3 Easy Steps To Use Smart TV Without HDMI Cable (2023)

Over the years, I’ve been happily using a streaming device with my smart TV.

The only problem is…

HDMI cables are flimsy.

However, here’s a secret that I learned:

You don’t need HDMI cables on your TV.

Let me show you what you can do instead.

Keep reading to discover:

How to connect other devices to your smart TV wirelessly.
3 dependable ways to use smart TVs without an HDMI cable.
The content you can watch on your smart TV with no HDMI connection.
And so much more…

How to use smart TV without HDMI cable – 3 steps

Step #1: Use streaming apps

Here’s the truth:

You don’t always need HDMI cables for your smart TV.

To prove this, let me ask you a question:

What do people use a TV for? To most, the answer to that would be:

Watching shows and movies.
Playing games on their consoles.

While you unfortunately can’t use any gaming console without an HDMI cable yet…

The good news is you don’t really need anything else to watch films and shows on your smart TV.

In fact, most smart TVs already come with streaming apps pre-installed, like:

On the other hand, if you can’t find the streaming app you want, you can always install it on your TV.

How?

Follow these instructions to install apps on your TV:

For Samsung TVs

Press the Home button on your Samsung TV remote.
Go to the Apps section.
Tap the Search icon in the upper right corner of your screen.
Type and enter the app you want to download.
Choose the app you want to download from the list on your screen.
Select Install.

For Sony TVs

Press the Home button on your Sony TV remote.
Go to the Apps section.
Open the Google Play Store.
Tap the Search icon in the upper left corner of your screen.
Type and enter the app you want to download.

Note: Alternatively, you can press the Microphone button on your remote and say the app’s name.

Choose the app you want to download from the list on your screen.
Select Install.

For LG TVs

Press the Home button on your LG TV remote.
Launch the LG Content Store.
Go to the Apps section.
Tap the Search icon in the upper left corner of your screen.
Type and enter the app you want to download.
Choose the app you want to download from the list on your screen.
Select Install.

For TVs that run on Roku OS

Press the Home button on your LG TV remote.
Launch Streaming Channels.
Browse until you find the app you want to download.
Select the app.
Tap Add Channel.
If applicable, enter the PIN to your Roku TV.

You may also be interested in: 3 Ways To Connect Roku To TV Without HDMI

Step #2: Cast other devices

But what if you want to connect other devices to your TV? Is that still possible without HDMI?

The answer is a resounding yes.

However, there are a few exceptions to this, most notably:

Gaming consoles.
Streaming devices.

If your device isn’t listed above, then you’re in luck.

Chances are, you can use this nifty little feature called casting or mirroring. This allows you to share another device’s screen with your TV wirelessly.

For example, got a funny video of your little cousin? Share it with your family using your TV.

Now, here’s how you can use screen mirroring for different devices:

Android smartphones

Using Google Home

Connect your Android phone and the smart TV to the same Wi-Fi network.
Download and open the Google Home app.
Press and hold the tile corresponding to your smart TV.
Choose Cast.
Select Cast Screen to confirm.

Using streaming apps

Open any streaming app.
Play any movie or show.
Once it’s playing, tap your screen once.
Press the Cast icon.
Choose your smart TV from the list of devices.
Tap OK to confirm.

iOS devices

Connect your iOS device and the smart TV to the same Wi-Fi network.
Launch your Control Center.
Tap Screen Mirroring.
Choose your smart TV from the list of devices.
Press OK to confirm.

Note: If you can’t find your TV from the list, your TV might not be compatible with AirPlay 2.

Windows PCs

Using Google Chrome

If you haven’t, download the Google Chrome app on your PC.
Launch Google Chrome.
Press the More button in the upper right corner of Chrome.
Choose Cast.
Select your smart TV from the list of devices.

Using Windows projection

Go to your laptop’s Desktop screen.
Press the Windows Key and P on your keyboard simultaneously.
Press “Connect to a Wireless Display.”
Choose your TV once it appears on the list.

From this page, you’ll see 4 choices:

PC Screen Only: Doesn’t do anything.
Extend: Will use your TV as a second monitor.
Duplicate: Will cast the current display on your laptop to the TV.
Second Screen Only: Disables the PC screen and opens a second screen on your TV.

Simply select which 1 best suits your needs.

Macbooks

Press the Apple logo on the upper left corner of your screen.
Go to System Preferences.
Tap Displays.
Click AirPlay Display.
Select your smart TV from the list of devices.

Got confused somewhere along the way?

To make these steps a little bit clearer, you can watch this video:

Step #3: Upload files to a hard drive

Here’s my tip if you don’t want to buy an HDMI cable:

Invest in an external hard drive.

Think of these as flash drives, but bigger.

How big?

External hard drives on the market today range from 1 Tb to 5 Tb.

These drives have a versatile purpose on your TV, including:

Storing back-ups if you want to reset your TV.
Playing downloaded songs, movies, or shows.
Viewing photos and using them as screensavers.

What’s more, you don’t need to use an HDMI cable to access those features.

Now, there are a bunch of hard drives available on the market.

For my money, here are the ones I trust:

Just simply connect any of these to your TV’s USB port and you’re good to go.

Note: If you’re trying to watch a film this way and it won’t play, consider converting it from MKV to MP4 first.

Can a smart TV be wireless?

A smart TV can be wireless. After all, manufacturers designed smart TVs so you don’t have to buy streaming devices.

The only wire that you need on your smart TV at all times is the power cord.

What can you watch on a smart TV without HDMI cable?

You can watch anything on a smart TV even without an HDMI cable. The only condition you must meet is that what you want to watch is on a streaming app.

Otherwise, you can always download the movie if it’s available online. And then put it in a flash drive and switch to your USB port input on the TV.