Enjoying your favorite PS4 games is undoubtedly one of the best ways to relax after a long day’s work. But what if your TV suddenly starts to act up?
If you have an expensive laptop with a sharp display, you can play your PS4 games by hooking it up to your laptop using an HDMI cable. While it sounds pretty simple, I wish it was that simple.
If you’re willing to dedicate some time and money to get the necessary equipment and set them up, you can certainly enjoy your PS4 games on your laptop.
But how to connect PS4 to laptop with HDMI? Well, below, I’ve mentioned two ways to help you play PS4 on Laptop with HDMI step-by-step.
Before getting into those two ways, let me take you through the equipment you’ll need throughout the procedure.
Equipment Required To Play PS4 On Laptop With HDMI
Playing PS4 games on your laptop doesn’t require only an HDMI cable, and you need more than an HDMI cable because it isn’t a two-way connection. The HDMI cable on both the PS4 and laptop are output ports.
If you use an HDMI to HDMI cable, your PS4 and laptop will try to output their display to the other, which obviously won’t work. The reason why most laptops lack video input is that they’re not designed to be external displays.
However, if you can get the necessary tools, you can create a dedicated video input for your laptop. Here are some of the necessary equipment to create a working video input that lets you hook your PS4 to your laptop with HDMI.
- HDMI cable.
- Video Capture Card.
- Laptop.
- PS4.
- USB cable or the DUALSHOCK 4 USB wireless adaptor.
- Stable Internet Connection.
How To Play PS4 On Laptop With HDMI?
There are two ways to play PS4 on your laptop with HDMI. One is using a Video Capture Card, which will create an HDMI-in port for your laptop, enabling it to receive video input that lets it function as an external display. And the second way is via Remote Play.
Connect Your PS4 To Laptop Via Remote Play (Step-By-Step)
Remote Play is one of the ways you can enjoy your favorite PS4 games on your laptop. Remote Play is an app that allows you to stream your favorite PS4 games on your laptop or Mac device. You must be remotely connected to your PS4 for the function to work.
To connect your PS4 and your laptop using Remote Play, here is some of the necessary equipment.
- PS4
- Laptop
- USB cable or the DUALSHOCK 4 USB wireless adaptor
- Stable Internet
- A PlayStation network account
After putting all these requirements in place, you can proceed with the following steps to start playing PS4 games on your laptop with Remote Play.
1. Download The Remote Play App
The first step is to visit the Sony official Remote Play website to download the latest compatible version for your laptop. If you have multiple PS4 consoles at home, continue from step 2, but you can skip it if you have just one, like most people.
2. Update And Enable Your PS4
If you have multiple PS4 devices at home, you’ll have to set one of them as your favorite console. Using the primary console won’t be the best option if it’s far from your laptop setup.
To set a PS4 as a primary console, navigate the PlayStation network settings and select Account Management. Click on the “Activate as Primary PS4” option to set your current console as your primary console.
To enable smooth performance, update your PS4 to its latest firmware version. That will ensure you run into no problems since you’re also using the latest version of Remote Play.
3. Enable The Remote Play Option
Before you can start to play games with Remote Play, you must enable it on your PS4 first. Here are the steps required to enable Remote Play on your PS4.
- Navigate to your PS4 Settings.
- Find and select the Remote Play Connection settings from the numerous options.
- If Remote Play is enabled, skip to the next step; otherwise, you’ll have to enable it to continue following this tutorial.
Once you’ve enabled Remote Play on your PS4, you can jump to the Remote Play app on your laptop to continue the process.
4. Turn On PS4 From Network
Your laptop should be on Rest Mode by default. If it isn’t, you can always adjust the settings. Go to Power Saving Settings and modify the settings to set your computer to Rest Mode. This mode will save power, as the PS4 won’t stay on unnecessarily when it’s not being used.
At the same time, however, you want to be able to connect to your PS4 from your laptop when it’s on Rest Mode. Active “Enable Turning on PS4 from Network” to make this possible.
5. Get All The Settings Right
Before gaming on your laptop, there are necessary modifications you should make to get an immersive gaming experience. The settings option at the top left corner of the app will enable you to set gameplay-enhancing mechanics like video resolution and frame rate.
For the best experience, set the gaming resolution to 720p. 720p strikes the perfect balance between good quality and low internet consumption. Since your laptop is probably running on battery power, a 720p resolution will also help conserve battery life.
For frame rate, you should probably avoid going over 60fps. You may not reach that frame rate if you’re playing at the superfine 1080p resolution.
6. Connect The Controllers
You can connect the Dualshock 4 controllers to your laptop using a USB cable or a wired Dualshock USB adapter. You only need to hold down your controller’s square and circular buttons until the light bar begins flashing.
Afterward, you can plug the other end of the wired cable into your laptop and wait until the controller pairs with your PC.
7. Search For Your PS4 In The Network
After completing all the above steps, start the remote play app on your laptop and log into your PlayStation network. The app will automatically scan for the first PS4 available in the network and take you to the home screen.
Congratulations, you can now enjoy your immersive PS4 gaming experience on your laptop. The Remote Play app on your laptop will automatically fire up your PS4, and the games will run on the PS4, streaming it to your laptop in real time.
How To Power Off Your PS4 From Your Laptop?
If you’ve already set your PS4 to Rest Mode, you can hold down the PlayStation button on your controller to power off your PS4. If you followed the steps above, your PS4 should already be in Rest Mode, but you can go back to set it if it already isn’t.
Connect Your PS4 To Laptop Via Capture Card
How to display PS4 on a laptop with HDMI? Well, this method will help you.
Another way you can connect PS4 games on your laptop using HDMI is by using a video capture card. We’ve already listed all the equipment you need, and you can go back to the top to check them again if necessary.
Once you’ve assembled all the tools and equipment, follow the steps below to hook up your PS4 with your laptop via HDMI.
1. Install Necessary Software And Drivers
First, connect the video capture card to your laptop through a USB port. This will automatically install all the drivers you need for the card to work smoothly. If there are any instructions for extra software, try installing them for optimal performance.
It’s important to note that getting a cheap video capture card might work, but you’ll get potato-quality graphics in your games.
2. Connect The Laptop And PS4 With The Video Capture Card
To connect your laptop and PS4, you need an HDMI to HDMI cable and your video capture card. You connect one end of the HDMI cable to the capture card’s HDMI-in port and the other to the PS4.
Then, you plug the video capture card into a USB port on your laptop if you’ve not done so already, and you should be good to go.
3. Run The Software
The final step to getting your PS4 working with your laptop is running the software that came with the video capture card. The application will scan and detect your PS4 and display it on your laptop screen.
From the app, you can select what resolution you want. You should shoot for the highest possible resolution since this isn’t just the gaming resolution. Most capture cards cap at 1080p, and that’s fine for playing PS4 games.
How To Play PS4 On Laptop With HDMI Without Capture Card?
You can use remote play to play PS4 games on your laptop with HDMI without a capture card. You can also use the console’s built-in recording function. OBS can also allow you to stream your PS4 games on a laptop with HDMI, guaranteeing you smooth gameplay and acceptable graphics.
How Can I Use My Laptop As A Monitor For PS4?
You can convert your laptop to a monitor for your PS4 either by using a capture card with an HDMI connection cable or by downloading remote play. They allow you to stream your favorite PS4 games to your laptop when your primary display isn’t active.
How Can I Use My Laptop As A Monitor For PS4 Without Remote Play?
To use your laptop as a monitor for your PS4 without remote play, the best option would be to get a video capture card. However, the built-in recording function on the PS4 and OBS recording software doesn’t require you to use either Remote Play or a dedicated video capture card.
FAQs
How to Play PS4 on Laptop Screen with HDMI Windows 10?
To play your PS4 on a laptop screen with HDMI on Windows 10, you’ll need a capture card and an HDMI to HDMI cable. You can follow the instructions above to use your laptop screen as a display for your PS4.
How to Play A PS4 on A Windows 7 Laptop Screen with HDMI?
Playing PS4 games on your Windows 7 Laptop screen with HDMI requires the same steps as doing it on a Windows 10 laptop. Most of the software that works on Windows 10 will also work on Windows 7, and you can install the drivers for a video capture card on a Windows 7 laptop.
Is It Possible To Play PS4 on a Laptop without HDMI?
You can stream your PS4 games to your laptop display without HDMI using Sony’s Remote Play software. It’s free for all PS4 users, and it works as long as your console is connected. Although; it’s less stable than the Remote Play option, you can also use OBS.
Conclusion
You can play PS4 games on Laptop with HDMI in various ways. These are all DIY methods that don’t necessarily require the help of a professional unless things are getting out of hand. The video capture card option is the most widely used for its setup ease.
If you’re unwilling to invest in a capture card and an HDMI cable, you can stream your PS4 to your laptop with Remote Play. As long as you have a stable internet connection, you should enjoy your game with minimal glitches.
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