How to play PS4 on laptop with HDMI without capture card

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Playing games on your PS4 is an unbeatable experience. However, sometimes you may not have access to a TV or an external screen but you have your laptop with you.

So how to play PS4 on a laptop exactly? In this comprehensive guide, we will show you how to do it with and without using an HDMI cable.

And for the best part, at the end of this guide, we also have a bonus tip for you that you probably didnt know about.

So, lets dive right in.

How Can You Use Your Laptop as a Monitor for Your PS4?

This will be a good news, bad news situation.

First, the bad news, if you want to hook up your laptop with an HDMI cable. Your laptop and your PS4 both have an HDMI out. To play PS4 on a laptop screen, the laptop must have an HDMI input. Very few laptops in the market have HDMI input.

Were not ruling out the possibility of still being able to connect your PS4 console to your laptop screen. If you have the technical know-how, you can try an alternative method by making minor changes to your laptops pre-set hardware. [its possible but we DO NOT recommend this]

You will have to remove your laptops back panel and find the ribbon plug converter for the HDMI port. You can use this ribbon plug as your display input, but considering the risk involved, we suggest you stay clear of this path.

Ok, the good news. There are many other ways to play PS4 on your laptop without an HDMI input or making any technical or hardware changes. You can do this by using:

Lets have a deeper look into how these methods can help you to connect your PS4 to your laptop screen.

Sony Remote Play

Sony introduced the Remote Play feature for its users when their developers realized they needed something more than the traditional TV plugin play.

You dont need any additional hardware. All you need is a high-speed internet connection and functional console controllers.

Step 1: Download Sony Remote Play App

Download the compatible version of the Remote Play app from Sonys website to your laptop. If you already have the app installed, make sure you update it to the latest version.

The next thing you need to do is, open the Settings menu on your PS4. Click on PlayStation Network and choose Account Management. Under Account Management, enable the Active as Primary PS4 option.

Make sure you have the latest version of the software for your PS4. If not, then update it using the System Software Update.

Step 3: Enable Remote Play Option

Navigate and Enable the Remote Play Connection Settings under Settings on your PS4 console. You will need to put your PS4 in rest mode instead of ON to use Remote Play on your PC.

Step 4: Connect the DualShock 4 Controller

Use the DualShock 4 wireless USB adapter for connecting your laptop and console connector. This can be done when you Hold the Share and Circular buttons together on your PS controller till a light bar flashes.

Step 5: Search for PS4 Network

  • Select the start option on the Remote Play App installed on your laptop.
  • Log in to your PlayStation Network account.
  • The app will search for a PS4 on the network. After a successful scan, the app will display the PS home screen on your laptop screen.

Now youre all set to use your laptop as a monitor to enjoy the best PS4 games.

Here is a good video walking you through the steps:

//youtu.be/8Nnx-lj1ZyE?t=42

Built-in Recording Function

PS4 has a built-in recording function that lets you record your gameplay along with your voice narration and store it on your PC.

And you can use this feature to directly broadcast your PS4 to your laptops screen in real-time.

Its very easy to set this up. Here are the exact steps you need to follow:

  1. Make sure your PS4 and laptop are connected to the same network.
  2. Open the game you want to play or record.
  3. Press the share button on your controller. It will open a menu that will have various sharing sub-options.
  4. There, click on advance settings to make your way to the broadcasting settings sub-menu.
  5. Choose your laptop from this window, and you should start streaming.

Why is this method so popular? Well, its simply because it does not require any video capture card. In addition, you can add your voiceover while screen-recording your gameplay and share it with your friends or even post it on YouTube for walkthroughs.

Now you must be thinking Why did you not tell me about this before? Well, thats because there is a slight delay in the stream. It might not be more than a second, but thats enough for an enemy to kill you.

OBS Recording Software

OBS is a third-party screen recording software that will allow you to use your laptop as a monitor with your PS4. One of the amazing perks that this gets you is that you dont need to have a video capture card to play PS4 on a laptop.

Some of the benefits youll be getting by choosing this option are:

  • Free, open source software
  • High-performance real-time AV capturing
  • Audio mixing, noise suppression, and gain
  • Streamlined settings
  • With studio mode, you can review your PS4 screen recordings and delete unnecessary parts.

The software works smoothly with Windows, macOS, and Linux devices. Heres what exactly you need to do to set things up for using OBS software:

  1. Download and install the OBS recorder from their official website.
  2. Open OBS and choose the window capture option.
  3. You can customize your recordings as per the available settings.
  4. Navigate to your PS4s screen and select OK.

Open Broadcaster Software or OBS is cheaper and more convenient to use when compared to video capture cards and other complicated software out in the market. The delay in video streaming is also minimal.

Use a Video Capture Card

If you want to play PS4 on a laptop without Remote Play, you can use a video capture card.

This way you can connect your PS4 to a laptop using an HDMI cable by simply routing the connection through a video capture card.

If you dont have one, this is the card we recommend:AVerMedia Live Portable 2. This is a great, low-latency game capture card. There are cheaper options as well, but there isnt really one we would recommend.

Heres how to do it.

Step 1: Check Connections

For enabling file sharing, go to settings in the PS4 menu and go to the network settings. Open your Internet Connection settings and find your network connection to make sure that the device is connected to the internet.

If you dont have a wireless connection, you would have to configure the PS4 and the laptop to the same router with the help of Ethernet cables.

Step 2: Software Installation

To get the video cards driver and software suite installed properly, firstly, you should connect the video capture card to your laptop. After this, install the drivers loaded for the card. This is a very crucial step for using a laptop as a monitor for PSps4.

Step 3: Connect the Video Capture Card

After you have all the drivers and supporting software installed, connecting your PS4 console to the video capture card will be the next action.

You will need an HDMI cable to connect the video card to your PS4. Connect the PS4 with the capture card with an HDMI cable: HDMI-OUT port of the PS4 to the HDMI-IN of the capture card. Then connect the capture card to your laptop.

Step 4: Run the Software

The final step is to run the software on your laptop. The software will search for the PS4 connection, and after successful configuration, it will display PS4 on your laptop screen.

Bonus Method to Play PS4 on a Laptop: PS Now

Heres a bonus trick!

What if you could just connect your PS4 to the internet at all times, and then just log on to the internet and start playing games on your PS4 through a laptop from anywhere in the world?

Well, Sony PlayStation Now makes it possible. The funny part is that you dont even need to have a PS4 to do that!

Sony PS Now is a cloud gaming solution that lets you play your favorite PS4 games from a laptop or PC just by using your internet.

Sony has a giant network of PS4s lined up in their facility, and you can rent them whenever you need them. Its basically like a virtual machine for gaming.

To get this going, you will require a high-speed and reliable internet connection. This is a good option if you do not have a gaming laptop or pc because all the graphic rendering and processing is handled on the servers end, and you only get the media and the controls.

The download and installation process are quick and straightforward:

  • Download PS Now for the appropriate OS from Sonys official website.
  • After downloading, open the setup wizard and follow the necessary steps.
  • Launch upon installation, set up your account, and select a subscription plan.
  • Once done, start playing your favorite games.

However, there is a significant delay in the video stream, which can ruin your entire gaming experience.

FAQs Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions about using a laptop as a monitor for PS4.

How to Use a Laptop as a Monitor for PS4 Without Remote Play?

You will either need to use a video capture card or a third-party software, such as OBS software.

How to Use a Laptop as a Monitor for PS4 Without a Capture Card?

If you dont want to use a video capture card to connect your PS4 to your laptops monitor, then you can run software like OBS and Remote play on your laptop to broadcast your PS4s screen. All you need for this is a high-speed connection and your controller, and you can easily use your laptop as the display without using a video capture card.

How to connect my PS4 to a laptop without a TV?

Having a TV at your PS4s disposal at all times might not always be possible. This is where PlayStation Now comes in. With a PS Now subscription, you dont have to worry about having a console. Just pay for the subscription on Sonys official website, and youll have the perfect alternatives to streaming PS games to a TV.

Conclusion

So, if we were to rank the best ways to use your laptop as a monitor for PS4, it would be in the following order.

  • Through remote play
  • Capture PS4 gameplay using the built-in recording function
  • OBS Recording Software
  • Through a video capture card
  • PS Now

By following any of these methods, you should be able to hook up a PS4 to a laptop. You can also buy a portable monitor for your PS4.

So out of all these tricks, which one did you go with? Or do you still have issues? Let us know in the comments below and well respond!

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