You just got a brand new PS4, one of Sony’s most successful game consoles and you can’t wait to play that one game you have been craving. Unfortunately, a TV set is required to play PS4. But you have heard that laptops can take the place of a TV. Now, you’re asking; can I use my laptop as a monitor for my PS4?
If this illustration describes what you’re currently experiencing, you’re not alone! By the way, being able to use a laptop for PS4 would be great considering the fact that laptops are mobile.
So, if you have an old laptop lying around your house and eating dust, it’s time to get the dust off and put it to good use. Firstly, let’s find the answer to this question.
Can I Use My Laptop As A Monitor For My PS4?
You can use your laptop as a monitor for your PS4. It works perfectly well. However, understand that the process isn’t as simple as having both devices connected via their HDMI ports. You have to follow certain steps to get it done.
Get a powerful laptop if you wish to use it as a monitor for your PS4. You need a laptop with a powerful graphics card to get high quality images. A high graphic card will make the images feel more realistic and let you enjoy the game.
Another thing you must do is prepare the playing area. Use high-speed connection to enjoy smooth game browsing speed.
Alright, let’s discuss how to connect a PS4 game console to a laptop.
How To Use Laptop As Monitor For PS4
It’s possible to use a laptop as a display for your PS4. But the question is, how is it done? We’ll explain the two ways you can connect your PS4 console to your laptop and enjoy a smooth gameplay.
The two processes are
- Using the Remote play application
- Video capture card
So these are the two ways to connect a PS4 to a laptop. Also, remember to use a laptop with a high graphics card so the image will appear more realistic.
Let’s explain both methods of connecting PS4 consoles to a laptop.
Method 1: Remote Play Application:
Before we go deeper, I would like to state some of the things you might experience when you connect PS4 to laptop via remote play.
- Note that broadcasting and screen sharing will be ruled out when you connect PS4 to laptop via Remote Play app.
- You have to forgo virtual reality mode, as it won’t function on the Remote Play application.
- Not all the games will support the Remote Play application. So, be ready to forgo some of your interesting games.
- It’s impossible to play music on Spotify when using the Remote Play application.
So, these are restrictions you’ll face when using Remote Play. Now, let’s discuss how to connect a laptop to the PS4 console using the Remote Play app.
Step 1: Gather your accessories:
You have to gather all the accessories you need for this process. This includes:
- laptop
- PS4 console
- A stable internet connection
- A PlayStation Network account
- USB cable or you can use a DUALSHOCK 4 USB ADAPTER too.
If you have all the accessories ready, then move to the next step.
Step 2: Get Remote Play app:
Remote Play is an application from Sony itself. You need to download it to the laptop you want to link to the PS4.
You can visit the PS4 official website to download the Remote Play application.
A Handy Tip: Consider downloading the latest version of the Remote Play app to your device. In addition, ensure the app you download is compatible with your device’s operating system.
So, after downloading, install the application and proceed to the next step.
Step 3: Remote Play mode set up:
The next step is a simple one. Access the PS4/5 console’s settings and click on remote play mode. Turn on the remote play mode and continue to the next step.
A Handy Tip: Ensure your PS4 console is up and running. It should be in rest mode and ensure that the “Enable turning on PS4 network” is active.
Step 4: Adjust the necessary parameters:
The next important phase is for you to adjust the Remote Play app’s speed parameters and frame rate. You have to do this on the app itself.
Step 5: Connection time:
We have reached the point where you have to connect DUALSHOCK 4 controller to your laptop via USB port.
If you don’t like the idea of connecting the controller to the USB directly, you can use a wireless adapter. Once it pairs successfully, you’re very close to playing your beloved PS4 game on your laptop.
Step 6: Start playing your favorite PS4 game:
The final step is for you to run the Remote Play application on your laptop and connect the PlayStation Network, as usual.
Now, you’re ready to play your PS4 game on a laptop.
Method 2: The capture card (VCC):
This video capture card method has advantages that you might not enjoy with the Remote Play app method we just finished discussing.
The advantage is that you can record and share your games to others after playing.
In addition, the VCC is a more reliable option.
Alright, let’s dive in and discuss how to connect a laptop to PS4 using this method.
Step 1: Get the needed accessories:
The first step which is the most important is for you to gather the accessories you need for this task. Here is the list below.
- Video capture card (VCC)
- Dual function HDMI cable
- PS4 model that has the file sharing option enabled
- Ethernet or you can use a wireless internet connection
- A laptop. Ensure the laptop can carry the load you’re about to place on it.
So, since you have all the accessories ready, let’s get down to business.
Step 2: Start with the broadband setup:
Broadband setup is the first thing you need to do, considering that file sharing functions via broadband.
So, you must ensure that your PlayStation 4 is online. Ensure your laptop and PS4 console are connected to the same router. They can connect via wireless option or cables.
Step 3: Setup the video capture card (VCC):
Note that video capture cards that support USB 3.0 are less prone to lagging issues and have capture resolution set to full HD.
So, if you’re buying your VCC, ensure it’s from a trusted source.
Alright, here’s how you set up the VCC.
You have to install the software that came with the VCC by simply connecting the device to your laptop via a USB port.
When you finish the process above, connect your PlayStation 4 to the device (VCC) using the S-video cable. Then the next step is to use the dual HDMI cable to connect the HDMI-out to your PlayStation 4 and connect the HDMI-in to your VCC.
A Handy Tip: Understand that VCCs might differ from one to another. Some might only require one HDMI cable, while others might require that you use two HDMI cables.
Step 4: Get the video capture card running:
Here is the final stage. This is where you have to run the video capture card and watch the PS4 display on your laptop screen.
Can PS4 Run Smoothly On My Laptop?
When connected to your laptop, PS4’s performance depends on several factors. The factors include the internet speed and laptop quality.
Use a laptop with a high graphic card so that the image will appear more realistic. Another step you need to take is to consider using high speed internet.
In addition, remember that you’ll need other accessories to play PS4 on your laptop. These include video capture card, HDMI cable, and Remote Play app. With the named accessories, you can’t connect your PS4 to your laptop.
Is Remote Play A Must To Use PS4 On My Laptop?
The Remote Play app isn’t compulsory. You can use other methods we discussed in this post.
In addition, Sony may offer other ways to connect PS4 consoles to laptops in the future. However, the Remote Play app is an easy and cost-effective way to connect a PS4 to a laptop. So, it’s worth using, but not a must-use.
Conclusion
Can I use my laptop as a monitor for my PS4? Yes, you can use your laptop as a monitor, in place of a TV.
Two ways you can connect PS4 to laptop exist. You can use the Remote Play app or a Video capture card (VCC).
Gather all the accessories you need and a high-speed internet. In addition, ensure you’re using a good quality laptop to get the best output.
