One of the fun and most exciting ways to relax after a long day at work is to enjoy your PS4 games. However, everything can get ruined when your TV starts acting up. Did you know that you have other options asides from your TV?
If you have a laptop with a really nice display, you can play all your PS4 games. All you need is to use an HDMI cable to connect to your laptop. This might sound straightforward, but without knowing what to do, it can be rather difficult.
However, you can easily enjoy your PS4 games on your laptop if you’re willing to dedicate the time and money to get the equipment you need and set them up.
The big question is, how can you play PS4 games on pc? In this article, you’ll find out how to play PS4 games on pc. We have highlighted a stepwise guide to help you play these games on your laptop using HDMI.
First, we’ll show you the equipment you need before we highlight the ways to start having fun with your PS4 games on your laptop. Ensuring you have the right to is one of the most important things to do, especially if you want to play PS4 on a laptop using the HDMI cable.
Equipment Needed to Play PS4 on Laptop Using HDMI
You need more than one HDMI cable to play PS4 games on your laptop. This is to allow you to establish a two-way connection. Remember that both HDMI ports on your laptop and PS4 are output ports. Using the conventional HDMI to HDMI cable will only cause your laptop and PS4 to output their display to one another, which isn’t what you want to achieve.
With the right tool, you can easily make a dedicated video input on your laptop. Here is the equipment you need to create video input that allows you to connect your PS4 to your laptop using HDMI:
- PS4
- Laptop
- Video capture card
- Stable internet connection
- DUALSHOCK 4 USB wireless or USB cable adaptor
- HDMI cable
These are the equipment you need to play PS4 on Laptop using HDMI. The interesting thing is that this equipment is very easy to get. With the equipment in place, you only need to follow the steps we’ll highlight below to play PS4 on a laptop using HDMI.
How to Connect PS4 to Laptop HDMI
One of the questions people often ask is “Can I use my laptop as a monitor for my PS4?” The answer is yes, and there are two ways to achieve this. You can either use a Video capture card to create an HDMI-in port for your laptop or use Remote Play.
Connecting your PS4 to Laptop Using Remote Play
Remote play is a common way to enjoy all your PS4 games on your pc. This is an app that allows you to stream all your PS4 games on Windows or Mac devices. It’s worth noting that this option can only work if you’re remotely connected to your PS4.
To connect your laptop and PS4 using Remote Play, you’ll need stable internet, a laptop, PS4, a PlayStation Network account, and DUALSHOCK 4 USB wireless or USB cable adaptor. With all these requirements in place, you can start playing PS4 games on your laptop using Remote Play.
1. Download the Remote Play App
The first thing to do is to download the Remote Play app from the Sony website. It’s important to ensure that the version you download is compatible with your laptop.
2. Update and Enable your PS4
This step is only for people that have a PS4 console. You need to set your PS4 as a primary console, and you can do this from Account Management. Here you can activate the console as a primary PS4. You can also enable smooth performance by downloading the latest version of its firmware.
3. Enable Remote Play Option
The next thing is to enable Remote Play on your PS4, and here’s how you can do this:
- Visit your PS4 Settings
- Locate the Remote Play Connection Settings
- Enable the settings
Proceed to the Remote Play app on your laptop after enabling the Remote Play option.
4. Turn on PS4 from Network
Set the default laptop settings to Rest Mode to allow it to save power. Also active enable turning on PS4 from the network.
5. Get All the Settings Right
Before you start gaming on your laptop, you need to ensure that you get all the settings right. You’ll find the settings tab at the top left corner of the app, from which you can set gameplay-enhancing mechanics like frame rate and video resolution.
6. Connect the Controllers
Now you can connect your Dualshock 4 controllers to your laptop. This can either be wired to Dualshock or a USB cable to a USB adapter. Hold down the circular and square buttons until the light bar starts flashing. You can now connect the wired cable to your laptop and wait for it to pair with your PC.
7. Search for PS4 in the Network
You can start the Remote Pay app on your laptop after finishing the steps above. Log into the PlayStation network and scan for your PS4 within the network. Now you can start enjoying your favorite games from your laptop.
In addition to the above, you also need to know how to power off your PS4 from your laptop. Apart from knowing how to turn on a PS4 to a laptop, it’s also important to know how to turn it off.
If the Rest Mode is also set, all you need to do is to hold down the PlayStation button on the controller to turn it off. You can find out how to set the Rest Mode in the steps above.
Connecting your PS4 to Laptop Using Capture Card
Another option is to use a video capture card to play PS4 games on your laptop using HDMI. For this, you’ll need similar equipment listed above. With this equipment and tools, you can follow the steps below.
1. Install Necessary Drivers and Software
The first thing is to connect the video capture card to your laptop via the USB port. This will trigger the installation of necessary drivers for the card to run smoothly. To get the best quality graphics, it’s advisable to get a cheap video capture card.
2. Connect the PS4 and Laptop with the Video Capture Card
You need an HDMI-to-HDMI cable and a video capture card to establish the connection between your PS4 and laptop. With this, you can connect one end of the HDMI to the capture card and the other to your PS4. After that, you only need to plug the video capture card into the USB port of your laptop, and you’re all good.
3. Run the Software
The last step is to get the PS4 running with your laptop, and this is aided by the video capture card software. Basically, the application will scan and detect the PS4 before displaying it on your laptop. You can then select an ideal resolution and start enjoying all your favorite games.
Overview of the Steps Above
Playing PS4 on a Laptop with HDMI but Without Capture Card
We have already highlighted the step above, which is to use Remote Play. Another option is to use the built-in recording function of the console. Thanks to OBS, it’s also possible to stream PS4 games using HDMI on your laptop. This guarantees acceptable graphics and smooth gameplay.
Using a Laptop as a PS4 Monitor
As mentioned earlier, you can use a capture card with an HDMI cable or remote play to use your laptop as a PS4 monitor. With this, you can conveniently stream your best PS4 games on your laptop. This is a great option to use if your main display device isn’t functioning.
Using a Laptop as a Monitor but Without Remote Play
With a video capture card, you can use your laptop as a PS4 monitor. It’s worth noting that OBS recording software and the recording function on PS4 don’t require a dedicated video capture card or Remote Play.
Conclusion
There are many ways to play your favorite PS4 games on your laptop using HDMI, but to do this, you need to know how to set up PS4. All the steps above are DIY methods that you can easily apply, even without the help of a professional. You’ll only need to hire a professional when things go out of hand. Today, the most widely used method is the video card option because it is very easy.
If you don’t want to invest in a video capture card and HDMI cable, another option is to use Remote Play to stream PS4 on your laptop. The only thing you need for this is a stable internet connection; with that, you’ll be able to enjoy all your favorite PS4 games without any glitches.
You don’t have to be bound by your TV anymore. With the tips we have provided in this article, you can now easily play PS4 games on a laptop using an HDMI cable.