Google Chromebooks have some excellent functions and great displays, on which you can watch movies, television, stream music or work, message, and play. However, you may well be wondering if it’s possible to do all that you can on your Chromebook, on your TV. Well, there is, and it’s called ‘mirroring’. To mirror your Google Chromebook to your TV, you’re going to first need an HDMI cable (provided your Chromebook has an HDMI port), or an HDMI-adaptor (if it does not). Then, you just have to follow our tutorial…
For any other queries or information, or to learn about wirelessly Chromecasting to a TV, see the FAQs at the end of this article.
Table of Contents
How to mirror your Google Chromebook to a TV
- First, locate the HDMI port on the side of your Chromebook, and insert one end of your HDMI cable into it. (If your Chromebook does not have an HDMI port, then get your hands on a suitable adaptor, and plug this into your Chromebook, and then your HDMI cable into that).
- Next, plug the other end of your HDMI cable into a free HDMI port on your TV (making note of which port it is – i.e. HDMI 1, HDMI 2, HDMI 3 and so on)
- Turn on your TV, and change the input source to the relevant HDMI channel (according to whichever port you plugged your Chromebook’s HDMI into)
- Back on your Chromebook, tap the Notifications tab in the bottom-right of the screen (where the Time, Date, and WiFi are located).
- From the pop-up menu, navigate thusly: Settings > Advanced > Device > Displays > Arrangement Section > Mirror Internal Display.
- Once you have selected that final option – ‘Mirror Internal Display’ – your Chromebook’s full screen should now appear on your TV, fitting the full display ratio of your TV, and thus allowing you to stream video, music, to work, play, or chat to your heart’s content, all on the much wider and larger monitor of your TV – ideal for watching a movie which you can only stream on your Chromebook!
- To stop mirroring your screen, simply unplug the HDMI/adaptor from the Chromebook.
And there you have it! Don’t be put off by the fact you’ve got to do a little simple connecting of wires from your Chromebook to TV; honestly, by following the instructions above, the process of mirroring your Chromebook to a TV could not be any simpler! Happy mirroring!
For any other queries, information, or to find out how to Chromecast, see the FAQs below!
Frequently asked questions
What is a Google Chromebook?
A Chromebook is a laptop, PC, or tablet which runs the Linux-based Chrome Operating System (OS). Chromebooks mostly work using the Google Chrome browser to complete whichever tasks you might normally complete offline, on a regular PC/desktop or tablet. Most of the applications and data run or produced on a Chromebook are stored and backed-up in Google’s cloud, rather than on the device itself, meaning that users typically find their devices have minimal built-in storage space, and will need to have access to WiFi or some other form of internet connection in order to access and engage with the full functionality of their Chromebook.
What happens when I mirror my Google Chromebook to a TV?
Mirroring your Google Chromebook means casting, or projecting your screen, and when we do this with a TV connected, it means that your entire Chromebook screen will now be shown on your TV.
Why would I want to mirror my Google Chromebook to a TV?
There are lots of reasons why you might want to mirror your Google Chromebook to a TV, but the most common one is simply so that you can enjoy all the functionality of your Chromebook on a (usually) much bigger monitor. Sure, the display of your Chromebook already looks great and high quality, but mirroring the screen so that you can view it on your, say, 40-50 inch television, rather than on your 10-15 inch Chromebook screen, ensures that your viewing experience is improved tenfold. Perhaps you wish to give a presentation, either a holiday-photo run-down to your family, or something more professional or formal, in a place of education or work, mirroring your Chromebook to a TV is an excellent way of ensuring your presentation looks the best it can be. Ultimately, mirroring is also just a great way to minimise the eyesore of constantly looking at a smaller screen, closer up, for long periods of time.
How do I stop mirroring my Google Chromebook to a TV?
This one’s fairly easy – just unplug that HDMI/HDMI-adaptor! Once you’ve done this, your Chromebook will automatically stop mirroring its screen, and you can resume normal use of the Chromebook at once.
Is there a way to mirror my screen on a TV wirelessly?
Not in the traditional sense of mirroring, no. However, you can use Chromecast to do effectively the same thing as the tutorials above do, provided your TV has Chromecast either built-in, or a Chromecast dongle plugged-in. Google Chromebooks will have the Chromecast function in-built, and to activate it you simply have to locate the screen share Chromecast icon (box with WiFi symbol attached to the bottom-left of it) in the top-right of the Google Chrome screen, next to the Bookmarks star. Click this, then click the little drop-down arrow to the right, and from the drop-down menu, select whether you want to Chromecast a single tab, or your entire screen. Then, once done, select which device you wish to Chromecast to (your TV with Chromecast dongle or functionality should appear in the auto-populated list, select it). Lastly, follow any final on-screen instructions to complete the Chromecast, and to stop it, return to this icon and end the casting session.
