How to Connect an LG Smart TV to a Computer via Wi-Fi: 5 Proven Methods

Wireless TV connection LG Smart TV Connecting a computer to a PC opens up a wealth of possibilities, from watching movies in high definition to using a TV as a second monitor. However, many users encounter difficulties setting up this connection—the router may not detect the device, there may be syncing issues, or the picture may be slow. This article will help you understand all the nuances and choose the best connection method based on your needs.

We will consider five current connection methods: from standard Miracast And DLNA to specialized programs like LG TV PlusWe'll pay special attention to router settings, which often cause problems—an incorrectly selected Wi-Fi channel or IP address conflict can ruin all your efforts. You'll also learn how to minimize latency when streaming video and why audio sometimes transmits but not video.

Important: If your TV was released before 2018, some features (e.g. AirPlay) may be missing. In this case, consider universal solutions like Steam Link or Plex, which work even on older models.

1. Preparing the equipment: what to check before connecting

Before you begin setup, make sure your equipment meets the minimum requirements. For a stable Wi-Fi connection, you must:

• 📺 TV LG Smart TV with support Wi-Fi Direct or Miracast (2016 models and newer). Older devices may require an external adapter.
• 💻 A computer running Windows 10/11 or macOS (Monterey or later). Linux requires additional drivers.
• 📶 Dual-band router (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz). A 5 GHz connection is recommended for 4K video streaming.
• 🔌 Stable power supply for both devices. If the Wi-Fi signal is weak or the network is overloaded, the picture will slow down.

Pay special attention to your TV's firmware version. Outdated software often causes connection errors. To check if it's up-to-date:

1. On the remote control LG click Settings (⚙) → All settings → Support → Software update.
2. If a new version is available, install it. The process will take 10–15 minutes.

⚠️ Note: If your TV is connected to the internet via cable and your computer via Wi-Fi, you may have trouble detecting the devices. In this case, temporarily connect both devices to the same wireless network.

2. Method 1: Screen mirroring via Miracast (Windows)

Miracast — is a wireless image transfer standard built into Windows 10/11. It allows you to fully mirror your PC screen to your TV without any additional software. Its main advantage is minimal latency (up to 50 ms), which is critical for gaming or presentations.

To activate Miracast on LG Smart TV:

1. Press on the remote control Home → Screen Share (or Settings → Network → Screen Share on older models).
2. Select Miracast and activate the option.
3. On your computer, click Win + K (or Settings → System → Display → Connect to a wireless display).
4. Select your TV from the list of available devices. LG.

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

• 🔄 Restart both devices.
• 📡 Make sure your router is in wireless mode 802.11ac (5 GHz).
• 🔒 Disable Windows Firewall or add an exception for Wireless Display.

⚠️ Note: On some models LG (for example, series UK6200Miracast only works when the VPN is disabled on your computer. This is due to security protocol limitations.

Disable VPN on PC

Switch your router to a 5 GHz channel (36–48)

Update video card drivers (NVIDIA/AMD/Intel)

Make sure your TV and PC are on the same network-->

3. Method 2: Streaming via DLNA

DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) is a protocol for exchanging multimedia between devices on a local network. Unlike Miracast, it doesn't mirror the screen, but streams individual files (video, music, photos). This is convenient for watching movies or listening to music without connecting a flash drive.

To set up DLNA:

1. On TV LG go to Settings → Network → DLNA and turn on the function.
2. On the computer:
• For Windows: turn on Streaming media V Settings → Network & Internet → Sharing options.
• For macOS: use the program Plex Media Server or Kodi.

If the files are not displayed, check:

• 📁 The folder on the PC must be shared for All (or for the user GUEST).
• 🔧 There may be a format limitation in the DLNA settings on your TV. For example, LG does not support .mkv with codec HEVC on models up to 2020.
• 🌐 If you are using IPv6, try disabling it in your router settings.

4. Method 3: LG TV Plus app for advanced features

Official app LG TV Plus (available for Windows and macOS) allows you to not only duplicate your screen, but also use your TV as a second monitor with an extended desktop. This is convenient for office work or multitasking.

Setup instructions:

1. Download LG TV Plus With official LG website (select the version for your OS).
2. Install and launch the program. It will automatically find your TV on the network.
3. On your TV, confirm the connection (a permission request will appear).
4. In the application settings, select the mode:
   • Duplicate — a copy of the PC screen.
   • Expand — TV as a second monitor.

Advantages LG TV Plus:

• 🎮 Gamepad support (you can play with a remote control) LG).
• 📝 Possibility of transferring files directly to TV.
• 🔊 Setting up audio delay (relevant for home theaters).

⚠️ Note: When using the "Expand" mode, the resolution on your TV may automatically decrease to 1366×768, even if the TV supports 4K. To fix this, manually set the desired resolution in Windows display settings.

5. Method 4: Steam Link for gamers

If you want to play on the big screen without buying a console, Steam Link — the perfect solution. The app streams games from your PC to your TV over a local network with minimal latency (up to 30 ms when configured correctly).

How to set up:

1. Install Steam Link to TV via LG Content Store.
2. Run on PC Steam and turn it on Settings → Connection Setup → Steam Link.
3. Connect the gamepad to your TV (via Bluetooth or USB).
4. In the appendix Steam Link On TV, select your PC and start broadcasting.

For optimal performance:

• 🎮 Use a wired connection from your PC to the router (even if your TV is connected via Wi-Fi).
• 🖥️ In the settings Steam install Traffic priority on High.
• 📡 Turn on the router QoS (Quality of Service) and assign the highest priority to the device with Steam.

6. Method 5: Alternative solutions (AirPlay, Plex, SMB)

If standard methods are not suitable, consider alternative options:

• 🍎 AirPlay (for macOS/iOS): works on models LG 2021 and newer. Included in Settings → General → AirPlay.
• 📺 Plex Media ServerCreates a personalized Netflix from your movie collection. Supports on-the-fly transcoding.
• 📂 SMB (network folder): Allows you to mount PC folders as a local drive on the TV. Configurable via Settings → Network → Network Storage.
• 🔗 Google Cast: if installed on PC Chrome, you can broadcast browser tabs via Broadcast → Source Settings.

To connect via SMB:

1. On your PC, enable folder sharing (as with the DLNA method).
2. On your TV, go to Settings → Network → Network Storage → Add Network Folder.
3. Enter the PC's IP address, username, and password (if required).
4. The folder will appear in the section Media on the main screen.

⚠️ Attention: When connecting via SMB on TVs LG Until 2019, Cyrillic characters may not be displayed in file names. The solution is to rename the files to Latin characters or update the firmware.

7. Optimize Wi-Fi for stable streaming

The quality of your wireless connection directly impacts the smoothness of your stream. If the image is choppy or choppy, check the following router settings:

• 📶 Channel and frequency:
  • For 2.4 GHz, select channel 1, 6 or 11 (least interference).
  • For 5 GHz, use channels 36-48 (less crowded).
• 🔄 Channel width:
  • 20 MHz is the maximum stability (for 2.4 GHz).
  • 40 MHz – balance of speed and reliability (for 5 GHz).
  • 80 MHz is the maximum speed, but is susceptible to interference.
• 🔒 Type of protection: use WPA3 (or WPA2-AES for older devices). WPA-TKIP reduces speed by 30–40%.
• 📡 Transmission power: set to 100% (in router settings).

On LG OLED TVs (eg. C1, G2When connected via 5 GHz Wi-Fi, you may experience some image stuttering (1–2 frames per second). This is due to the Wi-Fi chipset's power-saving features. Solution: Disable "Eco" mode in the TV's network settings or use a wired connection.

If your router does not support modern standards (for example, you have 802.11n instead of 802.11ac), consider purchasing a Wi-Fi extender that supports MU-MIMOThis will significantly improve stability when running multiple devices simultaneously.

8. Troubleshooting: What to do if nothing works

If your TV doesn't see your computer or the connection keeps dropping, use these instructions:

1. Problem: TV does not appear in the list of devices.
   • Make sure your TV is turned on. Screen Share or Miracast.
   • Reboot your router (unplug the power for 30 seconds).
   • On your PC, run the command in CMD:

     netsh winsock reset

2. Problem: Video lags even though Wi-Fi speed is high.
   • Disable background downloads on your PC (torrents, updates).
   • Enable it in your router settings. IGMP Snooping (reduces broadcast traffic).
   • Try reducing the broadcast resolution to 1280×720.

ping [TV IP] -n 50