15 feet is usually adequate for most cases, but if you have a gigantic room you may want a longer cable.įor the purpose of this walkthrough we’ll focus on the newer Mac models with a built-in HDMI, Mini-DisplayPort, and/or Thunderbolt ports, this guide was crafted using a MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, but the same applies to newer Mac Mini and iMac models too. If you plan to control the TV using your Mac from a distance, spend a couple extra bucks on a longer HDMI cable.

Also note that for 2010 and older Macs, the Mini-DVI to HDMI adapters do not carry audio at all, thus you will need a separate audio output option that we won’t cover here (external speakers, separate audio cable, etc). I’ve had the best experience with the Monoprice brand, but your mileage may vary. Generally, the adapters that cost a little bit more tend to be more reliable, so be sure to read the reviews and make sure that audio does indeed work for the adapter you are ordering. Note about HDMI adapters and audio support: there are many options available on Amazon and some are very cheap, many of which will not actually carry audio despite advertising that they do. HDTV with HDMI input, just about any modern HDTV.HDMI cable ($5-$20 depending on length).Mini DisplayPort/Thunderbolt to HDMI Adapter with Audio Support ($10-$15).

Mac with Mini-DisplayPort, Mini-DVI*, HDMI, or Thunderbolt port.

Virtually every semi-modern Mac will fit the bill, but you will need the following:

Lets get started and cover the basic requirements first. Yes, the AirPlay feature can also export a screen to show up on a TV through an Apple TV box, but the HDMI method has several distinct advantages it’s cheaper, resource usage is considerably less, there are no slowdowns, the video quality does not depend on network latency, and it’s just generally much more versatile, making the only real downside to the HDMI approach being the physical cable connectivity. HDMI is really the best way to connect a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, MacBook, iMac, or Mini to an HDTV screen, whatever your intended usage purpose is. The result will be the Mac exporting both video and audio signals to the TV. We’re going to focus on connecting any newer Mac to any fairly modern TV by way of a physical HDMI connection, thus, a few third party accessories will be necessary for the task. Ever wanted to connect a Mac to a TV screen? Maybe you want to use the TV as a giant external monitor, to play games on a big screen, or just for video playback and movie streaming? It’s actually quite easy to do, and we’ll cover the entire process from start to finish.

Mac to hdmi