How to Project Your Chromebook to a TV or Monitor without HDMI – 2023

So, your Chromebook doesn’t have an HDMI port (or it’s broken).

And you want to connect your Chromebook to a TV or external monitor.

But without an HDMI OUT port, how exactly are you going to do this?

Well, you’ve come to the right place.

In this tutorial, I’ll show you two different ways you can easily connect your Chromebook to any compatible external monitor or TV.

Ready to project your Chrome OS experience a bigger screen? Let’s get started already.

Last updated: 2/27/23. Updated for accuracy and reviewed for 2023.

Does your Chromebook lack an HDMI port?

There aren’t many Chromebooks out there that don’t have a full-size HDMI out port.

This is pretty much the standard port for the majority of them. However, there are a few oddballs here and there like the Samsung Exynos Chromebook which only has a Micro-USB port.

And it’s also entirely possible that the HDMI port on your Chromebook is broken or not working properly. You can still mirror your screen without using the HDMI port in this case. Just keep reading.

Or perhaps you’re already using an HDMI cable and you’re sick of dealing with wires and you want to project your screen wirelessly to your TV.

Whatever the case, this tutorial was written to get your Chromebook connected no matter the case.

The process is pretty easy and you can get setup within minutes. It’s just having the hardware present that’s the hard part. But once you have all the cable, projecting a video, picture, or even the Chrome browser to an external display is easy.

Chromebooks generally have 1 HMDI out port so you can connect it to a compatible TV, monitor, etc. However, you can also use Chromecast to broadcast it wirelessly to a smart TV.

Ready to get started? Let’s roll.

Hardware requirements

For this to work properly, you’ll need to have a compatible monitor or TV that you’re trying to connect to.

By compatible, this means one basic requirement.

If you want to project your Chromebook to another monitor or TV, you’ll need:

• At least one available HDMI IN port

And, that’s about it.

The first thing you should do is check the display you’re trying to connect to:

• Does it have an HDMI port?
• Is it an “IN” port?

Many modern devices now come with both HDMI “IN” and “OUT” ports, so you need to make sure that your TV or monitor comes with at least one “IN” port.

Your Chromebook will have an HDMI “OUT” port on the frame. This is where the picture will be routed out of the device to your external display.

And make sure it’s vacant and available. I mean, the last you want to do is to have to constantly unplug and replug HDMI cables because you don’t have enough ports. That’s one of my biggest pet peeves.

Okay, so you’ve verified that your TV or display has an HDMI IN port. And it’s vacant.

Now you’re ready to move onto the next step.

How to connect your Chromebook to a TV or external display without HDMI

So, the big question is: “how are we going to connect to an HDMI IN port if your Chromebook doesn’t have an HDMI OUT port?”

The answer is simple. Use an HDMI adapter.

Yup, it’s the answer you probably dread and praise at the same time.

On one hand, now you have a way to connect to an HDMI device with your Chromebook that has no HDMI port.

But on the other hand, this means you need to go buy an adapter, possibly wait for shipping, and it’s a pretty annoying inconvenience overall (I totally know that feeling).

So go ahead- moan, groan, and let out all the frustrations. I do that also.

Okay, are we level-headed yet? Let’s go ahead and get this done.

What ports do you have?

Now let’s get to the nitty-gritty.

You’ll need to examine your Chromebook to find out what kind of adapter you need. Chromebooks come in a variety of connectivity setups. Some have Mini-HDMI ports. Some have Micro-USB ports. Some have USB Type-C ports.

Take a look at your Chromebook’s ports closely. Identify the ports on both sides. Some manufacturers label them with lettering so you can easily identify what they are.

For example, you’ll see the word “USB” or “HDMI” labeled conveniently right next to the specific port.

Other brands may just use icons, which is a lot more common. If you know your icons, then you’re all set.

If you don’t know what to look for, use this handy guide to identify your Chromebook’s ports:

USB Type-C port

Micro-USB port

Mini-HDMI port

Find one of the following ports on your Chromebook in order to connect it to a TV or external monitor:

• USB Type-C
• Micro-USB port (also called Mini-USB)
• Mini-HDMI port (not to be confused with Micro-HDMI)
• HDMI OUT port (full size/regular/standard)

Every Chromebook will have at least one of these ports. I haven’t heard of any laptop that doesn’t have any of these ports. It’s just not possible (or else the planet will implode).

Another thing I should point out is that if your HDMI port is broken or doesn’t work on your Chromebook, you may have another port handy that you can use as an alternative port to project to a TV or display.

If you really don’t have any of these ports or your ports are broken, don’t worry, I have an alternative solution. Keep reading.

Okay, so now you should have a good grasp of the many ports on your laptop. Note down which of those four ports your Chromebook has. It’ll be important in the next section.

If you actually did find an HDMI OUT port after all, then you’re all set. Congrats. You don’t need to do anything special and you’re ready to go.  All you need to do is get an HDMI male-to-male cable and then set up your Chromebook to project to your TV or external display.

For the majority of readers here, you won’t find an HDMI OUT port (which is kind of why you’re here in the first place, right?). So, we’ll need to get you the proper adapter for your situation.

What adapter cable do I need?

Okay, so now that you’ve identified the ports on your Chromebook, we can go ahead and make sure you buy the right adapter.

Remember how I told you to note which of those four ports you have available on your laptop? Get that list out now.

Find which port you have in the following sections and follow the directions.

USB Type-C to HDMI

If you have a USB Type-C port, you can easily stream to any TV or display via HDMI.

Type-C is one of the newest technologies and lets you stream up to 4K picture in crystal-clear quality and super fast speeds. You can even charge your phone or other devices with it.

You can connect to a TV or external monitor that has an HDMI IN port using an adapter cable. You’ll want to get a USB Type-C to HDMI adapter.

If you have a newer Chromebook, you probably have a Type-C USB port.

I use a pretty generic Type-C to HDMI adapter. It’s a 3-in-1 hub so I can charge my phone and project to my TV without having to disconnect and reconnect plugs.

You can check it out on Amazon here.

But any Type-C to HDMI adapter will do.

Just plug one end into your USB port and the other into your TV or monitor’s HDMI IN port. Set up screen mirroring on your Chromebook. And you’re all set.

Micro-USB (Mini-USB) to HDMI 

If you have a Micro-USB port, you can purchase a Micro-USB to HDMI adapter cable.

One end will plug directly into your Micro-USB port on your Chromebook. It ends with an HDMI IN female port (the adapter end).

You’ll need to buy a male-to-male HDMI cable and plug one end into the adapter and the other into your display’s HDMI IN port.

Then you’ll end up with a Chromebook connected to your device with two separate cables. It’s ugly, but it works.

Set up the connection with this handy guide and you’re good to go.

The quality may be slightly diminished, but it should still work with decent screen picture and decent transfer speeds. But that widely depends on the adapter you get. If you care about quality and speed, get a better adapter.

For that reason, I’d suggest the Analogix SlimPort Micro-USB to 4K HDMI adapter cable.

It offers up to 4K video output and has decent reviews. As for the HDMI cable, you have a ton of options to choose from.

My buddy has this setup (not for a Chromebook), and he uses a gold-plated HDMI cable (see it on Amazon) connected to his smartphone in some odd fashion so he can project it onto a 4K TV. The picture quality is amazing and super fast. It’s literally lag-free.

You can check out Amazon for a ton of different HDMI cables and pick the one that suits your needs.

Mini-HDMI to HDMI

If you have a Mini-HDMI port, you’re pretty much halfway there.

You just need a cable adapter to convert the signal to a full HDMI environment for your TV or display.

What you need to secure the connection is called a Micro-HDMI to HDMI cable. (You probably guessed it, right?)

I’d go with the AmazonBasics Mini-HDMI to HDMI adapter because it’s cheap and reliable.

It’s also equipped with a RedMere chip which enables a clear signal over distance and keeps it flexible instead of rigid.

Having only one HDMI port is annoying. But when cables don’t flex to fit, that’s doubly annoying.

These cables are very popular and you can find them anywhere. After you buy it, just plug one end into the Mini-HDMI port on your Chromebook and the other into your display. Mirror your screen with this guide and you’re all set.

The picture and transfer speeds are excellent as you’re not really changing the signal.

HDMI to HDMI

Lastly, if you have a full-size HDMI OUT port on your Chromebook (which most do), you don’t need any adapters.

You just need a standard HDMI male-to-male cable. Buy one. Connect one end into your HDMI port on your Chromebook and the other into your display.

If you want a quality picture and 4K capabilities, you should invest in a gold-plated and quality HDMI cable.

Personally, I like one made by SecurOMax. It’s rated at 18Gbps (super fast) with gold-plated connectors and renders in up to 4K video.

You can see it on Amazon.

Or you can see Amazon for tons of these cables and pick one that suits you.

Regardless of which cable you go with, just buy one and set it up.

Get your Chromebook to project to a TV or display and you’re done. It’s that easy.

No HDMI port? Broken or damaged port? The alternative (and best) solution…

There’s one more method to connect your Chromebook to a compatible display, and it’s probably the easiest and best solution.

This method allows you to easily project your Chromebook’s desktop to any TV or display with an HDMI IN port. And that’s all you need.

You can project whatever you want from your Chromebook to any screen without HDMI cables.

It doesn’t matter what ports your Chromebook has. It doesn’t matter if you have absolutely no HDMI, USB Type-C, Micro-USB, Mini-HDMI, or any other port in existence.

That’s because it does it all without wires. It’s completely wireless and relies on your local area network (LAN) and connects to your TV or display over WiFi.

The only catch? It’s the priciest option.

You’ve probably heard of it. It’s called Chromecast.

What’s Chromecast?

Chromecast is a media streaming dongle made by Google.

All you need to do is connect it to your TV or monitor’s HDMI IN port and leave it there.

You then set it up and have it connect to your home’s WiFi access.

Then, on your Chromebook, you simply have it locate and connect to your Chromecast.

It’s super easy to set up and only takes a few minutes. It’s just like connecting your smartphone to your home network.

If you need help setting it up, you can contact Google’s Chromecast customer service line or even just read their setup and troubleshooting guides.

You can even use their product forums and post a specific question and get an answer within hours.

After it’s all nice and setup, just launch the Chrome Browser and you’re good to go.

Instantly project anything from your Chromebook to a TV or monitor without an HDMI cable

Find anything you want to “cast” and go for it.

Chrome has made it easy to cast anything that’s “castable” directly to your TV, external monitor, or any other display with an HDMI IN port.

This means you can easily mirror webpages, images, videos, and pretty much anything else you find online directly onto your display.

You can look at funny cat memes, or watch funny cat videos on YouTube, or even read articles are funny cats on the big screen. You can even play Chrome games on your TV while controlling it from your Chromebook.

It’s also super easy to cast something. In fact, I can teach you how in just a few sentences.

How to cast from a Chromebook to a TV or display:

• Right-click on the image, video, or webpage you want to mirror and select “Cast…” from the options menu in Chrome Browser.
• Or, you can click on the menu button in Chrome Browser and select “Cast…” from the list.

This is the best solution to connecting your Chromebook to another device.

It’s convenient since it’s so easy and quick. It’s wireless so you won’t be messing around with tons of tangled wires.

It’s also future-proof since Chrome OS is well-integrated with Chromecast (I mean, it’s Google’s own product). They even recently added volume controls for Chromecast on Chromebooks.

And if you think about it, it’s not that expensive either. You can easily buy a Chromecast for $35 and often cheaper when it goes on sale.

If you’re interested, you can buy it or read more about it.

I have a full guide on setting up a wireless connection to your TV or display with Chromecast.

And here’s a quick video demonstration of all the cool things you can do with Chromecast:

Did you get connected?

And that’s it.

Now, no matter what kind of Chromebook you have, you can easily project it to any TV or monitor with an HDMI port.

With these methods, it doesn’t matter if you have the proper connectivity ports as there are solutions for every scenario.

Whether you want to connect with a cable or wirelessly, you’re covered.

If you still can’t it working, just leave it a comment and I’ll try to help you out ASAP.

If you found this tutorial to be helpful, let me know as well. And consider telling a friend =].

Thanks for reading.

• About the Author

About Andy Z.

Andy is a casual-hardcore Chrome OS fan and contributes to the site regularly. He likes computers, tech, sports cars, videogames, and of course, Chromebooks. Thinker. Introvert. Geek. You can find him on Twitter (@platytech), or send him an email (check the "Contact Us" page).