How to Connect PS4 to a Laptop Without TV?[Easy Steps]

PS4 is the most successful console of its generation, but it compromises accessibility to provide a good user experience. For instance, you can only use it with your TV at home. So, frequent travelers often wonder how to connect PS4 to a laptop without a TV. 

But don’t you worry, as we’ve laid down the three most successful ways to connect a PS4 to a laptop in 2023. These include the Remote Play, video capture card, and the Playstation Now methods.

We’ve laid down detailed steps for each method for your convenience. 

That said, let’s get started. 

How to Connect PS4 to a Laptop Without TV Using Remote Play

Sony got a lot of hate for not making its Playstation consoles highly accessible. So, they devised a solution to let gamers use their PS4 with a phone or laptop. 

This solution is named Remote Play and comes pre-installed with Playstation consoles. It lets you stream your live game on your laptop’s screen in real time without needing a wired connection. Keep on reading to learn how Remote Play works. 

What is Remote Play?

Remote Play is an online game streaming app that lets you get your PS4’s display on your laptop without needing a TV. When you use Remote Play, the game runs on your PS4 but is controlled and viewed through your laptop in real time. 

Though it requires a consistent, high-speed internet connection, it’s a remarkable way to use your PS4 with a laptop without a TV. 

Remote Play System Requirements 

Below are the system requirements you need on your laptop before using Remote Play. 

Operating System	Windows 8.1 or Windows 10
Processor	Intel Core i5-560M CPU with 2.67 GHz or above (2.50 GHz is the minimum clock speed)
Minimum Storage Space	100MB or more for program installation
Minimum RAM	2 GB
Additional Hardware	Sound card
Minimum Screen Resolution	1024×768 resolution

How to Download and Install Remote Play on Your Laptop

To use Remote Play, you’ll need to download it on your laptop. It’s available for download on Sony’s official website. It comes in both Windows and macOS versions, so choose the right one. 

Once you’ve downloaded the correct version of Remote Play on your laptop, it’s time to install it. Open the installation file and wait for the dialogue box to appear. 

As it opens, it’ll guide you on what to do to install Remote Play. Follow the instructions till the installation is complete. 

Also, note that it will download some additional files during installation, so let it continue. Further, check more options in the dialogue box if you want other features. 

That’s it; Remote Play will be installed on your laptop in a while. 

How to Set Up Remote Play on Your PS4

Once Remote Play is ready for use on your laptop, it’s time to set it up on your PS4 console. Follow these steps to do that:

Step 1: Open Settings on your PS4, look for Remote Play Connection Settings and click this option. 

Step 2: Under Remote Play settings, tick the Enable Remote Play checkbox so your console can connect to your laptop through Remote Play. 

Step 3: Navigate to Account Management on your PS4 and select Activate as Your Primary PS4. Lastly, confirm the action by clicking Activate. 

That’s it; Remote Play is set up on your PS4 too. 

Note: PS4 supports the Remote Play feature while in the rest mode. Follow these steps to use Remote Play while rest mode is enabled on your PS4:

Step 1: Open Settings on your PS4, navigate to Power Save Settings and click Set Features Available in rest mode.  

Step 2: Tick the checkboxes that say Stay Connected to the Internet and Enable Turning on PS4 from Network. 

That’s it; your PS4 is ready to connect to your laptop. 

Connect a Controller to Your Laptop

Connecting your PS4 to your laptop means you’ll be controlling it from your laptop. So, a PS4 controller will be needed to play your favorite games effectively. You can use the DUALSHOCK USB wireless adaptor or a USB cable. 

Finally, How to Connect a PS4 to Your Laptop With Remote Play?

Once everything is set up, follow these steps to start using your PS4 with your laptop via Remote Play:

Step 1: Start your PS4 console and your laptop. 

Step 2: Ensure a compatible controller is connected to your laptop. 

Step 3: Ensure your laptop and PS4 are connected to a fast internet connection. 

Step 4: Run Remote Play on your laptop and click Start. 

Step 5: Enter your Sony credentials to link to your PS4.

Step 6: Confirm the connection between your PS4 and the laptop.

That’s it; your PS4 will be connected to the laptop. 

How to Play PS4 on a Laptop With Playstation Now

Playstation Now is another effective way to play PS4 games on your laptop without a TV. The best part? This method won’t even require your PS4 console! 

Keep reading to learn more about Playstation Now and whether it’s suitable for your use. 

What is Playstation Now?

Playstation Now is an online gaming service that lets you play Playstation games on any supported device without needing top-tier hardware. 

You can install Playstation Now on your laptop and run any Playstation game, even if your laptop doesn’t have a sound graphics card or CPU. 

The game you’ll run will be processed and executed on a high-end server by Sony. But you can view and control it from your laptop in real-time, provided that you have a good internet connection. 

Playstation Now is incredibly useful for Playstation enthusiasts who want to enjoy PS games on the go, as they don’t have to carry their consoles with them. 

The only downsides of Playstation Now are:

• You’ll need a consistent, high-speed internet connection
• There’s a subscription fee of $99.99/year

But if you wish to give Playstation Now a go, note that it has the following hardware requirements:

Playstation Now System Requirements for Laptop
Operating System	Windows 7,8.1 or 10
Processor	Intel Core i3 or AMD A10
Processor Clock Speed	3.5 GHz for Intel and 3.8 for AMD processors
Minimum Storage Space	300 MB
Minimum RAM	2 GB

How to Download and Install Playstation Now on Your Laptop

Follow these steps to download and set up Playstation on your Windows laptop:

Step 1: Visit Sony’s official website to download Playstation Now. 

Step 2: Once the download is complete, run the installation file and follow the instructions to complete the installation. 

Step 3: As the installation completes, Playstation Now will launch automatically. If it doesn’t, run it manually. 

That’s it; Playstation Now is ready for use on your laptop. 

How to Play PS4 Games on Your Laptop With Playstation Now 

Follow the steps below to start gaming on Playstation Now:

Step 1: Enter your date of birth, region, and other essential information in Playstation Now.

Step 2: Sign into your Sony account or create a new one. 

Step 3: Start a free trial and choose a subscription plan of your preference. You won’t be charged unless the trial ends. 

Step 4: You can now start playing your favorite Playstation games on your laptop without a TV, using Playstation Now. 

How to Play PS4 on a Laptop Using a Video Capture Card

You’ll find this method suitable if you suffer from a mediocre internet connection. It involves using a video capture card to display your console on the laptop. 

But since you’ll need additional hardware parts like a video card, this method can be a little expensive. 

Anyhow, you need a video capture card and an HDMI cable for this method. 

Once you have these, follow the steps below to connect your PS4 to your laptop without a TV:

Step 1: Enable the internet on your PS4. On PS4, navigate to Settings > Network Settings > Internet Connection Settings. Select your router and enter your Wifi password to connect to it. 

Step 2: Connect the video card to your laptop through a USB port and install compatible drivers to run the video card. 

Step 3: Use a connection cable to form an S-connection between your video card and the PS4. 

Step 4: Take an HDMI cable and input one end to HDMI OUT on the PS4 and the other to the HDMI IN on the capture card. 

Step 5: Open your video card program on the laptop and configure its settings to ensure you see a high-quality and high-resolution display.

That’s it; you’ll be able to see your PS4’s display on your laptop by following these steps – without needing a TV. 

Note: This method doesn’t require detailed hardware specs in your laptop since only its display will be used. 

Is it Possible to Connect PS4 to a Laptop Without TV Directly?

No, you cannot connect a PS4 to a laptop directly. But many alternative methods let you use your PS4 with a laptop. 

Many people wonder if they can connect PS4’s HDMI output to their laptop’s HDMI port to connect the devices. 

But the problem is your laptop’s HDMI port is an HDMI output port, not an HDMI input port. Simply put, it’s designed to hook another display with your laptop, not to use your laptop’s display with another device like PS4. 

The same is with the laptop’s VGA, Display, and USB C display ports. So, you cannot use your laptop’s HDMI or USB C ports to use its display with a PS4. 

But as mentioned earlier, many alternative ways are available to let you use your PS4 on the go by connecting it to your laptop. We’ve explored them above in this guide. 

Wrapping It Up

Connecting a PS4 to a laptop without a TV may initially seem like a piece of cake. Plugging an HDMI cable into the HDMI ports of your PS4 and laptop may do the trick. 

But the truth is, you cannot directly use your PS4 with your laptop since your laptop’s display ports are display output ports and don’t accept input. 

Methods like Remote Play and video card are useful for connecting your PS4 to your laptop. You can also use Playstation Now to run PS games on your laptop without a TV or even a console. 

Until next time, cheers!