How to Connect a Laptop to Sony Bravia VGA
By C. Taylor
Playing a movie on your laptop is convenient, but at home you probably prefer the large, cinematic screen of your Sony Bravia. Connecting your laptop to the Sony Bravia's VGA port enables you to play laptop movies on the TV. However, VGA cables do not include an audio channel, so to play the movie's sound through the Bravia, you need an additional audio connection.
Step 1
Attach one end of an HD15 cable to the VGA port on your laptop. Most laptops possess a VGA output, but if your laptop only has a DVI or HDMI output, connect them to the Bravia's HDMI input using an HDMI cable. DVI outputs will require a DVI-to-HDMI adapter to make the connection. Alternatively, using a DVI-to-VGA adapter enables you to connect from the DVI port to the VGA port, although using HDMI results in better quality.
Step 2
Connect the other end of the HD15 cable to the "VGA" or "PC In" port on the back of the Bravia TV.
Step 3
Connect one end of a 3.5mm audio cable into the "Audio Out" or "Headphone" jack on your laptop.
Step 4
Connect the other end of the audio cable to the "Audio" jack on the Bravia, located next to the VGA connection.
Step 5
Press "Windows-P" and select "Duplicate" or "Projector Only" to display your laptop screen on the Bravia. Alternatively, select "Extend" to use the Bravia screen as a secondary monitor.
References
Tips
- Your Windows 7 laptop automatically adjusts the output, but if the output looks distorted, right-click an empty area of your laptop's desktop, select "Screen Resolution" and move the "Resolution" slider to its lowest resolution. You may need to experiment for optimal settings.
Warnings
- If you chose to extend your desktop to use the Bravia as a secondary monitor, you might need to drag the media player window to the other screen to playback the movie on the Bravia. Alternatively, hold the Windows key and press the left or right arrow keys to move the window to the Bravia display.
Writer Bio
C. Taylor embarked on a professional writing career in 2009 and frequently writes about technology, science, business, finance, martial arts and the great outdoors. He writes for both online and offline publications, including the Journal of Asian Martial Arts, Samsung, Radio Shack, Motley Fool, Chron, Synonym and more. He received a Master of Science degree in wildlife biology from Clemson University and a Bachelor of Arts in biological sciences at College of Charleston. He also holds minors in statistics, physics and visual arts.