How to Cast to an External Display from Windows 11

You can cast your Windows 11 screen to an external display wirelessly using Miracast technology.

Miracast lets devices connect directly over Wi-Fi for screen mirroring, no cables needed. You can project your laptop’s display onto a compatible TV, projector, or monitor.

To begin, ensure your external display is powered on and set to the correct input mode. If your display doesn’t natively support Miracast, you’ll need a Miracast adapter plugged into its HDMI port.

Step 1Get Your External Display Ready

Before you cast your Windows 11 display, make sure your TV or projector is turned on and set up to receive a connection. If you’re using a wireless adapter like a Miracast dongle, ensure it’s plugged in and powered on too.

Action: Turn on your external display (like your TV or projector). If you’re using a special device called a Miracast dongle or adapter (this plugs into your TV’s HDMI port to add wireless display features), make sure it’s plugged in and turned on too.

Miracast technology enables Windows to wirelessly send your screen signal to a display. Your television or projector must be powered on and actively seeking a Miracast connection. If you use a Miracast adapter, this adapter acts as the receiver for the PC's signal and requires a secure connection to be active.

TVs require specific input settings for screen mirroring. Users must switch the TV to "Screen Mirroring," "Miracast," or "Wireless Display" mode. This action allows a Windows 11 PC, running version 22H2 or later, to find and connect to the television. Consult the television's manual for exact instructions.

Step 2Tell 🪟 Windows 11 to Look for Displays

To tell Windows 11 to look for your external display, open the Cast panel using a quick keyboard shortcut. Press the Windows key and the K key together to bring up the panel that lists available devices.

Action: Press the Windows logo key (the key with four squares) and the K key on your keyboard at the same time. This opens the “Cast” or “Connect” panel.

The Windows keyboard shortcut for wireless display connections rapidly lists devices your computer can connect to for screen sharing. This shortcut uses 1 keyboard key to open the connection menu. The shortcut offers speed and convenience for sharing your computer's screen.

Step 3Select Your Display and Connect

Once the Cast panel is open, select your external display from the list of nearby devices to connect your Windows 11 screen. Click the name of your TV, projector, or Miracast adapter to start the connection.

Action: Look at the list of devices in the panel that appeared. Click on the name of the TV, projector, or Miracast adapter you want to connect to.

Windows searches your local network for Miracast-compatible devices. This network scan lists found devices, allowing users to select a display. If other wireless displays are near the computer, all detected displays appear in this list.

Step 4Follow Any On-Screen Prompts

Your external display may ask you to confirm the connection from your Windows 11 computer. Watch the TV or projector screen and follow any prompts to allow the connection.

Action: Watch your external display. You might see a message asking you to allow the connection from your computer. If you do, follow the instructions on the TV or projector screen to accept it.

Screen sharing to external displays requires user permission. This security measure prevents unauthorized screen mirroring. Someone cannot broadcast your computer's screen to a TV without your explicit consent, ensuring you control what is displayed.

Tip: If you’re using a projector for a presentation, make sure to accept the connection quickly before your audience gets impatient!

Step 5Choose How You Want to Display

After connecting your Windows 11 display, you can choose how you want your screens to work together using the Project menu. Press the Windows key + P to open this menu and select your preferred display mode.

Action: Press the Windows logo key and the P key together. This shortcut opens the "Project" menu. The "Project" menu displays four different display modes, allowing users to choose how their screen appears on another device.

The "Windows Key + P" shortcut helps manage how your Windows 11 computer handles multiple displays. This shortcut offers four common options for display management: PC screen only, duplicate displays, extend displays, or second screen only.

• PC screen only: This turns off the external display, showing everything only on your laptop. This is useful if you accidentally connected to the wrong screen.
• Duplicate: This shows the exact same content on both your laptop screen and the external display. It’s perfect for presentations where you want everyone to see what you’re doing.
• Extend: This gives you more space! Your computer’s desktop will spread across both screens, giving you more room to work. You can drag windows from one screen to the other.
• Second screen only: This turns off your laptop screen and shows everything only on the external display. This is great if you want to focus on the big screen and save your laptop’s battery.

Tip: For the “Extend” mode, you can even set up where the external monitor appears compared to your laptop screen in your PC’s Settings, under System and then Display. Just drag the display boxes to match how they are physically arranged.

Summary

Casting your Windows 11 display to an external screen involves turning on your display, using Windows key + K to connect, confirming if needed, and then using Windows key + P to pick your preferred display mode.