Why is my laptop not projecting to TV with HDMI?

FIX: Windows 10/11 PC doesnt recognize the TV HDMI

Why is my laptop not projecting to TV with HDMI?
by Ivan Jenic
Troubleshooting Expert
Passionate about all elements related to Windows and combined with his innate curiosity, Ivan has delved deep into understanding this operating system, with a specialization in drivers and driver troubleshooting. When he's not tackling... Read more
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  • Many Windows 10 users encountered that their PCs won't recognize the TV HDMI.
  • It's possible that the problem is with the HDMI cable itself; make sure it's not damaged.
  • In order to quickly solve this annoying problem, you need to make sure that it's not a hardware issue.
  • If a driver is malfunctioning, it is preferable to do a driver update or reinstall it using the steps listed below.
Why is my laptop not projecting to TV with HDMI?
Why is my laptop not projecting to TV with HDMI?

Users tend to connect a TV to their PC, and while this usually works, many have reported that Windows 10 doesnt recognize their TV.

Normally, PCs are connected to Smart TVs via HDMI cable. And in the event that this issue occurs, it could be that the cable is damaged.

The first step is to double-check your HDMI cable. Your HDMI cable must be in good condition and correctly connected to your Windows laptop and HDMI device.

Test your HDMI cable to see if it is compatible with your system or the TV. Its also a good idea to double-check the HDMI ports of the PC and the TV. You must ensure that the HDMI ports on your PC and any HDMI devices are in good shape.

Damaged HDMI ports may inflict the error that prevents your HDMI cable from working correctly on the Windows system.

Hence, if none is damaged, then you can go ahead and try some fixes in this guide.

How do I fix a Windows 10 PC if it wont connect to TV HDMI?

1. Reset display output

  1. Connect your PC to your TV using an HDMI cable.
  2. On your PCs desktop window, right-click and select Personalize.
  3. Select Display. This should show you the connected TV (as a second monitor).
  4. If you cant detect the TV, proceed.
  5. Press Windows Key + P.
  6. Select Duplicate or Extend.

If the display output on your computer is not appropriately set, your PC would be unable to detect/recognize a TV that is connected to it.

2. Update the display driver

Why is my laptop not projecting to TV with HDMI?
  1. Press Windows Key + X to open Device Manager.
  2. Expand the Display Adaptor.
  3. Locate and right-click on the video driver.
  4. Click on Update driver.
  5. Wait for the update to complete.
  6. Restart computer.

In case the error is associated with the display driver, updating it would fix the error and your PC can now detect the connected TV.

Alternatively, you can update all your drivers automatically with just a couple of clicks using third-party tools.

We strongly recommend theDriverFixtool to update your drivers in order to avoid damage to your PC by manually downloading the wrong driver versions.

In order to keep your PC including hardware components safe and efficient, the latest drivers should always be installed, like a display driver.

This great tool was developed so that you do not have to worry about manually downloading and installing your drivers yourself.

Get DriverFix

3. Troubleshoot hardware and devices

Why is my laptop not projecting to TV with HDMI?
  1. Input Command Prompt in the search box and hit Enter.
  2. Type the following command and hit Enter: msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic
  3. Once the troubleshooter displays, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
  4. Exit program.

After running this troubleshooter, reconnect your TV and check if your PC can now detect the TV.

If the problem persists, you can try the next solution.

4. Install drivers in compatibility mode

  1. Navigate to the official download site of your PC manufacturer, and download the driver from there.
  2. Locate the download drivers setup file and right-click on it.
  3. Click on Properties.
    Why is my laptop not projecting to TV with HDMI?
  4. Locate and click on the Compatibility tab.
  5. Check the Run this program in compatibility mode for box.
    Why is my laptop not projecting to TV with HDMI?
  6. Select Windows 10, and click OK.
  7. Follow on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
  8. Restart PC.

This procedure, if properly executed should fix the error.

These are some potential solutions that you can try if Windows 10 fails to recognize or detect your TV.

However, it should be noted that, in the event of physical damage to the HDMI cable, these solutions are practically useless. In such cases, you might have to replace the cable.

OurWindows 10 sectionhas complete guidesfrom trustworthy tech experts. For accurate solutions to similar problems, you may also visit ourFix Hub.

In case you have subject-related questions or suggestions, feel free to post them in the comments section below.

This article covers:Topics:
  • Smart TV
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