PowerPoint presentations are often presented via projectors, where an individual can copy files to a computer that is connected to the projector in the hall. However, sometimes the projector is replaced with a large monitor or TV. There are many ways by which you can connect your computer or mobile device to a TV to present your slides. Here are a few simple methods which can be used to answer the age-old question that many PowerPoint newbies ask; i.e. how to play a PowerPoint Slideshow on TV.
1. Connect Your Laptop or Mobile Device Using an HDMI Cable
This is the easiest way by which you can play a PowerPoint presentation on TV. In the old days, the legacy VGA cable was used for this purpose, which is still usable with even the most modern TVs. However, an HDMI cable gives better quality playback and is easier to use.
In this demo we will show you how to connect a laptop with an LED TV using an HDMI cable. However, there are different mobile devices (e.g. Android and iPad tablets) which also support HDMI to TV connectivity.
Step 1: Plug in your HDMI cable into your laptop’s HDMI Port (as shown below).
Step 2: Connect the other end of the cable to your TV’s HDMI port. Usually, there are two HDMI ports, one located on the side and the other behind the TV.
Step 3: Switch to ‘HDMI’ from your TV’s Remote. Usually, this option is available from the remote’s Menu button. You might have options like ‘HDMI 1’ and ‘HDMI 2’ appearing on-screen. This is because one of the menu options connects to your first port and the other to the second. The image below shows connectivity with my TV’s second HDMI port. The port numbers might be labeled differently depending upon your TV’s model.
The below image shows the Organizational Charts PowerPoint Template running on an LED TV connected to a laptop via HDMI cable.
2. Play Slides as Image Slideshow or Video from a USB
This is another fine method for playing a PowerPoint slideshow on a TV. However, you will require converting your PowerPoint presentation to a supported format. For example, many TV’s support image formats like JPEG or Video formats like MP4. You can convert your presentation to a video format or export your slides as images and run them as a slideshow on your TV.
To learn how to convert your PowerPoint presentations to image or video format, see our guides: How To Save a PowerPoint Slide as a Picture and How To Convert a PowerPoint Presentation to an HD Video.
3. Convert and Play Your Slides from a DVD Player
You can also convert your PowerPoint files to DVD video format, write it on a DVD and play it using a good old DVD player. While this method is more laborious than the aforementioned, it is a pretty functional method. To get the video format right, follow the instructions given below.
Step 1: Save your PowerPoint to video format. You can refer to our tutorial mentioned above or simply go to File > Save As > and save your video to either MP4 or WMV. Unlike older versions, PowerPoint supports both formats.
Step 2: Open Windows DVD Maker, and select Choose Photos and Videos.
Step 3: Click Add Items and select the converted video file (file converted from PowerPoint to video format). Once the video with your video slides is picked, click Next.
Step 4: Now, customize menus for your DVD according to need, insert a blank DVD to your computer and click Burn.
Note: This process can be used to burn videos and photos to create DVD slideshows using Windows DVD Maker. You can also use another third-party DVD authoring tool for this purpose.
4. Connect to Your TV Using Wi-Fi or Wired Network
There are various TV models and devices which enable connecting to the Internet. The most common example of this can be found in the form of Smart TVs and Smart TV devices. Depending upon your TV model or the supported digital box you might be using, you can play a video slideshow by converting your PowerPoint presentation to a video format supported by your TV.
The below image shows connectivity settings for a Samsung Smart TV.
Recommended reading: How to embed video in PowerPoint
5. Use a Video Streaming Device
Last but not least, you can use a video streaming device like Roku 3, Apple TV or Google Chromecast to play a slideshow (e.g. one that has been converted to video format). The image below shows connectivity options for Apple TV. The various connectivity options in a video streaming device, such as HDMI, USB and Wi-Fi / Ethernet provide ample scope for streaming various file types to your TV. This makes it possible to run an image, video or PPT/PPTX slideshow of your presentation slides (depending upon the mode of connectivity).
Do you know that using a high-quality PowerPoint Template with a connected TV can give you an excellent playback experience? Instead of using templates with dull backgrounds and hazy designs, you can download these premium presentation templates, fully compatible with PowerPoint & Google Slides, to get the best output on your high-definition TV or monitor.
