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Connecting an iPad to a TV is a fantastic way to experience all your favourite content and videos on a much larger screen. While an iPad screen is okay, it’s too small to be truly immersive and also not large enough for a number of people to view the screen at the same time.
Whether you’re viewing your latest holiday snaps, watching movies or YouTube videos, or even scrolling through your Facebook feed, seeing everything come to life on a large screen is invariably more satisfying and enjoyable. With this in mind, let’s run you through some practical ways you can connect your iPad to a big screen TV.
Connecting with a HDMI cable
The first step is to check that your TV actually has a HDMI port. These ports are clearly labelled ‘HDMI’. Normally, connecting a device to a HDMI port will use a cable that’s HDMI to HDMI. As iPads don’t have HDMI ports due to their slender profile, you’ll need an adapter.
Apple has a Lightning Digital AV Adaptor with a HDMI port built into it. The adaptor connects to your iPad via the standard D port. Once you plug the adaptor into your iPad, plug the HDMI cable into the adaptor and then plug the other end into the HMDI port on your television.
Next, select the input on your TV that corresponds to the HDMI port. Now, all visuals on your iPad screen will replicate on the TV screen. The sound will also now emanate from your TV’s speaker system.
Prefer a wireless connection? Connect using AirPlay
Using a wireless connection to view your iPad content on the TV screen can be more convenient without cables restricting you in any way. However, wireless connections tend to be less reliable than the wired HDMI cable method described above. There can be a reduction in image quality when viewing videos and movies too. Here are the steps to connect using AirPlay:
- Connect your iPad and Apple TV to the same Wi-Fi network.
- With the TV on, select the input for Apple TV or AirPlay2 device.
- For TVs with AirPlay built in, check the user manual to discover how to activate it.
- Access ‘Control Centre’ on your iPad and tap ‘Airplay Screen Mirroring’.
- Select the target device and your iPad screen will now mirror on your TV.
Connecting with a DLNA app
DLNA is only available on internet-enabled TVs, but it does provide another way of connecting your iPad to your TV wirelessly if you have all the technology available. DLNA is a generic form of digital media streaming and is available on many modern electronics.
With a DLNA app such as VLC Media Player, for example, you can stream media files from your iPad to your smart TV. Note that you can only stream media that is not protected by Digital Rights Management (DRM). Therefore, streaming media that you’ve purchased through iTunes won’t work.
To activate the DLNA function, access your TV’s internet connection menu and search for an option to stream from a PC or home server. That’s the DLNA function right there. Simply select it and you’re ready to sync your iPad to your smart TV via DLNA.
Other methods of media streaming from iPad to TV
If you purchase an Android-powered TV stick and plug it into your TV, you’ll be able to play unprotected media such as videos and music from your device on the TV via the Kodi media server app and AirPlay.
Plex offers another alternative. It’s easy to manage and allows you to cast your iPad screen to your TV so what you see on your tablet you’ll also see on the TV screen. The only downside is Plex limits certain functions on the app to paid subscribers.
Optimising your iPad to TV viewing experience
Here are a few practical tips to enhance your viewing experience now that you have your iPad mirrored on your TV screen.
- Ensure your iPad display and TV aspect ratio match. You can adjust the TV aspect ratio from within the TV’s menu.
- Be sure to charge your iPad fully before connecting it to your TV for an uninterrupted display. It might be a good idea to keep the iPad on charge when enjoying extended sessions.
- You won’t want constant notifications spoiling your viewing pleasure, so be sure to set your iPad to “Do Not Disturb’ mode first.
- For issues with wireless connections, try moving your iPad closer to the router. Alternatively, for a much more reliable connection, you can connect to the router with an Ethernet cable and an adaptor.
Need help with iPad setup?
If you want to connect your iPad to your TV but you’re not confident to do it yourself, give us a call at Computer Cures and we’ll set it all up for you, including supplying any cables or adaptors that you require. Along with iPad to TV connectivity, we can set up anything you need on both Apple and Android tablets. Contact us today for further information or to book an appointment time.
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