How do you connect a television to an Apple MacBook?

You can use a television as (extra) screen for your MacBook in various ways.

• Connect via AirPlay.
• Connect via HDMI cable.
• Connect via a media server.

With an Apple TV or smart TV with AirPlay support, you can stream your screen and videos to your TV directly. It's important that the devices are connected to the same network.

Videos via the Apple TV app.

• Open your video in the Apple TV app and click the AirPlay symbol in the bottom left. Select the screen where you want to play your video. Note: the Apple TV app only supports *.mp4, *.mov, *.m4v, and *.avi.

Videos via your desktop ('synchronized display' or 'extended screen').

• Click the Apple icon in the top left. Click System preferences. Select Displays in the window. Click Add a display and select your Apple TV or television. Note: to stream your desktop, Apple uses a different technique than for streaming via the Apple TV app. This other technique does cause the image to stutter.

If you don't have Apple TV or a smart TV with AirPlay support, you can use an HDMI cable. Not all MacBook models have an HDMI connector. In this case, you can use a cable converter.

• With MacBook models of 2008 to 2015, you can connect the HDMI cable to the mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt 2 connector. These look the same. Use a converter for this.
• With MacBook models of 2016 to 2020, you can connect the HDMI connector to the Thunderbolt 3 connector. This looks like a USB-C port. Also use a converter for this. The same applies to the 2021 model or newer. These have a Thunderbolt 4 connector.

Did you find the right converter?

• Connect the HDMI cable to your MacBook, if necessary with a cable converter.
• Connect your MacBook to the television via the HDMI cable.
• Press the source button on the remote of your television and choose the right HDMI connector.

There are also ways to use your MacBook as media server. There are special apps for this that you can install on your MacBook and your Apple TV or smart TV. Plex and Kodi are some examples. That's useful if you ripped your old DVDs or Blu-rays to a file type which the Apple TV app doesn't support. Simply put, you allow your television to access your MacBook. Make sure you have a stable wired network. You can find more information about the software and settings on the website of the software provider.