How to get HDMI Input on your Laptop. 3 Methods to use it as an external Monitor

Gone are those days when laptops only had the option of VGA and AV for connecting other devices. The boom of modern technology has allowed laptops to come with HDMI that has taken connectivity to a new height. Whether you want to connect an external device or use your laptop as a display device, the HDMI port makes everything possible for you.

In general, most of the devices we connect through the HDMI port of our laptop are utilized for sending data. But we hardly used the HDMI port for receiving data on the laptop. Nowadays, since most laptops get high-quality displays with high color fidelity and refresh, have you ever wondered whether you could utilize the display as an external one? Well, you must have thought of using the screen as a portable option because utilizing TV with your Playstation or Wii is not always convenient.

As a layman, we often think having an HDMI port does all the trick. But unfortunately, you can’t set up your Playstation or any other device with a laptop because most of the laptops we use don’t have HDMI-In. The lack of decoding hardware and difference in screen voltage is the main reason behind the limited number of laptops coming with HDMI-In.

So it boils down to the question: how can you use your laptop as a monitor for your other devices?

3 Methods To Use your Laptop Screen As An External Display

Even if you are using a high-end laptop that has several HDMI ports, you can’t connect your Xbox or PlayStation because the signal won’t transfer. Most of the laptops carry HDMI-Out but not HDMI-In. However, there are some interesting methods that can help you to utilize the high-quality screen of your laptop as an external display.

1. Using Adapters

Since most of our laptops come with HDMI-Out, you can use an HDMI Out to Input adapter to assist your laptop in receiving data. These adapters are readily available in the market, and you will find a lot of reputed brands selling them.

The process of using them is pretty straightforward as you just have to plug them in the HDMI-output port located on the side. Now, like a regular connection between two devices, you need to connect them both, but one end of the cable should go into the adapter.

HDMI to USB 3.0 adapter is the most popular choice because it ensures a lossless signal transmission and supports up to 4K. Moreover, USB 3.0 is standard nowadays in most laptops so that you won’t have problems with compatibility. Display port to HDMI adapter is another feature that you can utilize to assist your laptop in receiving data through HDMI. It also comes with the capability of a 4K transmission, but the usage is limited to specific devices.

2. DIY Method

However, if you want to avoid the usage of an adapter, then you can take out the screen from your old laptop and utilize it as a portable display. Even if you have a broken laptop with a good display, you can efficiently utilize this DIY method. However, the process isn’t easy as it requires a lot of technical expertise.

After arranging a display panel from a panel, your next job will be to buy a controller board having an HDMI connector. While buying, you should check that the controller board should be compatible with the display panel, which is basically the 30-pin LVDS connector. Now connect the display to the controller board and then use an HDMI cable to connect your device to the controller board. For this setup, you will also need a power adapter to run both the board and the display.

3. Using Miracast

Even though it doesn’t involve the usage of HDMI-In, it is a unique way to use the screen wirelessly.  If you are using Windows 10, then Miracast could be your primary medium to connect your laptop and the other devices that support Wi-Fi. Nowadays, most of the devices come with Wi-Fi support so that you won’t have a problem connecting it. The essential thing you need to do is to connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network.

Now you need to open the Display Settings and choose the option “Projecting to this PC.” A pop-up window will appear, where you will have to select the “Always On” feature. If you are using a PC as an external source, then you need to do the same through your PC’s display settings.

Once everything is set, you just have to press the Windows and “P” key altogether and select the “Connect To a  Wireless Display.” This will help you to connect your PC to the laptop and allow you to use it as an external display. You should optimize the display settings so that you don’t get a black screen.

While going through the above, there are a lot of questions that must have crossed your mind. So here, we will try to answer some common queries that people often ask.

What is an HDMI-In?

HDMI-In is a type of HDMI port that is designed to accept data from another device. Basically, it is a port through which video and audio are trasnmissited from a device having HDMI output. The flow of data is a one-way road, and it can only receive data from another HDMI-compatible device like a gaming console, PC, Blu-Ray, etc. Most of the display devices come with HDMI-In ports. However, there are some high-end laptops from Alienware that carry HDMI-In as a connectivity facility.

Does My Laptop Have HDMI-In?

Well, there is a high chance that your laptop doesn’t have an HDMI-IN, and the majority of laptops, whether gaming or notebook, only come with HDMI output. If the HDMI port doesn’t come with any label, then it is an HDMI-out port. However, if it carries HDMI In/Out, then it will let you connect external devices.

Can I Get A Laptop HDMI Input Adapter?

Technically, there is no dedicated HDMI input adapter, but there are some adapters with USB or Display ports that can assist you in putting your laptop on the receiving end. These adapters are readily available in the market and can help you to use your laptop’s screen as an external display.

Final Word

By now, you must have understood that most of the laptops we use only come with HDMI-Out ports. But if you are someone who is keen on using the laptop screen as a display for other devices, then we are confident that our guide will assist you in every way.