The three ways to get video into your TV

Your TV needs a signal source to display anything. That source comes through one of three routes: a cable or satellite box, a streaming device you plug in, or a device already in your home like a laptop or game console. Most TVs can accept signals from all three at once — you just switch between them using your remote.

The physical connection matters less than it used to. Modern TVs use HDMI cables (the flat rectangular connectors) for almost everything. Older TVs might have coaxial ports (the round threaded connectors) for cable TV, or composite ports (the red, white, and yellow plugs). If your TV is more than ten years old, check what ports are on the back before you buy cables.

The signal itself — whether it comes from cable, satellite, streaming, or a game console — travels the same way once it reaches your TV. What changes is what you plug in and where you plug it.

Key Takeaways

  • HDMI cables are the standard connection for almost all modern TVs and devices, and one cable carries both picture and sound.
  • Cable and satellite boxes connect to your TV through HDMI or coaxial ports, and the box itself needs power and an internet or phone line.
  • Streaming devices like Roku, Apple TV, or Fire Stick plug into an HDMI port and need power and WiFi, but no cable subscription.
  • You can connect multiple devices to one TV and switch between them using your remote — the TV acts as a hub, not a bottleneck.
  • Audio can travel through the HDMI cable, through a separate audio cable, or through your TV's built-in speakers, depending on your setup.

Connecting a cable or satellite box

A cable or satellite box is a separate device that sits near your TV. It receives the signal from the cable line or satellite dish outside your home, decodes it, and sends it to your TV. The box itself needs three connections: the incoming signal, power, and a connection to your TV.

The incoming signal arrives through a coaxial cable (the round threaded connector) that runs from the wall or from a splitter. This is the same cable that may have carried internet to your modem before cable companies separated the services. Screw it hand-tight into the port labeled "In" or "Cable In" on the back of the box — do not force it.

The box connects to your TV through an HDMI cable plugged into any HDMI port on the back or side of the TV. If your TV is older and has no HDMI ports, you can use a composite cable (red, white, and yellow plugs) instead, though the picture quality will be lower. Plug the power cable into the box and into a wall outlet or power strip.

Some cable boxes also need a phone line or internet connection to receive program guides and billing information. Your cable company will tell you if yours does. If it does, plug an ethernet cable from your modem into the port on the back of the box, or use the box's built-in WiFi if it has one.

Connecting a streaming device

A streaming device — like a Roku, Amazon Fire Stick, Apple TV, or Google Chromecast — is a small box or stick that plugs directly into your TV's HDMI port. It connects to your home WiFi and pulls video from the internet, so you do not need a cable subscription. You pay for individual services like Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+ instead.

Plug the device into any available HDMI port on your TV. Most streaming devices are small enough that they will not block the ports next to them. If it does block a port you need, use an HDMI extension cable (a short cable with HDMI connectors on both ends) to move the device a few inches away.

Plug the power cable into the device and into a wall outlet or power strip. Some streaming sticks draw power from the HDMI port itself and do not need a separate power cable — check the instructions that came with yours. Turn on your TV, use the remote to switch to the HDMI input where you plugged in the device, and follow the on-screen setup. The device will ask for your WiFi password and your login information for any streaming services you subscribe to.

You can have multiple streaming devices plugged into different HDMI ports on the same TV. Switch between them the same way you would switch between a cable box and a streaming device — by changing the HDMI input on your TV remote.

Connecting a laptop, game console, or other device

Any device with an HDMI output can connect to your TV the same way a streaming device does. Plug an HDMI cable from the device into any HDMI port on your TV. If the device is a laptop, you may need to press a key combination (often Fn plus a key with a monitor symbol) to send the picture to the TV instead of the laptop screen.

Game consoles like PlayStation or Xbox need both an HDMI cable for picture and a power cable plugged into a wall outlet. Some older consoles use composite cables instead of HDMI. Laptops and tablets may need a USB-C to HDMI adapter or a DisplayPort adapter if they do not have an HDMI port — check what ports your device has before you buy a cable.

Once the cable is plugged in, switch your TV to the correct HDMI input using your remote. The TV remote usually has a button labeled "Input" or "Source" that cycles through the available connections. Select the HDMI port number where you plugged in the device.

Understanding HDMI ports and inputs

Most modern TVs have three to four HDMI ports on the back or side. Each port is numbered — HDMI 1, HDMI 2, HDMI 3, and so on. You can plug a different device into each port and switch between them without unplugging anything.

When you press the "Input" or "Source" button on your TV remote, a menu appears showing all the available ports. Select the port number where your device is plugged in. The TV will switch to that input and display whatever signal is coming from that device. If nothing appears, check that the device is turned on and that the cable is fully plugged in on both ends.

Some TVs label their HDMI ports by function — one might be marked "HDMI/ARC" or "HDMI/eARC". These ports can send audio back to a soundbar or receiver, which is useful if you want to use external speakers instead of the TV's built-in ones. For most setups, any HDMI port works fine for any device.

Handling audio and sound

HDMI cables carry both picture and sound, so in most cases you do not need a separate audio cable. The sound travels through the same HDMI cable as the picture and comes out of your TV's built-in speakers.

If you want to use external speakers, a soundbar, or a receiver instead of the TV's speakers, you have two options. The first is to plug an audio cable (usually a 3.5mm jack or RCA cables) from the device into the audio output port on your TV, then plug the speakers into the TV's audio output. The second is to use an HDMI port marked "ARC" or "eARC" on your TV, which can send audio back through the HDMI cable to a soundbar or receiver plugged into that port.

If your TV has no audio output port and you want to use external speakers, you may need to run audio cables directly from your cable box or streaming device to your speakers, bypassing the TV. Check the back of your devices to see what audio ports they have — most have either a 3.5mm headphone jack or RCA ports (red and white plugs).

Troubleshooting a connection that is not working

If you plug in a device and see no picture, start with the simplest checks. Make sure the device is turned on. Make sure the cable is fully inserted on both ends — push it in until you hear or feel a click. Make sure your TV is set to the correct HDMI input using the "Input" or "Source" button on the remote.

If you still see no picture, try a different HDMI port on your TV. Some ports can fail or may be reserved for specific functions. If a different port works, the first port may be damaged. If no ports work, the cable itself may be faulty — try a different HDMI cable if you have one available.

If you see a picture but no sound, check that the volume on your TV is turned up and not muted. Check that the device itself is not muted — most devices have their own volume controls. If you are using external speakers, make sure they are turned on and plugged into the correct audio port. If the device has both HDMI and audio outputs, you may have plugged the audio cable into the wrong port.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use an older TV that does not have HDMI ports?

Yes, but you will need adapter cables. Cable boxes and streaming devices can connect through composite cables (red, white, and yellow plugs) or coaxial cables if your TV has those ports. The picture quality will be lower than HDMI, but the connection will work. Check what ports are on the back of your TV before you buy cables or devices.

Do I need a separate power outlet for each device?

Most devices need their own power cable and outlet. A power strip with multiple outlets solves this problem and lets you turn everything off at once. Some streaming sticks draw power from the HDMI port and do not need a separate outlet, but check your device's instructions to be sure.

What if all my HDMI ports are full and I want to add another device?

You can buy an HDMI switch, a small device that lets you plug multiple HDMI cables into it and then plug the switch into one HDMI port on your TV. You switch between devices using a button on the switch or a remote. This works well if you have devices you do not use often and do not want to unplug regularly.

Can I connect my TV to WiFi so I do not need a streaming device?

Many modern TVs have built-in WiFi and can run streaming apps like Netflix directly without a separate device. Check your TV's settings menu to see if it has this feature. If it does, you can connect to WiFi and read apps the same way you would on a streaming device. Older TVs do not have this feature and will need a separate streaming device.

Why does my picture look blurry or pixelated?

Check that you are using an HDMI cable, not a composite cable — composite cables produce lower picture quality. Make sure the cable is fully inserted on both ends. If the picture is still poor, try a different HDMI cable or a different HDMI port. Some older cables or damaged ports can degrade the signal.