How to Use Laptop As Monitor for PS4, playing games on your PS4 is a great and fun experience, but sometimes you have to travel and thus don’t have access to a TV or an external screen.
That is, however, no problem because you have your laptop with you and can still play your PS4 games there.
We want to make sure more people are aware of just how capable the PlayStation 4 is when it comes to downloading and playing games on other devices besides their primary console.
So we decided to put together a comprehensive guide that shows exactly how you can play your favorite games on laptops, computers and even stream them straight from your home console over the internet.
In addition, we’ll also provide some tasty, delicious sample tips in this guide – and best of all, you can get a double serving of them with this addition.
Related Article
How to Play PS4 on Laptop Without Remote Play?
How Can You Use Your Laptop as a Monitor for Your PS4?
First, the bad news. In order to hook up your laptop with a PlayStation 4, you’re going to need an HDMI cable.
Unfortunately, your laptop and PS4 both have HDMI outputs and not enough laptops in the marketplace have them. To play PlayStation 4 on a laptop screen, the laptop must have an HDMI input.
It’s not impossible to connect your PS4 player to your laptop. Try doing it on a computer that already has HDMI settings that are compatible with the versions in your PS4 console – (it may work but we DO NOT recommend this).
You will need to remove the back panel of your laptop and then check for an HDMI adapter. If you do not find one, we would advise that it is best if you find a different input source.
Good news! There are plenty of other ways to play PS4 on your laptop without an HDMI port. Here they are:
Let’s have a look at some of the cool features you have access to when streaming your PS4 to a laptop or PC.
Sony Remote Play
When Sony’s developers started out, their main concern was to ensure players were able to use their PlayStation 4 controllers when playing TV plugin features and games.
One doesn’t need any additional hardware! All you need is a high-speed internet connection and functional console controllers.
Step 1: Download Sony Remote Play App
Go to Sony’s download center where you can find the most recent version of the Remote Play app for your laptop.
Step 2: Update PS4
The next thing you need to do is, open the ‘Settings’ menu on your PS4. Select ‘PlayStation Network’ and click ‘Log Out.’ Log back into your PlayStation account using your new credentials and then click on ‘Account Management’ -> “PSN Login Info” at the bottom of the screen.
Enter your master email address and password in one window and save it. Then go to another window under the same tab, untick “Use Online Sign-in” checkbox.
Make sure you have the latest version of the software for your PS4. If not, update it using the ‘System Software Update.’
Step 3: Enable Remote Play Option
Navigate on your PS4 console to the “Settings” option, then select “Remote Play Connection Settings.”
Step 4: Connect the DualShock 4 Controller
The DualShock 4 wireless USB adapter can be plugged into your PS controller when you hold the Share and Circular buttons down on your DualShock 4 at the same time.
Step 5: Search for PS4 Network
- Select the start option on the Remote Play App installed on your laptop.
- Log in to your PlayStation Network account.
- The app will search for a PS4 on the network. After a successful scan, the app will display the PS home screen on your laptop screen
Now that you’re all set up, you can use your laptop as a monitor to enjoy the best PS4 games.
Built-in Recording Function
The PS4 console has a built-in recording module that transmits your gameplay along with your voice narration onto your PC.
The PS4 console can be directly broadcasted to a laptop’s screen. This function is integrated into the PS4 game streaming data transmission.
It’s easy to setup. We’re going to be showing you how in three very simple steps:
- Make sure your PS4 and laptop are connected to the same network.
- Open the game you want to play or record.
- Press the “share” button on your controller. It will open a menu that will have various sharing sub-options.
- There, click on “advance settings” to make your way to the “broadcasting settings” sub-menu.
- Choose your laptop from this window, and you should start streaming.
Why is this method so popular? Well, it’s simply because it does not require any other kind of card. In addition, you can add your voiceover while screen-recording your gameplay and share it with your friends or even post it on YouTube for walkthroughs.
You might be thinking, “Well how come you didn’t tell me this before?” Well the answer is there was a slight delay. Just enough time for an enemy to sneak up on you and stab you in the back.
OBS Recording Software
OBS allows you to use your personal laptop to play on PlayStation 4. One amazing perk is that you won’t be encumbered by a video capture card when it comes to capturing videos from PS4 gameplay, so if you catch a cool moment, you can also record some video footage directly with OBS without lugging about an unwieldy capture device with cords.
Some of the benefits you’ll be getting from this option are:
- Free, open-source software
- High-performance real-time AV capturing
- Audio mixing, noise suppression, and gain
- Streamlined settings
- With studio mode, you can review your PS4 screen recordings and delete unnecessary parts.
The software works smoothly with Windows, macOS, and Linux devices. The setup that needs to be done for using OBS software is included below:
- Download and install the OBS recorder from their official website.
- Open OBS and choose the window capture option.
- You can customize your recordings as per the available settings.
- Navigate to your PS4’s screen and select “OK.”
‘Open Broadcaster Software’ or OBS is easier and much more affordable than the sometimes-costly capture cards or other complicated software out in the market. Plus, it doesn’t have a long delay as you might expect.
Use a Video Capture Card
If you want to play your PlayStation 4 console on a laptop and don’t want to use the Remote Play option, you may still be able to do so with a video card.
One can connect their PlayStation 4 gaming console to a laptop via HDMI cable by utilizing the capabilities of a standalone video capture card intermediary.
If you don’t have one, this is the card we recommend: Aver Media Live Portable 2. This is a great, low-latency game capture card. At only about $20, there simply isn’t really a better choice.
Step 1: Check Connections
For enabling file sharing, go to settings in the PS4 menu and go to the network settings. Open your Internet Connection Settings and find “Internet Connection” or something similar. Ensure that you are connected to the internet by paying attention to a web page you could be viewing on the screen.
You will need to connect the PS4 console and your computer with an Ethernet cable if you lack a wireless connection.
Step 2: Software Installation
To set up your video card, firstly you should connect the video capture card to your laptop. After this, install the drivers included with your kit. This is a very important step for using your laptop as a monitor for PS3s.
Step 3: Connect the Video Capture Card
After setting up all the needed drivers for your capture card to work with the PlayStation console, you will then connect your console to the video card.
You will need an HDMI cable in order to connect your PS4 to the capture card. Connect the PlayStation 4 system with the capture card via an HDMI cable: HDMI-OUT of PlayStation 4 system to HDMI-IN of capture card. Then, connect the capture card to your laptop computer.
Step 4: Run the Software
The final step of the process is to run the software on your laptop. The software will search for a PS4 connection and after it has been configured, you should see PS4 pop up on your screen.
Bonus Method to Play PS4 on a Laptop: PS Now
What if you could charge your PS4 by simply connecting the USB charger to your laptop and then plugging it directly into an outlet?
Sony PlayStation Now makes it possible. The funny part is that you don’t even need a PS4 to do that.
Sony PS Now is a cloud gaming solution that allows you to play your favorite games on-the-go.
Sony is using Microsoft’s Azure facilities to run their PS4 servers. It’s like a virtual machine for gaming.
To get this started, you need a high-speed Internet connection. It’s best if you don’t have a gaming laptop or PC since all the graphic rendering and processing is handled on the server, and you only get the media and controls.
FAQs
There are several questions related to the usage of a laptop as a monitor for PS4. The most common ones come in two types.
How to Use a Laptop as a Monitor for PS4 Without Remote Play?
You will need to install or download a video capture card. You can also use a third-party software, such as OBS software.
How to Use a Laptop as a Monitor for PS4 Without a Capture Card?
If you don’t want to connect your PS4 to your laptop with a video capture card, then you can use software like OBS and remote play on your laptop to broadcast your PS4 screen.
All you need is a high-speed connection and an HDMI cable (although you won’t get the same quality as afforded by a video capture card) and you can display the PS4 on your laptop.
You will also need a controller in order for the stream to no longer be on the PS4–it needs to be running in remote play mode. This way other viewers of your stream will see only what’s happening on the screen.
How to connect my PS4 to a laptop without a TV?
Having a PlayStation TV is a great way to keep up with your favorite games at all times. With a PlayStation Now subscription, you can continue to play games even without a PlayStation or TV by simply opting for the Cloud Solution. This means that one doesn’t have to worry about having televised video game services at the ready in order to enable oneself for some online gaming on the fly.
Conclusion
So, if we were to collectively rank the best ways to use your laptop as a monitor for PS4 and other consoles, it would go like this:
- Through remote play
- Capture PS4 gameplay using the built-in recording function
- OBS Recording Software
- Through a video capture card
- PS Now
By following any of these methods, you should be able to hook up a PS4 to a laptop. Additionally, you may want to invest in an additional screen for your PS4 as it can help alleviate the experience.
So, out of all these tricks, which did you go with? Or do you still have problems? Let us know in the comments below and we’ll respond.
Cody is a passionate gamer, writer, and computer programmer who’s always looking for ways to optimize and automate everyday tasks. When he’s not immersed in prose and code, he’s busy tinkering with computers, automating his home, and spending time with his wife and kids.
