When you connect a Windows 10 laptop or PC to a TV, projector, or monitor with an HDMI cable, you choose how Windows uses that screen: mirror your display, extend your desktop, or show the picture only on the HDMI screen. You may also need to switch the sound to HDMI and select the correct input on the TV. This guide covers all three, with fixes for when the HDMI screen stays black or has no sound.
Quick Answer
Connect the HDMI cable and set the TV or monitor to the matching HDMI input. On the PC, press Windows key + P and choose Duplicate (mirror), Extend, or Second screen only (HDMI screen only). For sound through the TV, click the speaker icon in the taskbar and choose the TV or HDMI device as the output.
Step 1: Connect and Select the HDMI Input
- Plug the HDMI cable into the PC and the TV or monitor. Laptops without full-size HDMI may need a USB-C to HDMI or Mini/Micro-HDMI adapter.
- Turn on the TV or monitor.
- Press the Input or Source button on the TV remote or monitor and select the HDMI port you used, such as HDMI 1 or HDMI 2.
Laptop HDMI ports are almost always outputs only. You can’t use a laptop screen as a display for a game console or another PC through HDMI.
Step 2: Choose How Windows Uses the HDMI Screen
Press Windows key + P. Press it again or use the arrow keys to move through the options, then press Enter.
| Option | What you see | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| PC screen only | Only the laptop or main screen. HDMI is off. | Disconnecting without unplugging |
| Duplicate | The same picture on both screens | Presentations, showing others your screen |
| Extend | One large desktop across both screens | Multitasking with extra space |
| Second screen only | Only the HDMI display. The laptop screen turns off. | Watching movies on a TV, using a big monitor with a closed laptop |
Change Display Settings in Settings
- Right-click the desktop and choose Display settings, or go to Settings > System > Display.
- If the HDMI screen isn’t shown, scroll to Multiple displays and click Detect.
- Click Identify to see which number belongs to which screen.
- Choose an option from the Multiple displays menu (Duplicate, Extend, or Show only on 1 or 2).
- To make the HDMI screen your main display (with the taskbar and new windows), select it and check Make this my main display.
- Set the resolution to the Recommended value for sharp text, and adjust Scale if everything looks too small on a TV.
Step 3: Switch Audio to HDMI
- Click the speaker icon in the taskbar.
- Click the device name above the volume slider and choose your TV or monitor (often listed with “HDMI” or “Display Audio” in the name).
Alternatively, go to Settings > System > Sound and pick it under Choose your output device. If the TV isn’t listed, open Sound Control Panel. On the Playback tab, right-click, choose Show Disabled Devices, then enable the HDMI device and click Set Default.
Keep Using the TV with the Laptop Lid Closed
Open Control Panel > Power Options > Choose what closing the lid does. Set When I close the lid to Do nothing for Plugged in, then save.
If the picture doesn’t fit, see how to fit your PC screen to a TV.
Troubleshooting
The TV says “No signal”
- Check that the TV is on the same HDMI input as the cable.
- Press Windows + P and choose Duplicate. The HDMI output may be set to PC screen only.
- Try another cable or port, and connect the PC while the TV is already on.
- Restart the PC with the cable connected.
Windows doesn’t detect the HDMI display
Click Detect in Display settings. Update your graphics driver from Device Manager or your PC maker’s website. Adapters and docks sometimes need their own drivers or firmware.
No sound through HDMI
Select the HDMI device as the output (Step 3), check that the TV isn’t muted, and update the graphics driver, since HDMI audio comes from the graphics driver.
The picture doesn’t fit the TV (edges cut off)
Turn off overscan on the TV. The setting may be called “Just Scan,” “Screen Fit,” or “PC mode.” Or adjust scaling in your graphics control panel.
The screen flickers or looks blurry
Set the resolution to the TV’s native value and the refresh rate to 60 Hz under Advanced display settings. A high-speed HDMI cable helps at 4K.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the shortcut to switch to HDMI on Windows 10?
Windows key + P, then choose Second screen only (HDMI only) or Duplicate (both screens).
How do I switch back to my laptop screen?
Press Windows + P and choose PC screen only, or unplug the HDMI cable.
Is it the same on Windows 11?
Yes. Windows + P works the same way. Display and sound settings are under Settings > System in Windows 11 too.
Summary
- Connect HDMI and select the matching input on the TV or monitor.
- Press Windows + P and choose Duplicate, Extend, or Second screen only.
- Fine-tune in Settings > System > Display.
- Choose the HDMI device as the sound output.
- Fix black screens with Detect, a new cable, or a driver update.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.