Guides · October 13, 2026

Turn an old PC into a TV media player: what you need and how to set it up

An old laptop or desktop you've replaced makes a good "TV player": playing local video files doesn't need much power, and most computers from a few years ago are more than enough.

What you need

• A computer: anything that runs Windows 10 or 11 well; 4 GB of RAM or more is smoother.
• A cable: one HDMI cable. If the computer has no HDMI port, check for DisplayPort or USB-C with video output and get the matching adapter cable.
• Network: the PC and the tablet or phone on the same Wi-Fi (the PC can also be on a network cable, as long as it's the same home network).
• Video files: videos you own and have the right to play, on the PC's drive or an external drive.

Basic setup

• Connect: one end of the HDMI cable to the PC, the other to the TV, and switch the TV to that HDMI input.
• Display: press Win + P on the PC and choose Duplicate (same on both) or Second screen only (TV only; you can close a laptop's lid).
• Sound: if the TV is silent, click the volume icon at the bottom right of Windows and switch the output device to the TV.
• Power: in Settings → System → Power, make "Turn off screen" and "Sleep" longer, so the PC doesn't fall asleep mid-show.
• Laptop lid closed without sleeping: Control Panel → Power Options → "Choose what closing the lid does", and set "Plugged in" to Do nothing.

Playback software

We recommend the free VLC media player (videolan.org), which plays almost any format. On its own, though, you change shows at the PC.

To control it from the sofa with a phone or tablet, add a remote app such as KiddoRemote: it plays through VLC, shows a wall of covers on the tablet, plays full screen on the TV when you tap one, remembers where each show stopped, and lets you set kids' viewing time.

Common problems

• Black borders or tiny text on the TV: in Windows Display settings, set the resolution the TV recommends and Scale to 150–200%.
• Stuttering playback: usually a very high-bitrate file or a slow drive; keep videos on the PC's local drive.
• The tablet can't reach the PC: make sure both are on the same Wi-Fi and that the router's guest network or "AP isolation" isn't on.

Picture or sound problems after connecting? See no signal, no sound, or the picture is cut off.