How to Use Laptop as Monitor for PS4

ByHarshwardhan

The Ps4 is one of the highest-selling home gaming consoles of all time. According to Statista, Sony has sold 112.96 million units worldwide as of September 2020.

So it’s highly likely you might also have one lying around at your house. Giant flat-screen TVs in living rooms are what the majority of casual Ps4 console gamers play on.

Sometimes though, the living room or TV isn’t available or functioning, and at times like these, you wish there was some other way to use your Ps4. Perhaps on your personal laptop’s display? 

So can I use my laptop as a screen for my PS4? It turns out you can do precisely that. Gamers can directly jump back into gaming by using a laptop as a monitor.

So how do you connect a PS4 to a laptop? Unfortunately, the process isn’t precisely plug-and-play, and you need to initially set up the whole thing.

Once you’ve set it up, it should be a piece of cake to use the laptop as a monitor for ps4 whenever you want to.

Can You Directly Plug-In Your PS4’s HDMI Into Your Laptop To Play Games?

 The simple answer is no. There is no native support in most laptops to monitor PS4 consoles because both devices feature HDMI output ports and not Input ports.

The output ports allow these devices to display themselves on other monitors with an HDMI input port.

Although this doesn’t mean there is no possibility of using your laptop to monitor your ps4. There are many workarounds, and we will discuss all of these in this article in full detail.

So How Do You Connect A PS4 To A Laptop?

Some of the methods for using your laptop as a monitor for your ps4 are:

  • Using a capture card
  • Sony Remote Play

How do I Use my Laptop as a Monitor for PS4 With HDMI? – Using a Video Capture Card

Perhaps the simplest and easiest way to connect your Ps4 to the laptop through HDMI is by using video capture cards. This method allows you to efficiently use a laptop as a monitor and has the minor input lag of all the other alternatives mentioned.

The only downside of using a video card is that it can be expensive, but the seamless and input-lag-free experience makes up for it.

Always buy a sound-quality Video Capture Card from a reputable brand. There’s nothing worse than being stuck with a capture card that ruins the gaming experience by adding significant input lag. 

Additionally, most Chinese knockoff video cards don’t have the appropriate software, have connection issues, and don’t use the best parts. So it’s better to stay safe than sorry and go with quality cards that can serve you for years.

The things that you are going to require for this method are:

  • A laptop
  • Ps4
  • A video capture card
  • File sharing enabled on your Ps4
  • Active internet (Wifi or Lan)
  • Dual functioning HDMI 

Once you have all the required equipment follow the steps outlined below to set up your video card and use the laptop as a monitor for your Ps4.

1st Step:

First and foremost, you need to turn on the file-sharing option on your Ps4. You can find this option easily in your console’s Ps4 System Settings menu. 

Next, open the network settings tab, click the Internet Connection Settings, and ensure your device is connected.

You can choose to connect to the internet by either Wifi or Lan. You can use any method if the internet connection is active and on the same network as your laptop.

2nd Step:

In this step, you must download and install the software required to run your setup. Then, connect the video capture card to your laptop using the USB port and install the appropriate software. 

Usually, the software required comes accompanied by the capture card and is pretty intuitive and easy to install. The installation wizard will guide you through the process step by step and once the installation process is complete, proceed to step 3.

3rd Step:

Once you are done with step 2, the next step is establishing a connection between your capture card and Ps4.

 You will need an S-video cable to connect a Ps4 with your capture card. Then, use the HDMI out port on the Ps4 and attach the HDMI port on the capture card to link the devices.

4th and Final Step:

Turn on your Ps4 and allow the card software to find the Ps4. Once the Ps4 has been recognized by the software successfully, you can enjoy all your favorite high-resolution Ps4 games by using your laptop as a monitor.

Can You Use a Laptop as a Console Monitor?- Using Remote Play

Remote play is a service offered by Sony that allows you to stream directly from your Ps4 to any Windows or Mac computer or laptop. This service sets up a remote connection between your Ps4 and laptop through the internet.

Therefore, this method requires a high-quality internet connection for a smooth, lag-free experience.

The things you are going to need for this method are:

  • First, you are going to need a laptop or PC.
  • Ps4.
  • USB cable for connecting your Ps4 controller to your laptop.
  • Stable and active internet connection.
  • An active Ps4 account.

Once you have all the required equipment follow the steps outlined below to set up Remote Play connection settings and use the laptop to monitor your Ps4.

1st Step:

Firstly you need to download and install the updated version of Remote Play from Sony’s official website. Next, download and install the appropriate version for your laptop’s operating system.

The application comes with an intuitive installation wizard and guides you through the process every step of the way. Once you have installed the application, proceed to step 2.

2nd Step:

The next step is to enable the connection option on your Ps4. You can find this option by going into your Ps4 System Settings menu. After allowing this feature, your Ps4 can allow other devices to access its games for streaming.

It’s always better to leave your Ps4 on rest mode when using Remote Play, as your Ps4 needs to be switched on at all times to maintain a connection with your laptop. In addition, leaving it on rest mode will put less strain on your Ps4 console and is more energy-efficient.

You can easily find the option to activate rest mode in the settings menu.

3rd Step:

The power save settings menu on your Ps4 searches for an option that says “Enable turning on Ps4 from the network” and enables it. Next, open the Remote Play app on your laptop screen and set up the initial resolution and FPS settings.

4th And Final Step:

Finally, it is time to connect the controller to your laptop. You can do this by using a USB port cable. After pairing your controller to your laptop, go to the Sony Remote Play app and enter your Playstation console’s account details in the app.

Now you should be able to stream your video game library from your Ps4 console games on your laptop screen wirelessly through your Remote Play connection. Remember to put the Ps4 console into rest mode whenever using Remote Play to save electricity.

So To Answer The Question, Can I Use My Laptop As A Screen For My PS4?

It takes a little initial setup to use laptops as monitors for your Ps4. But after the initial hassle, it can be feasible in the long run and only takes a couple of minutes to set up.

The fastest and most direct method would be to use a video capture card. Although a sound-quality card can be expensive, it offers a minor lag, and you don’t need insanely fast internet.

Remote Play is another way to allow streaming your Ps4 directly onto your laptop. It is the official way Sony intended for streaming video games from your Ps4.

Additionally, it doesn’t require an expensive video card or cable connection, which could be a hassle. The only downside of Remote Play is that it requires stable and high-speed internet and decent system specs. But if you have both, there’s no reason not to opt for Remote Play.

It’s up to you to decide which method works best for you. Of course, both ways have pros and cons, but hopefully, this article helped in helping you set up and use your laptop screen to monitor your Ps4 console.