stop a laptop from shutting down when you close the lid? That would solve everything for me! Do you know how to do this?
Vale said:
@Andi
Wait, you can stop a laptop from shutting down when you close the lid? That would solve everything for me! Do you know how to do this?
If you’re using Windows, it’s in the power settings. I’m not sure of the exact steps, but I’m 100% sure it’s there.
@Andi
I’ll check this out later. Thanks a ton for the tip!
Does your TV have an Ethernet port?