What you need to connect a monitor to a TV signal

Your monitor can display TV if you have a way to get the TV signal to it. Most monitors do not have a built-in TV tuner — the hardware that picks up broadcast or cable signals — so you will need an external device to provide that signal. The most common options are a cable box, satellite receiver, streaming device, or antenna connected to a tuner box.

The connection itself is straightforward: you run a cable from the TV source device into your monitor's input port, the same port you use for your computer. Your monitor will then display whatever that device sends. The catch is that most monitors have only one input active at a time, so you cannot watch TV and use your computer simultaneously on the same screen without switching inputs or buying a monitor with multiple inputs you can view at once.

Key Takeaways

  • You need an external device like a cable box, satellite receiver, or streaming device to send a TV signal to your monitor, because most monitors lack a built-in TV tuner.
  • Connect the TV source device to your monitor using an HDMI cable, which carries both picture and sound, or a DisplayPort cable if your monitor has one.
  • Your monitor will only display one input at a time, so you will need to switch inputs in the monitor's menu to move between TV and your computer.
  • If your monitor has built-in speakers, TV audio will play through them; if not, you will need to connect external speakers or headphones to the TV source device.
  • Monitors are typically smaller and have lower refresh rates than TVs, so fast-moving content may look less smooth than on a television.

Connecting a cable or satellite box to your monitor

If you subscribe to cable or satellite TV, your provider's box is the simplest source. Locate the HDMI output on the back of the box — it is usually labeled clearly and is a flat rectangular port. Run an HDMI cable from that port to the HDMI input on your monitor. If your monitor has multiple HDMI ports, it does not matter which one you use, but note which one so you can select it later.

Once the cable is connected, turn on both the box and the monitor. Use your monitor's menu button (usually on the front or side) to navigate to Input or Source, then select the HDMI port you plugged into. The TV picture should appear. If it does not, check that the cable is fully seated in both ports — push it in firmly until you hear or feel a click.

For sound, if your monitor has built-in speakers, the audio will play through them automatically. If your monitor has no speakers or the sound is too quiet, connect powered speakers or headphones to the audio output on your cable or satellite box instead. Some boxes have a 3.5mm headphone jack; others have RCA audio ports (red and white connectors). Check your box's manual to see which it has.

Using a streaming device or antenna tuner

Streaming devices like Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Stick, or Google Chromecast plug into an HDMI port and let you watch services like Netflix, Hulu, or YouTube. Connection is identical to a cable box: plug the device into an HDMI port on your monitor, select that input in the monitor's menu, and the picture appears. These devices are smaller and cheaper than cable boxes and do not require a subscription to a TV provider, though you will need to pay for individual streaming services.

If you want to watch broadcast TV (channels like ABC, NBC, or PBS) without a cable subscription, you need an antenna and a tuner box. An antenna receives the broadcast signal, and the tuner box converts it so your monitor can display it. Plug the antenna into the tuner, then connect the tuner to your monitor via HDMI. The setup is the same as with any other source device. Tuner boxes are inexpensive — usually under $50 — and let you watch local channels for free once you have purchased the device.

Switching between your computer and TV

Because your monitor can only display one input at a time, you will need to switch inputs each time you want to move from TV to your computer or vice versa. Press the menu button on your monitor (usually on the front bezel or side), navigate to Input or Source, and select either the HDMI port where your TV device is connected or the port where your computer is connected — typically DisplayPort or HDMI depending on your setup.

This switching takes a few seconds each time. If you find yourself doing it constantly, consider a monitor with picture-by-picture or picture-in-picture mode, which lets you view two inputs at once on the same screen. Not all monitors have this feature, so check your monitor's manual or specifications before buying. Alternatively, you could use a separate small TV or tablet for one of the sources so you do not have to switch.

Audio and speaker considerations

Most monitors have small built-in speakers, but they are typically quiet and low-quality. If your monitor has speakers and they are loud enough for you, TV audio will play through them automatically once you have connected your TV source device. If the sound is too quiet or you want better audio quality, you have two options: connect external speakers or headphones to the TV source device itself, or connect them to your monitor if it has an audio output port.

Check the back of your TV source device for audio outputs. Cable boxes and satellite receivers usually have RCA audio ports (red and white connectors) or a 3.5mm headphone jack. Streaming devices often have audio output as well. If your monitor has a 3.5mm audio output, you can also run a cable from there to external speakers, though the monitor will only output audio from whichever input is currently active. For the best sound, connect speakers directly to the TV source device rather than routing through the monitor.

Why monitor size and refresh rate matter for TV

Monitors are usually smaller than TVs — a typical monitor is 24 to 32 inches, while most people watch TV on screens 40 inches or larger. Sitting close to a monitor to watch TV can cause eye strain, so if you plan to use your monitor as a TV regularly, consider placing it farther away or upgrading to a larger monitor.

Monitors also have higher refresh rates than TVs, typically 60Hz or more, but this is actually not an advantage for TV. Broadcast and streaming video is recorded at 24 or 30 frames per second, so the monitor's extra refresh rate does not improve the picture. What matters more is the monitor's resolution — a 1080p or 4K monitor will display TV clearly, while a lower-resolution monitor may look blurry. If you already have a monitor from the previous section, it will work fine for TV; you do not need to buy a new one.

Troubleshooting common connection problems

If you connect everything but see no picture, first check that the TV source device is powered on and set to output video. Then verify the HDMI cable is fully inserted into both the device and the monitor — a loose connection is the most common cause of a blank screen. If the cable is seated properly, try a different HDMI port on your monitor if you have one.

If you see a picture but no sound, check that the TV source device is not muted. Look for a mute button on the remote or in the device's settings menu. If the device is not muted but you still hear nothing, the audio may be routed to a different output. Check whether the device has an audio output port separate from the HDMI port, and connect speakers there instead. Some devices let you choose which output to use in their settings — look for an audio or sound menu.

If the picture looks stretched, squashed, or has black bars on the sides, your monitor's aspect ratio settings may not match the video source. Press the monitor's menu button and look for an option called Aspect Ratio, Picture Size, or Zoom. Try different settings until the picture looks normal. If the picture is very blurry, check that the resolution is set correctly in the TV source device's settings — it should match your monitor's native resolution, which you can find in your monitor's manual.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch TV and use my computer at the same time on the same monitor?

Not with a standard monitor, because it can only display one input at a time. You will need to switch inputs each time you want to move between TV and your computer. Some monitors have picture-by-picture mode, which lets you view two inputs simultaneously, but this splits the screen in half and is not ideal for either task. A second monitor or a small TV is a better solution if you need to use both at once.

Do I need a special monitor to use it as a TV?

No. Any monitor with an HDMI or DisplayPort input can display TV as long as you have a device sending the TV signal to it. You do not need to buy a new monitor. The monitor you already have will work.

What if my monitor does not have speakers and I do not want to buy external speakers?

Connect headphones to the audio output on your TV source device instead. Most cable boxes, satellite receivers, and streaming devices have a 3.5mm headphone jack or RCA audio ports. You can plug headphones into the headphone jack and listen that way without needing monitor speakers or external speakers.

Will the picture quality be as good as a regular TV?

Yes, if your monitor has the same resolution as the TV you would buy. A 1080p or 4K monitor will display TV just as clearly as a television of the same resolution. The main difference is size — monitors are typically smaller, so you may need to sit closer or buy a larger monitor if you want the same viewing experience as a traditional TV.

Can I use an antenna with my monitor to watch free broadcast TV?

Yes. Connect an antenna to a tuner box, then connect the tuner box to your monitor via HDMI. The tuner converts the broadcast signal so your monitor can display it. Tuner boxes are inexpensive and let you watch local channels like ABC, NBC, and PBS for free once you have purchased the device.