Can Laptop Hdmi Port Be Used as Input

Laptops have HDMI output ports in the vast majority of cases. This means that they are used to ship audio and video from the laptop to an external source similar a Tv or another monitor. They are not used to receive signal from an external source.

This is why you can't simply plug in your HDMI cable into your laptop and a gaming console for example and use your laptop as an additional monitor. For that, nosotros would crave a HDMI input port that would allow receiving data, not simply sending it.

We wrote a guide on how to avoid this and use other ways to plough your laptop into a monitor for a gaming console. But what about doing it piece of cake and for other devices? Can you change a laptop'south HDMI output to input?

Changing HDMI Output to Input on a laptop

It is not possible to use an HDMI adapter or anything similar to change a laptop's HDMI output to input. Information technology'southward not the cable that is responsible for sending or receiving signal, simply the port itself and how the laptop is built. And it is built only for output – which is sending betoken, no affair what cable you plug in.

Unfortunately, many websites out there tell you otherwise and recommend investing in HDMI adapters of sorts but that is not going to help. A laptop with a port built for Output merely will but be able to send indicate and not receive it.

It's non the cable that decides which fashion the signal goes, but the port itself. And as long equally your laptop'southward port is only built to send betoken to an external source and non receive audio and/or video signal (similar well-nigh laptops today), changing HDMI output to input on a laptop is impossible.

Can HDMI on laptop be used as input?

No, not direct. A laptop's HDMI port is built to exist output only, and then you can't employ information technology as an input port no matter what.

You can still find a workaround to receive signal and display it on your laptop's monitor, simply that won't happen by changing the HDMI to input.

Workarounds that you can use

Fifty-fifty though the easy route – that of merely plugging in an HDMI cablevision into your laptop and a panel, for instance – is not possible, there are workarounds to use the display of your laptop as a monitor for external devices.

Even so, these involve investing into a capture carte or similar devices which are usually pretty expensive. With the money spent on buying such a gadget, you could easily purchase a decent 4K TV instead.

But if you don't take enough space for an external TV or you simply prefer to apply your laptop's monitor for receiving signal from an external source such every bit a gaming console, you tin do these, but not via HDMI.

Instead, you will need to use a capture card that will connect via USB to your laptop and the device y'all want to stream for.

Since a huge book of information will be sent – especially for 4K resolutions, the connection will be washed through an USB-C or Thunderbolt port.

So brand sure to check that your laptop has such ports. Alternately, you can check out my list of recommended 17″ laptops that have these ports and too offer a larger screen that's perfect for streaming.

How to change HDMI Output to Input on a laptop with a capture card

First of all, I exercise have to mention that nosotros're not actually going to change the HDMI output to input, as we already discussed that this is impossible.

Since most people use this recommended workaround and are able to turn their laptop into a monitor, they consider that at that place's really a change from output to input.

This is incorrect – but these are merely technical details. The finish result is that you can indeed receive signal from an external source to your laptop.

In order to exercise this, you lot will demand a capture card such as the Elgato HD60 S (chapter link), which is my favorite.

There are other options on the market place, but the Elgato is adequately priced and works flawlessly, being able to ship audio and video signal to your laptop from all major gaming consoles – Xbox or PlayStation.

The process of using one to turn the output to input and receive point on your laptop is very easy:

one. Connect the USB-C cable to the capture card, so the other end into your laptop's or desktop's USB 3.0 port. Make sure you connect it to your USB 3.0 port and not older ones for maximum performance!

2. Plug the HDMI cablevision into your gaming console and the other end in the the HDMI IN port on your capture card.

three. Plug in another HDMI cable into the card'due south HDMI OUT port, and the other end into your laptop.

And this is information technology! You volition set-upwards your capture card next and you'll be able to receive signal from the external source, via the capture card itself and on your laptop's screen.

While it might seem that you lot are switching the HDMI output to input on the laptop, y'all are actually sending the signal to your display via the USB-C cable/port.

Only as we said, these are just technical details that don't really affair a lot in the large motion picture. What matters is that this is the only real style to do it and but using a regular adapter like a HDMI output to input cable won't work.

Decision

Y'all can't straight switch a laptop's HDMI output to input, only you tin use a capture card to accomplish the same results. Information technology will crave an USB 3.0 or in a higher place port to work, but well-nigh modern laptops have these.

Even though a chip pricey, information technology's a solid method that works and allows your laptop'due south screen to display external video and audio.

Make sure to double check all the requirements of a capture carte (especially the arrangement requirements) every bit these unremarkably crave a higher terminate laptop with a dedicated graphics card in club to function properly.

You lot might too feel a bit of lag if you're only able to run into the minimum requirements, but with a chip of tweaking, the results will be at least satisfactory.

However, equally you can see, the procedure is a scrap complicated. So unless you really need to use the laptop equally a brandish for your console for specific reasons (like recording the video on your laptop, streaming or anything similar), it might exist easier to only invest in a cheap smart TV instead.

For example, this Insignia model (affiliate link) wouldn't cost a lot more than a capture menu would, but information technology would have the advantage of offer a larger screen (32″) and since it'south a smart Goggle box nosotros're talking about, it will give you easy admission to Netflix, Disney+, Hulu and more than every bit long as y'all have a WiFi connection available.

It's your decision in the end every bit you know better why exactly you need to turn that HDMI output into input in the offset identify.

It's good to know that you take alternatives though and in this case, the alternative might be the amend choice unless you're thinking almost streaming or recording gameplay videos.

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Source: https://www.techosaurusrex.com/how-to-change-hdmi-output-to-input-laptop/