Can I Use My Laptop As A Monitor For My PS4? Step-By-Step Guide In 2023
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It is possible to use a laptop as a monitor for your PS4, but it is not recommended. When you connect a laptop to a PS4, the laptop will most likely be in “dual mode,” meaning that it will be outputting both audio and video signals.
This will most likely be a negative experience because each device has different specifications for what it can display.
Can I Use My Laptop As A Monitor For My PS4?
Many people use a laptop or a tablet to watch TV or movies. But what about when you have a PS4?
This article examines how to use your laptop as a monitor for your PS4 so you can use it with the convenience of a larger screen and reduce the clutter of having multiple electronics on your desk.
You will also need an HDMI cable, which is great because they are very cheap and easy to find.
How Do I Connect My Laptop To My PS4?
If you’ve been a long-time gamer or a newbie, you’ve likely come across the idea of connecting your laptop to your PlayStation 4. You might have noticed that different methods for this vary in compatibility and complexity.
The simplest, most straightforward way is to use an HDMI cable with an HDMI port on your TV.
But if you want something more advanced, perhaps an option is to connect the laptop through another device like a desktop computer using NVIDIA Share or VirtualHere for extended gameplay with Steam VR games.
Even if it’s complicated, the idea is simple; hook up an HDMI cable between your PlayStation 4 and your laptop, and you should be good to go. But what if you want to stream a game or use your PS4 as a second monitor?
Or perhaps you want the ability to record gameplay footage or create photo slideshows? You can do all of these things, but you will have to do it on a computer with more processing power than your laptop.
Today I’ll talk about some of the different methods for connecting your laptop to your PS4:
1. HDMI Cable
To start, let’s assume that you are using an HDMI cable. This cable allows for wired communication between the two devices. It is simple and should work on both Windows and Mac laptops.
It’s even possible to use this method on a desktop computer, but you’ll need to connect your TV to the computer and make sure it has HDMI ports.
If you don’t have an HDMI cord, one should come with your PS4.
I recommend getting an Ethernet cord and the HDMI since WiFi connections can sometimes be laggy for gaming purposes.
2. PlayStation App
The next method for connecting a laptop to a PlayStation 4 is using the PlayStation app.
This app was originally released in 2014 to help gamers play games from their smartphone on the PS4.
But, it can also be used for more advanced purposes.
Using the app is simple
- First, download and install it onto a Windows or Mac OS-based computer.
- Then, sign in to your PlayStation Network account on the console side of things.
- Connect your PS4 to the same WiFi network that your laptop is connected to.
- Now open up the PlayStation app on your laptop and sign in with your PlayStation Network account.
You can now control your PS4 remotely through the laptop. It’s as easy as that!
The only downside is that it doesn’t work with all games, but you can still use this app to stream videos or music from the PS4 to the laptop screen if you like.
3. NVIDIA Share
Another method that you can use to connect a laptop to a PlayStation 4 is by using an app called NVIDIA Share.
NVIDIA Share was created by NVIDIA (a graphics card manufacturer), and their main goal was to create a way for gamers to play games from their laptops on their console.
One of the biggest reasons for this app’s creation was the ability for PC gamers to play games like Dota 2 and StarCraft II with higher frame rates and at higher resolutions than what consoles could offer.
NVIDIA Share is a very sophisticated piece of software requiring two PCs
- One desktop computer (one that has more processing power than your laptop) with an NVIDIA graphics card.
- A laptop (or a desktop computer) can connect via LAN or WiFi.
The software will ask you to install it onto the computers, and then it will tell you that you need to create a local network to connect the two machines.
When they are both connected, the app will automatically connect to your PS4, where you can then play games through your laptop.
If you want to record gameplay footage or stream your gameplay, this may be a good option for you, but it is only available for Windows PCs and not Macs.
4. VirtualHere
The final method I’ll talk about is a piece of software called VirtualHere.
This technology allows for USB devices (like keyboards and mice) connected to one device (like a laptop) via LAN cables or WiFi connections to be mapped onto another computer (like your PlayStation 4).
This software allows for full mouse and keyboard support, meaning you can control your PlayStation 4 through your laptop.
It also supports folders and chat messages and allows a single video display between the two connected computers.
This means that you can create a desktop on your laptop and use it to play games on your PlayStation 4.
The only downside here is that this method requires that both devices be connected to the same network or connected with USB cables.
VirtualHere also requires Microsoft Windows OS (sorry, Mac users). Also, you can only play games supported by the VirtualHere driver.
Final Words
If you are looking for the most cost-effective way to play PS4 on your TV, it is clear that finding an HDMI cable for this purpose is your best option.
If you are looking for a more elegant solution, you might want to consider using a laptop as a monitor instead of spending the money on a second TV.
But it is suggested not to use your laptop as a monitor for your PS4. Doing so can cause performance issues, and you may become frustrated with the game.
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Ehtesham Shehzad is a 24-year-old Blogger. He is a Tech-Enthusiast & Software Engineer and currently doing Masters in Computer Science & Networking from the University Of Pisa Italy.
