Connecting a TV to a Computer via Wi-Fi: 3 Working Methods Without Wires

Wirelessly connect your TV to your computer Wi-Fi It saves desk space, eliminates cable clutter, and allows for flexible control of PC content on a large screen. However, not everyone knows that this doesn't require purchasing special adapters or routers. MIMO - modern Smart TV (since 2018) and operating systems already support the necessary protocols. The key is to choose the right connection method depending on your needs: streaming movies, gaming, working with documents, or screen mirroring.

In this article we will analyze three main ways connections: via Miracast (for Windows and Android TV), AirPlay (for Apple devices) and DLNA (for streaming media files). We'll also tell you how to minimize signal delay up to 30–50 ms — a critical parameter for gaming and video editing — and what router settings affect it. If your TV is older than 2017 or does not support Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), at the end of the article there are alternative solutions using external adapters.

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1. Checking the compatibility of your TV and PC

Before setting up a connection, make sure your equipment supports the selected protocol. Most Smart TV on Android TV (For example, Sony Bravia, Xiaomi Mi TV, Philips with Android) And webOS (LG) work with Miracast And DLNA. Devices Apple TV and TVs with tvOS (For example, LG with AirPlay 2) support AirPlay.

For PC the requirements are as follows:

• 🖥️ Windows 10/11 - built-in Miracast support (checked via Win + P → "Connect to a wireless display").
• 🍎 MacOS — AirPlay (starting with Monterey 12.0).
• 📡 Wi-Fi adapter - must support Wi-Fi Direct (for Miracast) or 802.11n/ac (for stable video transmission).

You can check Miracast support on Windows using the command line:

netsh wlan show drivers | find "Miracast"

If the response contains a string Miracast support: Yes, your PC is ready for wireless connection. For Mac Just make sure that the "AirPlay Repeat" option is enabled in your screen settings.

⚠️ Attention: Televisions Samsung on Tizen (Pre-2020 models) often don't support Miracast due to proprietary limitations. Use the proprietary app instead. Smart View or DLNA.

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2. Connect via Miracast (for Windows and Android TV)

Miracast — the most universal protocol for mirroring your PC screen to a TV via Wi-Fi. It works without a router (via Wi-Fi Direct), but requires both devices to be on the same network if you use a router. The latency with this connection is 50–100 ms, which is suitable for movies and presentations, but not for dynamic games.

Instructions for Windows 10/11:

1. On your TV, turn on Miracast mode:
   • 📺 On Android TV: Settings → Devices → Wireless Display.
   • 📺 On LG webOS: Settings → Network → Miracast.

On PC, click Win + K (or Win + P → Connect to a wireless display).

Select your TV name from the list.

Confirm the connection on both devices.

If your TV does not appear in the list, check:

• 🔄 Restart your router - sometimes DHCP doesn't assign IP addresses for Wi-Fi Direct.
• 📶 Make sure your PC and TV are connected to the same network (if not using Wi-Fi Direct).
• 🔧 Update your Wi-Fi adapter drivers on your PC (especially important for laptops with Intel AX200/AX210).

Wi-Fi is enabled on the TV|Miracast mode is activated in the TV settings|PC and TV are on the same network (or Wi-Fi Direct)|Wi-Fi adapter drivers are updated-->

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3. Connect via AirPlay (for Apple TV and compatible TVs)

AirPlay — a proprietary protocol from Apple that provides minimal latency (20–40 ms) and support 4K HDRIt only works with devices Apple (Mac, iPhone, iPad) and TVs with support AirPlay 2 (For example, LG OLED C1/C2, Sony X90J, Samsung QLED 2021+).

How to connect:

1. Make sure your Mac and TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network (preferably on the same frequency) 5 GHz).
2. Enable AirPlay on your TV:
   • 📺 On LG webOS: Settings → General → Apple AirPlay.
   • 📺 On Samsung Tizen: Settings → General → External Devices → AirPlay Settings.

On Mac, open System Preferences → Monitors and select your TV under "AirPlay Mirroring".

If required, enter the confirmation code that appears on the TV screen.

To reduce latency:

• 📶 Use a router with support Wi-Fi 6 (AX3000+) or connect the TV via Ethernet cable.
• 🎮 In AirPlay preferences on your Mac, select "Mirroring optimized for video" (reduces latency to 30 ms).

⚠️ Attention: When connecting via AirPlay, audio may be delayed. To synchronize audio and video, select the TV as the output device in your Mac's Sound preferences.

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4. Connect via DLNA (for media streaming)

DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) is a protocol for streaming media files (video, music, photos) from a PC to a TV. Unlike Miracast and AirPlay, it doesn't mirror the screen but streams specific files. It's suitable for watching movies, but not for gaming or using apps.

How to set up:

1. On your PC, enable media folder sharing:
   • 🖥️ Windows: Control Panel → Network and Internet → HomeGroup (or Settings → Network → Sharing options).
   • 🍎 Mac: System Preferences → Sharing → File Sharing.

Install a DLNA server (if there is no built-in one):

• 📁 For Windows: Plex Media Server, Kodi.
• 📁 For Mac: Roku Media Player.
• On your TV, open the DLNA app (e.g. Media Player on Samsung or Photos & Videos on LG) and select your PC from the list of devices.

Advantages of DLNA:

• 🎬 Format support MKV, MP4, FLAC without conversion.
• 📶 Works even on old TVs (2012–2016).
• 🔄 You can stream to multiple devices simultaneously.

Protocol	Delay	4K support	A router is required	Suitable for
Miracast	50–100 ms	Yes (up to 4K@30Hz)	No (Wi-Fi Direct)	Screen mirroring, presentations
AirPlay	20–40 ms	Yes (4K@60Hz)	Yes	Games, videos, music
DLNA	100–200 ms	Yes (depending on TV)	Yes	Movies, photos, music

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📊 What brand is your TV?

Samsung

LG

Sony

Xiaomi

Philips

Another

5. Optimizing your router for a stable connection

Wireless streaming quality depends not only on the protocol but also on your router settings. If the image is lagging or choppy, check the following settings:

1. Wi-Fi frequency:

• 📶 5 GHz - less interference, higher speed (up to 1 Gbps), but shorter range.
• 📶 2.4 GHz — passes through walls better, but is susceptible to interference (microwaves, neighboring networks).

For Miracast/AirPlay recommended 5 GHz with channel width 80 MHz.

2. Router operating mode:

• 🔄 Turn on WMM (Wi-Fi Multimedia) in QoS settings - this prioritizes traffic for video.
• 🔄 Turn it off 802.11b in the wireless network settings (outdated standard, slows down the network).

3. Wi-Fi channel:

Use apps like Wi-Fi Analyzer (Android) or NetSpot (Mac/Windows) to find the least crowded channel. Manually set it in the router settings (for example, channel 36 or 149 For 5 GHz).

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6. Troubleshooting connection issues

If your TV isn't visible in the list of devices or the streaming is interrupted, use these instructions:

Problem 1: TV does not appear in the Miracast/AirPlay list

• 🔄 Restart both devices and the router.
• 📋 Check if your Wi-Fi adapter supports Wi-Fi Direct (through Device Manager → Network Adapters).
• 🔧 Update your TV's firmware (on LG: Settings → General → Software Update).

Problem 2: Video or audio lag

• 🎮 For gaming, reduce the broadcast resolution to 1080p in the Miracast settings.
• 🔊 If the sound lags, select "Stereo" instead of "5.1" in Windows sound settings.
• 📡 Connect your TV to your router using an Ethernet cable (if supported).

Problem 3: Poor image quality

• 🖼️ In the Miracast settings on your PC, select "Best Quality" (may increase latency).
• 📶 Switch to frequency 5 GHz and a channel with a width 80 MHz.

What should I do if my TV doesn't support Miracast?

If your TV does not support Miracast (for example, older Samsung or Philips models), use an external adapter such as Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter or ScreenBeam Mini2>. Connect it to your TV's HDMI port and set it up as a wireless display via Win + K on PC.

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7. Alternative connection methods (if Wi-Fi doesn't work)

If wireless connection is not possible due to an old TV or network issues, consider these options:

1. Wi-Fi adapters → HDMI

• 📦 Google Chromecast - broadcasts the screen through Google Cast (delay ~100 ms).
• 📦 Amazon Fire TV Stick — supports Miracast and DLNA.

2. Software solutions

• 💻 Steam Link — Streams games from your PC to your TV over the network (optimized for gameplay).
• 💻 Parsec - cloud streaming with up to 100% latency 10 ms (requires a powerful PC).

3. Wired alternatives

• 🔌 HDMI cable - zero delay, maximum quality (4K@120Hz).
• 🔌 USB-C to HDMI adapter — for laptops without HDMI port.

⚠️ Attention: Cheap Wi-Fi → HDMI adapters (e.g. on-chip) Realtek RTL8192) often have a delay of more than 200 ms and do not support 4KBefore purchasing, check reviews for a specific model.

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FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to connect a TV to a PC via Wi-Fi without a router?

Yes, if both devices support Wi-Fi Direct (part of the Miracast standard). On your PC, select "Connect to a wireless display" (Win + K), and enable Miracast mode on your TV. Please note that in this case, the internet on your PC will not work.

Why is there no sound when connected via AirPlay?

Check your sound settings on your Mac: Go to System Preferences → Sound → Output and select the TV as the output device. If there's still no sound, reboot both devices or update the TV's firmware.

How to reduce latency when streaming games?

For gaming it is optimal to use AirPlay (~30ms latency) or a wired HDMI connection. If you're playing via Miracast:

• Reduce the resolution to 1080p.
• Connect your TV to your router using an Ethernet cable.
• In the game's graphics settings, select "Window" mode instead of "Fullscreen".

My TV doesn't support Miracast. What should I do?

Use external adapters:

• Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter (supports 1080p@60Hz).
• Google Chromecast (broadcast via Google Cast).
• Roku Streaming Stick (DLNA and Miracast).

Also check if your TV supports it. DLNA - This protocol works even on older models.

Is it possible to broadcast a PC screen to a TV via the Internet (not a local network)?

Yes, but with restrictions:

• 🌍 Parsec or Moonlight - Streaming games over the Internet (requires a powerful PC and speed from 50 Mbps).
• 🌍 TeamViewer — remote access to the screen (latency ~200 ms).

To watch movies, it is better to use cloud services (for example, download the file to Google Drive and open it on your TV via a browser).