How To Connect a Tablet To the TV? [16 Working Ways]

Have you ever considered projecting tablet content onto your television set? I bet you must have and if you have not been successful, it is time to give this post a read.

Connecting a tablet to the TV isn’t as straightforward as it might seem. While the usual ‘connect-with-cable’ approach might work just fine, the efficacy of it often depends on the type of tablet you own. Plus, finding the right cable can also be an irksome task at times. Also, the type of television you own is often a bottleneck when it comes to establishing similar connections.

The existence of disparate electronic devices, varying compatibility, and the type of connections you might want to establish can be confusing to many. Keeping these pain points in mind, I shall now enlist the best strategies to connect a tablet to a TV, both wireless and tethered.

Connecting a Tablet To the TV

Broadly classifying, there are two standard ways of connecting the tablet to television. You can consider a plethora of wired options, as they aren’t dependent on the network strength and do not usually ask for passwords. Also, if you plan on projecting games or mirroring videos onto the TV, wired connections are better, courtesy of reduced attenuation and lags.

Setting up wireless connections is also possible, provided your TV supports the same. While it allows you to cut the cord, it’s a good option if you have compatible devices and you are primarily looking to view files and presentations. Even if you are a forgetful traveler who often misses carrying the USB or HDMI cables, a wireless connection is a way to go.

Wired Connections

• Mini-HDMI to HDMI
• Mini DisplayPort
• Mobile High-Definition Link
• SlimPort
• USB Hub
• Converter
• Adapter (HDMI to Type-C, USB  to HDMI, Lightning to VGA)

Wireless Connections

• DLNA app
• Screencast
• Google Chromecast
• ROKU
• Samsung DeX
• AllShare Cast
• Miracast
• Apple TV
• Android Smart TV

Now that you know the aspects that I shall be covering, here is to discussing each at length:

Category 1: Wired Connections

1. HDMI

If your Android tablet comes with an HDMI port, in any given capacity, you can consider connecting it to the HDMI port of the television. This approach is extremely beneficial if you want to stream both audio and visuals on the big screen.

However, before you opt for the HDMI method, you need to check for the type of port available on the tablet. A mini-HDMI port is expected and therefore, it is important to have a Mini-HDMI to HDMI cable handy for establishing high-gain wired connections.

Steps to follow:

1. Connect the Mini HDMI port of the cable to the tablet and fit in the other end to the television set

2. Head over to the remote control of your television set and change the Input method to HDMI 2 for accessing content

3. The android interface of your tablet will then appear on the television screen

2. Mini DisplayPort

While an HDMI connection is just fine, games and high-resolution videos are best projected when the DisplayPort connections are used to tether tablets to TVs. In most cases, DisplayPort functionality is available on Windows-powered Tablets, including the Surface series ones. 

Unlike HDMI that supports maximum transmission bandwidth of 18Gbps, DisplayPort 1.4 can reach 32.4Gbps, which makes it a better bet if higher frame rates and resolution are your priorities.

Steps to Follow:

1. Get a mini DisplayPort to HDMI 2.0 adapter handy

2. Once unboxed, connect the mini DisplayPort to the Windows tablet

Note: You can rearrange the tablet and television display as per your orientation preferences.

3. Head over to the television and connect the HDMI cable to the given port and fix the other end of the HDMI cable to the DisplayPort to HDMI adapter

Once these steps are initiated, change the television input and start enjoying

3. MHL

Connecting your tablet to the television using the MHL or the Mobile High Definition cable is also a possibility. Most importantly, this type of wired connection is best suited for standard android tablets that do not have Mini HDMI or DisplayPort functionality. 

Steps to Follow:

1. You can simply use an MHL adapter whose one end connects to the HDMI port of the television and the other port accepts the USB cable of the android tablet, which then fits into the charging point.

2. The adapter also has a dedicated charging slot for powering the entire setup. So, choose the connection, accordingly.

Note: You can keep the adapter-specific hassles at bay by opting for the Tri-headed, HDMI to MHL cable that connects concurrently to the HDMI port of the TV, power port, and even the charging point of the smartphone. 

3. Once connected, select the input to HDMI and find the tablet interface mirrored onto the TV screen

You would still need to change the input type by accessing the television remote and can then access all tablet-specific resources, including photos, videos, files, and more.

4. SlimPort

While the SlimPort works much like the MHL-specific connections, it offers a wider range of port selections. This means, despite being a standard plug-and-play cable or adapter, SlimPort is compatible with DVI, VGA, HDMI, and DisplayPort adapters. 

This means, if you have the relevant SlimPort adapter with you, it becomes easy to cast tablet content on any television set of choice. Older television sets that lack digital output and only have a VGA port are best suited to use SlimPort. 

Making the best use of SlimPort is possible if you have the right cable or adapter, depending on the television format. Plus, it is necessary to have the Video cable handy to establish connections faster.

Steps to Follow:

1. Plug one end of the relevant SlimPort cable to the Type-C port of the device

2. Plug the other end of the television cable into the universal end of the Slimport

3. Sit back and watch the tablet screen show up on the television set

5. USB Hub

If you have a USB-compatible television, i.e. one with a USB port, you can establish tablet-to-TV connections via the USB Hub. While a standard USB cable can also do the trick, a USB hub allows you to place the tablet even at a farther location. USB Hubs improve connection accessibility. 

USB hub ensures that you can connect multiple tablets with the charging cable of each being connected to the respective ports and the concerned USB ports feeding into the hub. The single, cumulative port, going out of the hub is meant for the television set.

However, if you use the USB pathway for connecting, you would only be able to use the tablet as an external storage module for the television, thereby getting to streaming photos, in-device videos, files, and presentations.

Steps to follow:

1. Connect one end of the tablet charging cable to the USB port of the television

2. Connect the other end to the tablet 

3. Select the option that identifies a media device connected to the tablet. Once the tab opens, select Media device or MTP for using the TV to view images and files

Wait as the television continues to scan the files. Once the scan is complete, you can expect the television to show the tablet content.

6. Converter

Here is a multi-faceted device that also comes forth as one of the better investments to make for a tech-savvy individual. If you are tired of handpicking television sets to connect the tablet with, it is advisable to get a converter with one port fitting into the charging cable of the android tablet. 

The hub-based setup then accepts connections from televisions with Mini DP, HDMI, VGA, and other ports. Plus, a converter also allows you to connect audio ports, other USB ports, and even microSD cards for expanding the external storage of the tablet.

The process is similar to connecting any adapter to the television with one end feeding into the tablet.

7. Adapters

When it comes to setting up wired connections faster, you can always use adapters to make life easier.

Steps to follow:

1. The first option is the USB-HDMI adapter, which ensures that you might not have to purchase standard MHL cables. You simply need to connect the adapter to the tablet USB port, with the other end accepting the HDMI cable from the television.

2. If you own an iPad, you might want to use the Lightning to ‘AV’ adapter for connecting with television sets having HDMI ports. For older sets though, Apple has the ‘Lightning to VGA’ adapter.

Category 2: Wireless Connections

1. DLNA App

If you actually want to cut the cord and set up wireless connections, the DLNA app should do the trick for you. Better termed as the Digital Living Network Alliance, this is an app-based setup that needs you to download the same on the Android device of choice, which is a tablet in this case.

Once you have the relevant DLNA app by your side, the rest is up to the internet-powered television set. While TVs from Samsung and Sony have built-in apps to detect DLNA-specific content, you can even stream the same if select streaming devices are connected, even to the older television sets.

Steps to follow:

1. Connect your TV set to the internet by cabling it with the router. Trust me, this would be the only wired setup you would need.

2. Connect the mobile phone to the same network that your TV is connected to

3. Open the preferred DLNA app and access files to be migrated to the TV

4. See the tablet interface projected onto the television

2. Screencast

Cast Screen is an Android-specific feature that allows you to project the videos and photos on the tablet to the concerned television set. This extremely popular strategy allows you to stream content from Hulu, Netflix, and other platforms provided the device offers casting support and even the television is on the same LAN network.

Steps to follow:

1. Connect the router to the TV using the LAN port

2. Ensure that the television has the same app that also features on the TV and then select the screencast icon to start streaming

3. Google Chromecast

Google Chromecast, as a streaming device, is probably the most dependable resource for pairing tablets to TVs, wirelessly.

Steps to follow:

1. Retailed as a standard dongle, the Chromecast needs to be logged onto the same network as your tablet

2. Setting up the Chromecast is quite straightforward as you simply need to connect it to the HDMI port of the television and procure power from the USB port. Both the cables come bundled with the package.

3. Once done, the Google ‘Home’ application needs to be downloaded onto the tablet. Once installed, relevant and compatible platforms show the casting icon, and once you click, select Chromecast and cast it immediately on the TV for unhindered media playback.

4. Roku

This streaming device allows you to either cast or mirror the tablet screen onto the concerned TV set. However, what separates ROKU from the rest is it often allows content into the television from non-compatible applications, provided you get the likes of Belkin video adapter installed on the tablet.

Steps to follow:

1. Install Smart View or any other compatible app on the tablet provided the Roku TV is already up and running

2. Select the choice of television from the list and start casting

5. Samsung DeX

The likes of Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 and other new-gen tablets support DeX. Samsung DeX, in raw terms, is the resource you would need to convert the television into a full-fledged computing interface with the tablet being the CPU.

As you can customize the television as a computing setup, DeX furthers functionality and allows you to use the contextual menu, horizontal navigation, scroll bar, and other tablet-like features, wirelessly.

Steps to follow:

1. Set up the Samsung device initially by connecting it to the Smart TV via the USB cable

2. Once done with the setup select the option that you want to access remotely

3. Use the smartphone as the trackpad to achieve better TV control

6. AllShare Cast

If you plan on casting tablet content onto the Samsung HDTVs, the AllShare Cast comes forth as a reliable option. This is more of a wireless mirroring standard, which clings onto the TV as a supplied dongle. However, for this and even DeX to work, the television must come equipped with Miracast support.

Steps to follow:

1. Connect the AllShare Cast dongle to the television

2. Install the relevant app with Miracast support to access the tablet’s content onto the TV

7. Miracast

Probably the oldest wireless mirroring standard, Miracast as a protocol is also considered the backbone of DeX and HDTV mirroring. If you want to activate Miracast, you must head over to the settings bar of the concerned streaming interface and initiate scanning for selecting the preferred tablet to get the content from.

Steps to follow:

1. Connect the smart TV to the internet

2. Select the app with Miracast support and ensure that it is present on the tablet as well

8. Apple TV

For iPads to be connected wirelessly to Apple TV, the process is as simple as it can get. You simply need to ensure that the Apple TV and iPad are on the same network. Once guaranteed, select screen mirroring on the tablet and then select Apple TV when intimated.

Steps to follow:

1. Setup the Apple TV with the iPad as a part of the same network

2. Once you select screen mirroring you can view the iPad interface on the television itself

9. Android Smart TV

If you have a Smart TV and an Android tablet to work with, you can simply head over to the notifications menu, select Screen Mirroring, and click on the TV name that you want to pair and mirror content to. For Samsung tablets though, the Screen Mirroring icon is set as Smart View.

Steps to follow:

1. Set up the relevant app on the tablet and access Smart View

2. Once done select the Smart TV and connect the tablet and TV together to exchange and stream content between each other

3. The aforementioned process holds for Samsung tablets but for standard Android devices, you can select mirroring, depending on which app would want to use.

Benefits of Connecting Tablet to TV

Although you can get the large-screen tablets, the pleasures of experiencing content over TV is still unmatchable. Television sets warrant the fulfilment of similar inclinations by letting you project selective tablet content over wider real estate. That said, amplified visual experience isn’t the only reason why these connections are established. Some of the more prior ones include:

• Displaying photos for the entire family
• Streaming tablet-specific videos to the bigger screen for exploring the perks of hi-res viewing
• Viewing important documents by using the tablet as the storage device for the television
• Showcasing presentations to clients, in absence of laptops or projectors
• Playing low-latency games over the big screen
• Viewing IPTV content, live broadcasts, and more in real-time

Conclusion

Connecting a tablet to television comes with numerous benefits. However, the deployment of this innovative concept often depends on the type of connection you choose to go with. 

While I have enlisted some of the best wired and wireless strategies to connect the mentioned devices, I still feel that SlimPort wired connectivity and DeX wireless connection are the best options to consider, if you want to make the most of the mirroring, streaming, and workstation-like capabilities of the tablet-TV association.