Hooking your laptop or PC up to the TV with an HDMI cable is one of the cheapest ways to watch YouTube on a big screen. The problem comes right after: the computer sits next to the TV and you're on the couch, far from the keyboard.
Every pause, every volume change and every "what should we watch next?" means getting up. In this guide we show you how to set things up so you can control everything from your phone.
Why connect a PC to the TV instead of using the Smart TV app
Plenty of Smart TVs have a YouTube app, but connecting a computer has its advantages:
- It works with any TV that has an HDMI input, even if it isn't a Smart TV.
- You get the YouTube you already use, with your browser, your account, your playlists and your extensions.
- A PC is usually faster than the processor in many TVs, especially older ones.
- You can switch between YouTube and anything else without changing devices.
The only real downside is control. And that has a fix.
Step 1: connect and set up the picture
- Plug the HDMI cable from the PC into the TV and pick that HDMI input with the TV remote.
- In Windows, press Windows + P and choose Duplicate (same picture on both screens) or Second screen only (picture on the TV only).
- If the picture looks cut off or too small, adjust the scale in Settings > System > Display.
Step 2: send the sound to the TV
If the audio still comes out of the laptop, click the volume icon in the taskbar and pick the TV as the output device. It usually shows up with the TV's name or brand.
Step 3: stop the PC from going to sleep
Nothing ruins a movie like the screen turning off halfway through:
- Sleep: in Settings > System > Power (or Power & sleep, depending on your Windows version), set a long timeout or "Never" while plugged in.
- Closed lid: if you want to close the laptop, go to Control Panel > Power Options > Choose what closing the lid does and set it to Do nothing when plugged in.
Step 4: turn your phone into the remote
With picture and sound sorted, all that's missing is the remote. For YouTube, the most comfortable option is your phone:
- Install RemoteTube in Chrome, Edge, Brave or Opera. It's free.
- Open YouTube on the PC and click the extension icon.
- Scan the QR code with your phone's camera.
From then on you can, without leaving the couch:
- Pause and play.
- Skip forward or back with the progress bar.
- Turn the video's volume up, down or mute it.
- Search for the next video on your phone and have it play on the TV.
- Browse recommendations and jump to the next video.
You don't need to install an app on your phone, and it doesn't have to be on the same Wi-Fi. For a more detailed walkthrough, see the guide on how to control YouTube on PC from your phone.
Other ways to control the PC from the couch
| Option | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Phone with RemoteTube | Free, no app, big buttons built for YouTube | Only controls YouTube |
| Wireless keyboard with touchpad | Works for everything | You have to buy one, and it's clunky for casual use |
| Wireless mouse | Cheap | You have to follow the pointer on the TV from across the room |
| Remote desktop app | Controls the whole PC | Tiny screen on your phone, more lag |
If you want alternatives for other situations too, check out our list of ways to pause YouTube on PC without getting up.
Conclusion
A PC connected to the TV over HDMI makes a great media center, as long as you solve the remote. Set up the picture, sound and power once, then use RemoteTube to run YouTube from your phone like a TV remote.