Since its launch in July 2015, Windows 10 has offered the ability to cast your screen to any adapter or device, such as a TV or Blu-ray player, that is compatible with the popular Miracast standard. And with the anniversary update in August 2016, the Microsoft operating system began to support remote access to a computer display via Miracast signals sent from a phone, tablet, or other PC under Windows control 10.
How to make a monitor wireless?
If you have a small PC connected to the TV Windows platform 10 (Intel Compute, for example), now it can also be used as a Wi-Fi display adapter for a smartphone or laptop. At the same time, screens can not only be duplicated, but also expanded. For example, this technology allows you to stream a movie on the receiving monitor and send emails on the main monitor. Or you can put your Windows 10 tablet next to your laptop and use it as a second display.
As convenient as a wireless monitor is, however, it's not all smooth sailing. Most modern Wi-Fi enabled devices have the ability to send Miracast signals, but they are not always compatible. For example, samsung galaxy The Note 3 is not capable of projecting a screen onto a single Windows 10 computer. And even after a successful connection, attempts to start transfer sometimes have to be repeated 3-4 times. So you have to be patient.
Microsoft Wireless Display
The Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter does exactly what its utilitarian name suggests. It allows you to broadcast the contents of the screen (along with sound) of a computer or android devices on TV. The adapter connects to a monitor or projector using an HDMI connector and is powered by USB port. The rest of the device does nothing new. It does not have its own applications and requires an appropriate content source.
The adapter uses Miracast technology, which uses WiFi Direct. This means that the computer and set-top box do not have to communicate through a common router, instead they create a peer-to-peer network. In addition, miniature wireless adapter allow you to easily transfer it, for example, from a conference room to a hotel room.
The device costs $59, and Microsoft feels stiff competition from similar products such as the $35 Google Chromecast or any Roku set-top box, including the $50 Roku Streaming Stick. However, thanks to the integration of Miracast and Microsoft given a model that supports Surface Pro tablets can find a place in the travel bag of every tablet owner.
Design and functional features
The Microsoft Display Wireless Adapter is a modest, rectangular device that looks like a USB flash drive. Its length is 9 cm and weight is 33.1 g. The adapter has one HDMI connector and a short USB cable, attached to the body, serving to provide power to it. If the TV does not have a USB port, you will need to purchase an additional extension cable and power supply. Microsoft does not include them with the device. However, the user does get a small HDMI extender in case the need arises.
Relatively painless installation
How to connect a wireless monitor? This procedure presents no difficulty. You need to connect the adapter to HDMI port on the TV or receiver, and then power it through the USB connector. In the receiver, select the appropriate HDMI input. At the same time, the screen will display grey background with Microsoft logo, model name, and ready to connect message. The adapter currently supports Miracast compatible Windows and Android devices with Miracast functionality, such as phones or tablets. Before turning on the wireless monitor, for a Windows PC, make sure you have installed the version operating system not less than not less than 8.1. You can add a display by activating the Charms bar on the right by selecting the menu item Devices > Projection > Add Screen. On the Android platform, you need to go to the screen settings, click on Cast screen, and then click on the menu icon and turn on the wireless monitor.
The connection is established, now what?
The wireless screen adapter is just an adapter. He does nothing himself, but only waits for someone to send him content. It can display video at resolutions up to 1920 x 1080, output audio in two-channel stereo, or provide surround sound. speaker system 5.1.
According to user reviews, the Surface Pro 3 adapter finds quickly. If you follow Microsoft's instructions, you can see the PC screen on the TV after a few seconds. The Surface Pro 3 display is displayed in letter-box format to conform to the 16:9 standard.
signal delay
There is a slight delay between devices. Swipes and videos are slightly behind the original image, so this way of increasing the display is not suitable for games. The adapter is more focused on the ability to present something on big screen. Videos and PowerPoint slides are examples of content for which this device is designed.
DRM protection
Since the signal reflects the contents of the PC screen, the user is not limited to specific applications. If the content is displayed on a computer, it can also be seen on an external display, including DRM-protected video on iTunes. In addition, the device allows you to turn your TV into a second or additional wireless monitor for your computer, and not just provide a mirror image. In this case, you will need a trackpad or mouse to control what will be on the second screen.
Support for other platforms
Because the adapter uses Miracast technology, some Android devices can also output their display content to a wireless monitor. For example, Nexus 7 (2013) allows you to do this. Screen mirroring works reasonably well, although the aspect ratio mismatch between tablet and TV means black bars around the edges of the image.
Max distance
The closer the transmitting device is to the wireless video adapter, the better the picture looks. According to Microsoft, the maximum distance of the broadcast source is 7 m. But in a small apartment, when there are walls between the receiver and the transmitter, this distance is noticeably reduced and the signal is lost already at a distance of 4.5 m.
Multi-source operation
There is no need to worry about how to set up a wireless monitor when using multiple content sources at once so that they do not fight for access to it. According to the owners, the adapter interacts with only one device at a time. No other can capture the display just because it sees it. To switch to the second signal source, you must first turn off the first one.
Receive and share content on Windows 10
To broadcast a signal to a laptop display or personal computer you need to open the notification center in the form of a dialog cloud, click on the "Project" icon in the "Project to this PC" menu item. In the settings window that appears, select ubiquitous availability and the need to obtain permission to establish a connection. It is better to set the confirmation option only at the first broadcast. Since permission to transfer will be requested anyway, there is no need to set a PIN code.
After establishing a connection and confirming access rights, the broadcast application will launch in its own window. It can be dragged, resized and enlarged to full screen. In this case, the keyboard and mouse of the receiving PC can be remotely controlled by the transmitting device.
If you need to send content to another monitor, select the option to project to one of the available receiving devices in the action center. This should be done only after turning on the wireless monitor. If necessary, you can search for it. Establishing a connection sometimes takes more than 1 minute. In addition, the user can enable the receiving device to control this PC. To use the wireless monitor as a second display, you need to change the projection mode from Repetitive to Extend. To complete projection, select "Computer screen only".
Competitors' products
Microsoft's main competitors in non-wired video streaming are the Chromecast and the Roku Streaming Stick, tiny bubblegum-sized devices that cost a bit less.
All the differences between them come down to how to use the wireless monitor. When it comes to adding another device to your home theater system, the Microsoft Wi-Fi display adapter is pointless. For the same price, you can purchase a Roku set-top box that does not require any additional signal sources to display Internet content. In addition, other Miracast compatible devices are available, such as the WD TV from western digital, which, in addition to the built-in screen display system, offer applications that play online broadcasts and local media files.
For Windows 10 users who want to be able to quickly display the contents of their tablet's display on a wireless monitor, it makes sense to purchase an adapter from Microsoft. Chromecast provides similar functionality by casting the contents of a Chrome browser tab, but is limited to what can be displayed on it.
Connecting a monitor wirelessly to a computer Wireless Display seems to be best used on the go. Other devices must be connected to a common router in order to see each other. And if you take a Chromecast with you, you still need a wireless access point and create a network to connect the screen and phone. At the same time, the Microsoft adapter uses Wi-Fi Direct to create a connection between devices without an additional router. This is useful when watching a video in a hotel room or a presentation without the need for additional equipment.
Conclusion
Offering a wireless monitor connection, Microsoft does not promise mountains of gold. The device simply allows you to simply display the contents of the screen or expand it with an HDMI-compatible second display. It's perfect for OR fans. Windows systems or those who need to quickly transfer content to a large monitor in field conditions. In home theaters, however, it's hard to compete with the versatile Chromecast backed by a large number of compatible apps. In addition, a great alternative is the Roku set-top box, which does not require additional devices.
Have you ever heard of another device advertised as "Miracast" capable? Making its way into the mainstream, Miracast is a killer feature ready to destroy other standards streaming in the highly fragmented Android market.
Acting as a wireless HDMI receiver, Miracast mirrors Android devices to your TV screen in high definition with sound. Once Miracast is enabled, everything from the common interface to apps to videos is mirrored on the big screen without a cable connecting the two devices.
Miracast does not rely on your home wifi net. But it's not magic - let's lift the hood to see how Miracast works.
under the hood
An experienced Android user will perk up when they hear that Miracast is built on the much-neglected WiFi technologies Direct. Wi-Fi Direct, first introduced in Android 4.0, allows the user to create private network(point-to-point) that allows other users to connect and share files. The technology never went mainstream, but it paved the way for Miracast.With Wi-Fi Direct as the foundation, Miracast doesn't need to rely on home network. Instead, he creates his own. For example, your TV sets up an ad hoc network that your phone or tablet will then discover. Once two devices are paired, data can flow freely between them.
When it comes to what you can stream to your TV, the options are endless. Miracast uses the H.264 codec to deliver 1080p video and 5.1 channel audio. Even copyrighted materials such as DVDs and music can be transferred to TV thanks to the DRM layer.
Wait, it's like a Chromecast?
I'm so glad you asked. No, Miracast is absolutely not the same as Chromecast. And that's why.FROM Miracast, your TV (or Miracast dongle) is dependent on the Android device as long as the devices are paired. If your Android goes to sleep, your TV screen goes blank too. This interdependence is both a great advantage and a tragic pitfall for Miraxt (read battery consumption).
Chromecast, however, relies on mobile device only for a moment during the initial installation. Once the Chromecast receiver knows what content it should play, your mobile device is offloaded. In this case, you can freely multitask, lock your device, or queue up the next video.
For the same reason, Chromecast is nowhere near as dynamic as Miracast - it only works with compatible videos and music apps and will not play DRM-protected content on your device. What about mirroring? Chromecast only mirrors Chrome browser(in beta) and that's it.
How to use Miracast
To use Miracast, you need two things: a Miracast compatible Android device and a Miracast TV or Miracast dongle.The Android part is simple. If your device is running Android 4.2 or higher later version, you most likely have Miracast, also known as the "Wireless Display" feature.
Now you need to set up the Miracast receiver. Although the technology is relatively new, TV makers such as Sony, LG and Panasonic are integrating Miracast into their TVs. But, if you bought a TV earlier than last year, most likely it does not support Miracast. Instead, you will need a key.
Try looking for Miracast keys in online stores, for example this one. Most of these dongles are in the $40-$60 range and are really only designed to do one thing: mirror your Android device on your TV.
We tested a Netgear Push2TV dongle (such as the one in the link above), which was mostly reliable except for a few hiccups and playback stutters. Overall, it does the job it promises.
After connecting the Miracast dongle, switch the TV to use it. Then take your Android device and go to Settings > Display > Wireless Projector. (As usual, the process may vary slightly depending on your device.)
Turn on the wireless projector function, and wait for the device to detect the Miracast dongle or TV. When it appears in the list, click "Connect", and a few moments later, you will see that the Android device is duplicated on the big screen.
Now you can launch a playlist, watch a 1080p movie, or show your friends how you play angry birds on the big screen. Just remember that while the brightness on your device doesn't affect the TV, locking Android will also dim the TV.
So, if you are watching a movie, don't forget to connect your Android to the charger.
Verdict.
While Miracast is a great all-in-one solution for displaying Android on the big screen, the technology still has room for growth. The lack of multitasking is the biggest disappointment - hijacking your Android device while it's actively generating content for the receiver. Which, however, is already changing. LG G2, Sony Xperia Z and G Optimus Pro are the first phones to implement multitasking on Miracast, which in turn allows you to display the screen while other work on the phone.But even with improved compatibility, Miracast needs help. Sometimes video stutters and some difficulties in establishing a connection between the Android device and the receiver can make a pleasant moment frustrating. However, the ability to transfer something from Android to the TV and the convenience wireless connection, could make Miracast worthy of the attention of major TV and smartphone manufacturers.
Finally, I figured out the wireless display function in Windows 10. I connected and checked everything for half a day in order to prepare an article with verified information for you. And of course with photos and screenshots.
There are two main technologies: and Intel WiDi (Intel stopped developing this technology), with which you can output image and sound from a computer, laptop or mobile devices via Wi-Fi. In other words, use the TV (projector, monitor) like a wireless display. The trick is that with the help of these technologies, you can not only display a movie or photo “over the air” (as is the case with), but broadcast everything that happens on the main computer monitor or laptop screen.
A wireless display, most often a TV, works as if it were connected via HDMI cable. You can duplicate the image, expand the screen, and more, all wirelessly. There are also monitors with Miracast support.
The Wireless Display feature in Windows 10 displays images using Miracast technology. But, for some reason, when connected, the TV had the inscription "Intel's WiDi". As it turned out (read on Intel website), they stopped development and support Intel technologies®WiDi. And they report that Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 already natively have support for Miracast, which can be used to connect wireless displays without additional software.
For everything to work, there must be Miracast support at the level of hardware and drivers. The Wi-Fi adapter that is built into your laptop or connected to your PC must support the wireless display function. The video adapter should also have such support.
I tested on the following hardware:
- PC with processor Intel Core i3-6098P and GeForce graphics card GTX 750 Ti. Wi-Fi adapter TP-Link TL-WN725N V2.
- laptop with old Intel processor 3rd generation Core i3 and integrated video Intel HD Graphics 4000. NVIDIA graphics card GeForce GT 635M. Wi-Fi adapter is the same TP-Link TL-WN725N V2. Since the adapter built into the laptop does not work.
- I used an LG TV as a wireless display. The model is from 2012, but with support for Miracast and Intel WiDi. As it turns out, the new and fancy Philips TV doesn't have built-in Miracast support.
This connection works without a router, directly. There is no need to connect your computer (laptop) and TV to the same router.
In this article, I will first show you how to enable Miracast on Windows 10 and how to connect to a wireless display. Then, consider solutions possible problems and mistakes.
Connecting to a wireless display (TV) in Windows 10 via Miracast
Press the keyboard shortcut Win+P(English) . A window with different options for displaying the image should appear on the right. And there should be an item "Connect to a wireless display". We click on it. If there is no such item, then most likely your hardware or driver does not support this function. At the end of the article I will write about this in more detail, and show how to perform the check.
It starts searching for wireless displays and audio devices.
Most likely, you need to enable the Miracast / Intel WiDi function on the TV. In older LG models, this is done in the menu, under "Network". Like this:
On new LG models, most likely these settings look different. On the Samsung TVs, in the source selection menu, select "Screen Mirroring" (may not be available on all models). On TV from Sony - "Screen mirroring" in signal sources (separate button on the remote control). On the Philips TVs: Under "Settings" - "Network settings" - "Wi-Fi Miracast". But on mine, which is with Android TV, there is no such item.
If your TV does not have built-in Miracast support, you can buy a separate Miracast (Mirascreen) adapter. It connects to the HDMI port of the TV. Receives image and sound and outputs it to the TV.
The TV should appear in the search results. Just select it and the connection process will begin.
There will be an inscription "Follow the instructions on the device screen." In my case, on the TV you need to confirm the connection of the computer.
All is ready!
If you can't connect the first time, don't give up. Try again. Reboot devices. Something didn't work for me the first time either.
You can change the projection mode. For example, expand the screens, or use only the second (TV connected via Miracast). Or duplicate the image on both screens.
You can also disconnect from the wireless display there.
Connecting by adding a new device in the settings
There is another way. In the settings, go to the "Devices" section and select " Adding Bluetooth or other device." Then click on "Wireless Display or Dock".
Turn on Miracast on your TV and it should appear in the list. Select your TV and set up a connection.
Maybe this method will be more suitable for someone.
Sound control when connecting via Miracast
Like an HDMI cable, Miracast also transmits sound. I, immediately after connecting, the sound from the computer was output through the speakers of the TV. The default device was "Digital Output". And it's not always convenient. Therefore, in order for the sound of the player through the laptop speakers, or speakers, you just need to change the default playback device.
After that, the sound will be played through the computer's speakers. If necessary, you can make "Digital Output" the default device back.
Miracast does not work and there is no item "Connect to a wireless display"
In older Windows versions 10, when the system "understood" that there was no Miracast support, the message "The PC or mobile device does not support Miracast, so wireless projection from it is not possible" was displayed.
In new versions, there is simply no item "Connect to a wireless display" in the "Project" menu, which is opened by pressing Win keys+P.
Most likely, there is no Miracast support at the level WiFi adapter. Here I have, for example, through the built-in laptop wifi The module cannot connect to a wireless display. The laptop is not new though. Somewhere around 2012-13. And then WiFi connections adapter TP-Link TL-WN725N V2 everything works.
To given function worked, you need support on the side of the Wi-Fi adapter and graphics adapter (video card). Both at the level of iron and the driver. This is easy to check.
Run command line and run the command netsh wlan show driver.
The results will contain a line "Wireless display supported:" With the factory (old) Wi-Fi module on the laptop, I have this result:
As you can see, there is no support. The graphics driver does, but Wi-Fi doesn't.
And here is the result of the test with another Wi-Fi adapter:
And with this configuration, everything works fine.
What can be done:
- Update Wi-Fi adapter driver. Unlikely, but it might work. Here is the instruction: .
- If, according to the results of the check, the problem is only in Wi-Fi, then you can replace the Wi-Fi adapter itself. But I noticed that the specifications simply do not indicate whether there is support for a wireless display or not. On TP-Link TL-WN725N the second hardware version (V2) everything works. But I'm sure there are a large number of other adapters that support Miracast. Need to find.
- It might be easier for you.
Let's consider one more problem.
Failed to connect to wireless display
The computer finds the TV, select it, it takes a long time to connect and the error "Failed to connect" appears. Or the computer does not see the TV and it does not appear in the list of available devices.
I also got this error several times. It is difficult to say what it is connected with. Be sure to try connecting again.
- Restart your computer and unplug your TV for a couple of minutes.
- Perhaps this is due to bad signal. If possible, reduce the distance between the computer and the TV. Check if the Miracast function is active (or something like that) on TV.
- Update the Wi-Fi adapter driver. I provided a link to the manual above.
- If possible, try connecting to another TV that can also act as a wireless display.
Update: Eugene shared a solution in the comments, which, as it turned out, helped not only him. The problem was the following: the computer found the TV, as shown in the instructions above. But when trying to connect on the TV, the screen flickered and an error appeared: "A connection request from ... failed. You can try again from a mobile device."
It helped to disable the discrete graphics card in the device manager. I don’t know if this is the right decision, because we are essentially turning off the productive video adapter. But it looks like it works. You can try. We go into the device manager and turn off the discrete video card, leaving the integrated one to work.
Don't forget to turn it back on later. When you stop using your wireless display, or it turns out that this solution did not work for you.
I spent a lot of time and effort on this article. I hope not in vain. If you have something to add, or want to ask a question, then I'm waiting for you in the comments. Good luck!
But modern technologies allow you to display the screen of your tablet or smartphone on your TV without using a cable. This technology is called Miracast.
Miracast is a wireless multimedia signal transmission standard approved by the Wi-Fi Alliance on September 19, 2012. The standard was developed on the basis of Wi-Fi Direct technology: only two compatible devices are required for signal transmission - a receiver and a transmitter (Wikipedia). According to this technology, in order to connect your Android tablet or smartphone to a TV, you will need a TV that supports Miracast technology and a tablet or smartphone on Android version 4.2 and higher (4.4, 5.0, etc.), no additional devices - WiFi routers and other devices not required.
I offer for good example demonstrate how to connect a tablet or smartphone on Android to a TV, using a TV as an example LG on webOS and ASUS tablet on Android 5.0.
Turn on the Miracast function on the TV.
Enabling this feature on other TVs ( Samsung, Philips, Sony, Toshiba etc.) will occur by analogy.
Open Smart Apps, for this:
On the standard remote click the "Smart" button.
Press the "Home" button on the Magic Remote
Then open the full application menu.
Select "Screen Share".
Thus, you have enabled the Miracast function on the TV.
Enable Miracast function on Android tablet/smartphone.
The first step is to turn on Wi-Fi. To do this, go to "Settings" and move the switch to the side turning on Wi-Fi.
Now you can start turning on Miracast, to do this, open the "Settings" on your Android device.
Attention!!! Depending on the device (manufacturer, model, android versions, shells), the activation of this function may differ. Here is one example of how to turn on Miracast: you need to go to "Settings" - "Display" - "Wireless Screen (Miracast)" - turn it on and connect to the TV. Below is how it looked on the tested tablet.
In field " Wireless networks" select "More".
Select "Play To" (wireless connection to the display).
After that, the search for your TV will start and after a few seconds, the network name of the TV will appear.
Clicking on it will start connecting your Android device to the TV.
After a few seconds, you will see the screen of your tablet or smartphone on the TV screen.
Thus, you have connected your Android smartphone / tablet to the TV.
It should be noted that when connected using Miracast technology, the sound is transmitted to the TV and controlled from the TV remote control.
Disabling Miracast.
In order to disable Miracast, you need to go to "Settings" on your tablet / smartphone - select "More" in the "Wireless networks" field, click on "Play To" and the "Disable" button.
In my opinion, Miracast technology is one of the better ways connecting a tablet or smartphone on Android to a TV, since it is extremely easy to connect, does not require any additional devices (only a tablet / smartphone and TV), the only drawback is a delay of a split second, playing games is not convenient, but watching videos, photos, presentations - no problem. Miracast is a kind of wireless HDMI that I think will take its rightful place in wireless methods connecting various devices to the TV.
Advantages wireless connection using Miracast:
1) Connection is carried out wirelessly.
2) Connection does not require any additional devices (routers, routers, etc.)
3) Easy to connect, just turn on the Miracast function on your TV and tablet.
4) Protection of the data transmission channel between devices based on WPA2 technology.
Disadvantages of Miracast technology:
1) A slight delay, not critical for watching videos and photos, but playing games is not comfortable.
Video settings for wirelessly connecting an Android tablet/smartphone to a TV using Miracast.
Miracast is a program that installs wireless connection between two devices. Since not all gadgets have such a function, before you start connecting, you should determine its presence.
How to check Miracast support on Android
Before turning on Miracast, you should find out if Android supports this feature. Unfortunately, not all devices have this capability.
To find out this information on Android 6, 7, you need to go to screen options and check for the presence of the item " Broadcast". In the fifth Android - it will be " Wireless display (Miracast)».
If such information is available, then this item can be included. This must be done through the menu, which is called by 3 points. For "pure" Android, it is enough to change the position of the button to " On».
You can also find information about support for this feature in the section wireless settings. If the developers of the gadget have provided such an opportunity, then an icon with the name " Broadcast" or " Share Screen». 
How to enable Miracast on TV
This feature is usually always disabled. Therefore, to use it, you need to go to the options.
- Samsung. On the remote control, select the button called " Source". In the window that appears on the monitor, click " Screen Mirroring».
- LG. In the options under the " Settings" choose " Net", and then " Miracast". In this section, you need to change the position of the function to " On».
- Sony Bravia. Press the button on the left upper corner « Signal source". Then select " Duplicating screen". On the this TV broadcasting can be done without selecting a signal source. To do this, you need to go to "Settings" - "Home" - "Options" - "Network". In the window, pay attention to Wi-Fi. It will need to include " WiFi Direct". To use this video viewing method, the device must be turned on beforehand.
- To enable Wi-Fi Miracast, go to " Settings' and then to the tab ' network settings».
The principle of enabling this function in different brands devices is different. New models all support image playback via Wi-Fi.
We transfer the image from Android to the TV using Miracast
You will need to click on the name and wait a while for the connection to complete. In some versions, you need to click on the " allow". After that, a prompt will appear on the monitor.
- After Android detects the TV, you need to click on it. It only takes a few seconds for the display to appear on the screen.
Unfortunately, making the connection the first time is not always possible. But if you follow the sequence of actions and recommendations, then everything will turn out quickly and easily.