Connecting to the projector can be simple or a challenge, depending on the ports on our laptop. But how to connect the computer to the video projector?
What is a video projector?
A video projector is a device that receives a video signal and displays the corresponding image on the screen using a lens system. Video projectors use a very bright, high-efficiency lamp to provide the brightness needed to display the image. Manual adjustments allow most modern models to correct curves, blurring, and other inconsistencies.
Video projectors are used for many applications, such as presentations in conference rooms, classrooms, home theaters, cinemas, and concerts.
How to connect the video projector to the laptop
Connecting a video projector to a laptop is relatively easy. Most of the complexity of this work comes from the type of laptop port and video projector. By recognizing the port of both devices, you can easily connect the laptop to the video projector. Let’s first see if you need an adapter to connect your computer to the projector.
Do you need an adapter to connect the laptop to the projector?
Depending on the ports available on the laptop, you may or may not need an adapter to connect the computer to the projector. Most video projectors have an HDMI input port, so you won’t need an adapter if your computer has a full-size HDMI port. The same applies if your video projector and computer have a VGA port. In most other cases, you need an adapter.
Following are the types of ports that your laptop may have and an explanation of the adapter you need to get:
HDMI port: If your laptop has a full-size HDMI port and the projector has the same port, you won’t need an adapter. HDMI is the easiest way to connect a projector to a laptop.
Mini HDMI port: Also known as HDMI Type-C, it works the same as HDMI but is much smaller. You can use a cable with one end HDMI and another type-c or an adapter.
USB-C: If your laptop uses USB-C for video output, you’ll usually need to buy a dock with an HDMI port or a USB-C to HDMI adapter. Some projectors support USB-C video input so you can connect your laptop directly to the projector via a USB-C cable.
DisplayPort: You can use an HDMI-to-DisplayPort cable or an HDMI-to-DisplayPort adapter.
VGA: This is an older video interface limited to 640×480 resolution. If your laptop and projector have VGA ports, you can connect them with a VGA cable without an adapter. However, you’ll need another method to send audio from your laptop to the projector, as VGA doesn’t carry the audio signal like HDMI.
How to connect a laptop to a video projector
- Turn on the computer.
- Connect the HDMI cable, adapter, or VGA cable to the laptop. If you are using an adapter, connect the adapter to the computer, then click the HDMI cable to the adapter.
- Turn on the projector.
- Remove the projector cover and open the projector lens. Of course, your projector may not need this step. If the video projector immediately projects the image on the wall after turning it on, you can skip this step.
- Your projector is now ready to use, although it may require some configuration. If you have not adjusted the projector, the image may be blurry. Before proceeding, make sure the picture is clear.
Adjusting the projector with a laptop
If the image is not displayed correctly, you must adjust the projector screen with the laptop. To do this, follow the steps below:
- Press Windows critical + P to bring up the Windows display menu.
Choose the type of Display you prefer:
- PC screen only: Your projector will not work.
- Duplicate: The projector shows the same screen as the laptop.
- Extend: The projector acts as a second display. You may need to change your display settings if the image is stretched or collapsed.
- Second screen only: The laptop screen turns off, and the projector image acts as your main screen.
- If the displayed image is stretched or collapsed:
- Go to settings.
- Click on System.
- Click Display and then the screen that represents your projector.
- Adjust the scale so that the image looks right.
Now you can use your video projector as a secondary display or whatever you want.