How to connect to roku tv with laptop

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I had some old home videos stored on my computer, and I wanted to show them on my Roku when my parents came over for the weekend.

The easiest way to do this was to mirror my Windows 10 computer to the Roku, so to find out if it was possible and how I could do it, I went online.

I looked up what Roku recommended and read through several user forums where people regularly used their computers with their Roku.

Hopefully, after you finish reading this article that I had created with the help of that research, you’ll be able to successfully mirror your Windows 10 PC to your Roku in minutes!

To mirror your PC to your Roku, connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network. Go to Project Settings on your Windows machine and connect to the Roku wireless display.

Keep reading to know how to set your PC to be discoverable on your network if your Roku can’t find it and the difference between casting and mirroring.

Setting Your PC To Discoverable

Your PC first needs to be set to discoverable on your Wi-Fi network so that the Roku finds it to initiate the connection that lets it get the screen mirrored.

Connect your Roku and Computer to the same network and follow the steps below:

1. Press the Windows key and the letter I together.
2. Go to Network & Internet.
3. Select Network Status, and then Change connection properties.
4. Set the Network Profile type to Private.
5. Your PC will now be discoverable by other devices on the same network.

After setting the network profile, you’re ready to start mirroring your screen.

Casting Vs Mirroring

There are two ways to wirelessly display content on your computer to Roku: casting and screen mirroring.

Both require you to have both devices on the same network, but that’s where the similarity ends.

Mirroring means that you’ll be sharing your entire screen, and you’ll be able to see everything that the computer displays on the Roku.

Casting is screen sharing, but just for a single app or Chrome tab, you won’t be able to see anything outside of the app or tab you are casting.

Mirroring and casting follow different methods, so decide what kind of screen sharing you want and follow those steps.

Mirror Computer To Roku

Mirroring your computer to your Roku requires you to connect your PC to Roku, where the Roku will be a wireless display device.

Your computer needs to support wireless displays for this method to work, so update all your drivers for your display devices before attempting this.

1. Press the Home key on your Roku.
2. Go to Settings > Screen mirroring.
3. Enable the setting.
4. On your computer. Press the Windows key + P together.
5. Click Connect to wireless displays on the lower-left corner.
6. Wait for the Roku to appear on the list, then click it to connect.

If you want to cast, however, the easiest method is to use the built-in Chromecast feature available on most modern browsers.

Once you’ve navigated to a page that you want to cast to your Roku, like a stream on Netflix, right-click on the page and click Cast.

Wait for the list that appears on the top right to find your Roku and click it to start casting just the webpage to the Roku.

Using Computer Monitor As A Screen For Roku

Your computer monitor can be easily used as a screen for your Roku if the monitor has an HDMI port for connecting inputs.

A monitor is a smaller TV, so any Roku will work as long as you have an HDMI port.

This lets you have a more confined Roku experience than the big-screen version you would be used to with your TV.

Laptops can’t be used here, though, since you can only use their displays to show the system’s output to the display it is attached to.

If your computer monitor uses a VGA or DVI port, you can get a VGA or DVI to HDMI adapter to easily use your Roku with your computer monitor.

Final Thoughts

Rokus are versatile devices that can work with almost any device you own; all it needs is the device needs to support Chromecast or Miracast.

Casting from Windows 7 is a bit tricky, and you’ll have to install Intel WiDi because it is a pretty old operating system that’s two generations behind.

If you have trouble mirroring your computer to your Roku, contact Roku support, and they’ll be able to help you out after you let them know what model of Roku you own.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a Roku app for Windows 10?

There is a Roku app for Windows 10 that’s available for download from the Microsoft Store.

It lets you control your Roku remotely and search and play content on your Roku without needing to touch your Roku remote.

Can I run Roku on my laptop?

While you can’t have the entire Roku experience on any computer, you still can download and use the Roku Channel app.

The app has Roku originals and other content available on Roku’s own streaming service.

Does Roku have a casting app?

Roku doesn’t have a dedicated casting app and instead uses Chromecast, Miracast, or Apple AirPlay to let other devices cast content to it.

All you need to do is make sure both the Roku and device are on the same Wi-Fi network.

How do I connect my PC to my Roku wirelessly?

To connect your PC to your Roku wirelessly, connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi.

Then press the Windows key and P simultaneously and select Connect to a wireless display.

Can I connect my laptop to my Roku TV wirelessly?

Why is my Roku TV not connecting to my laptop?