Alex Ruben
How To Wirelessly Turn Your Samsung Smart TV Into a Second Display for Your MacBook
Connecting your MacBook to a Samsung Smart TV wirelessly is kinda weird, but it actually works without installing fancy software. If your goal is to get more screen real estate—whether you’re working, editing videos, or just multitasking—this setup can be surprisingly handy. Just beware, sometimes it’s a hit or miss depending on your setup.
Step 1: Ensure Both Devices Are on the Same Wi-Fi Network
First things first, both your MacBook and Samsung Smart TV need to be on the same Wi-Fi network. This isn’t optional—if they’re on different networks, nothing will talk to each other. You can check your Wi-Fi in System Preferences > Network on Mac or via your TV settings menu. It’s like making sure both friends are in the same room before starting a chat.
Why it helps? Because wireless display features rely on local network discovery—no network, no show.
Step 2: Access Control Center on Your MacBook
Next, click the Control Center icon in the menu bar—the one shaped like two sliders or a toggle. Sometimes, it’s hidden behind the Wi-Fi icon. If it’s not there, you might need to add it via System Preferences > Dock & Menu Bar.
Here’s what you’ll see: icons for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc. this is where the magic begins.
Step 3: Click on the Screen Mirroring Icon
Within the Control Center, find the Screen Mirroring icon—looks like a monitor with a triangle at the bottom or similar. Click on it to see available devices. If you’re lucky, your Samsung TV will be listed. If not, try restarting your Mac or toggling Wi-Fi off and on.
Honestly, on some setups this fails the first time, then magically works after a reboot or two. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary.
Step 4: Select Your Samsung TV
Click on your TV’s name—usually something like “Living Room TV” or “Samsung XYZ”. If it doesn’t show, double-check that your TV is powered on and set to the correct input. Also, make sure screen mirroring or wireless display options are enabled on the TV menu (check Settings > General > Network > Screen Mirroring or Miracast options if available, though Samsung TVs generally still use Miracast or similar tech).
Expect a moment for the TV to respond—it might show a prompt to allow the connection, so be ready to confirm.
Step 5: Allow Access on Your TV
If your TV prompts for permission to connect, select Allow. Sometimes, this step is tricky because not all TVs automatically accept new sources—so check your TV’s notifications or popup permissions if it’s not connecting.
Bonus tip: on some Samsung models, you need to enable “Screen Mirroring” or “Smart View” in the Quick Settings menu for this to work smoothly.
Step 6: Start Mirroring Your MacBook Screen
Once connected, your MacBook’s screen should appear mirrored on the TV. You’ll see your desktop on the big screen—no software downloads required. Of course, video streaming or animations might have slight lag, but for static work, it’s usually fine.
On some machines this mirroring is instant, on others it takes a few seconds, then it’s smooth. Not sure why it works sometimes and not others, but restarting your Mac or TV can give it that extra push.
Step 7: Extend Your Display Instead of Mirroring
If you want to use the TV as an extra desktop (not just mirror), go back to the Screen Mirroring icon in Control Center, click it, then choose Change Mirroring Options. There, you can select Extended Desktop. This lets you move windows between screens—super handy for multitasking.
This isn’t always seamless—sometimes, MacOS just defaults back to mirroring, so you might have to toggle settings a few times.
Step 8: Adjust Your Displays
After enabling extended mode, you can arrange the displays in System Preferences > Displays. Drag the display icons to match your physical setup—left or right, top or bottom. Now, moving your cursor or dragging windows feels natural because MacOS will recognize your TV as a separate monitor. Crazy how that works!
Step 9: Disconnect When Finished
Done? Just go back to Control Center > Screen Mirroring and click Stop Mirroring. It disconnects pretty quick, but sometimes, the TV keeps trying to reconnect if you stay on the same network. Restarting the devices can help if it gets stubborn.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
Some quick tricks if things get weird:
- Update your Mac to the latest macOS—Apple pushes improvements frequently.
- Make sure your TV firmware is current; Samsung often releases updates that fix bugs.
- If the TV isn’t showing up, double-check that screen mirroring or smart view settings are enabled on the TV. For some Samsung models, you need to toggle “Expert Settings” or enable permissions explicitly.
- Wi-Fi quality can make a difference—try to stay close to your router or use a 5GHz network if possible.
- On some setups, restarting both devices fixes connectivity hiccups. It’s silly, but hey, it works most times.
Conclusion
Getting your Samsung Smart TV to act as a wireless secondary display for a MacBook is kinda a mixed bag—sometimes smooth, sometimes frustrating. But it definitely beats USB cables or dongles in a pinch. Just keep in mind that lag and disconnects happen, so don’t rely on it for super-precision tasks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my Samsung TV as a secondary monitor for other devices?
Absolutely. Most modern smart TVs support similar wireless display standards like Miracast or AirPlay, so you can hook up your Windows PC, Android phone, or other devices just as easily.
Is there any lag when using the TV as a secondary monitor?
Expect a bit of delay, especially in high-motion video or gaming. If you’re doing HDMI or USB-C wired connections, those are much better performance-wise. Wireless is fine for static work or casual browsing.
What to do if my TV doesn’t appear in the device list?
First, double-check the network connection and settings on the TV. Sometimes, toggling screen mirroring or resetting your Wi-Fi connection helps. Also, make sure your Mac is on the latest OS and your TV’s firmware is up to date.
Summary
- Same Wi-Fi network? Check and double-check.
- Use the Control Center on Mac for screen mirroring options.
- Pick your TV from the list and accept connection prompts.
- Adjust settings to extend or mirror as needed.
- Remember to update everything if things don’t work smoothly.
Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours for someone.