How I Optimize My TCL 4K TV for Monitor Use [Useful Tips]

Using a 4K TV as a monitor has several benefits. You can repurpose your old or not-in-use TV as a computer monitor or extended screen for a laptop. However, connecting the TV as a monitor with an HDMI cable or screencast doesn’t yield the best results.

When I connected my TCL TV for the first time, the resolution wasn’t up to the mark, and neither the screen utilized my PC’s performance. Then, I changed the view and refresh rates and altered some other settings to use the full 4K experience. You can try the following methods to ensure the same experience, too.

Use the Correct Port, Cable, and Source

To get the most out of your 4K TCL TV as a computer monitor, you must use the correct HDMI port. Often, TVs can have a variety of HDMI ports (sometimes of different generations like 2.1 and 2.0). For 120 FPS, you must use the HDMI 2.1 port on both PC and TV.

Note that you’ll need an HDMI 2.1 certified cable from a reputed brand like Anker or Philips of adequate length to connect the devices. If your laptop has a USB-C port or a mini-HDMI port, you’ll need an adapter.

Make sure that you select the correct HDMI source for your TV settings. For example, if you connected the cable to the HDMI 2.1 port which is port number 1, select it via the TV’s input menu.

Change Scale, Resolution, and Advanced Settings

Often, the TCL TV doesn’t work at 4K (or the maximum resolution), and the fonts look too tiny and unreadable. Since you place the TV about 20-30 cm away from the eyes, these settings should match your use case and eye comfort.

On Windows

Head over to the Display settings page on your Windows PC. Go to the Scale and layout section and click on the Scale option. Select anything over 150 to increase the font size.

Similarly, click on the Display resolution option and select the 3840 * 2160 option for your 4K TV.

configure display settings in Windows 11 for Insignia Fire TV

Leave the Display orientation section because you wouldn’t use your TV in portrait mode (or would you?).

Scroll up and click on the HDR option if your TV supports HDR. You might have to turn off the option in Settings, which can vary depending on the TV model. Click on the Use HDR toggle to enable the HDR feature.

Lastly, click on the Advanced display option. Click on the drop-down list next to the Choose a refresh rate option and pick the one that matches your TV. Pick the 120Hz option if you want to play games.

On Mac

After connecting your TV via HDMI cable, it’ll mirror the screen by default. However, you can extend the screen like Windows and use the MacBook’s display for something else.

Click on the Display settings icon on the Dock. Select the Display and Dock option from the left side menu. Go to the Use as option. Click the Extended display or Main display option.

Next, change the resolution to Scaled and pick the appropriate refresh rate for your TV. You can also choose the TV as the default audio output source.

Go to Sound settings and select the TCL TV as the output source. Adjust the output volume and click the Show sound in menu bar option.

Picture Settings

The above section focused on the settings you must change on the computer for optimal quality. However, the TCL must also be configured to get the best picture quality and frame rates.

Firstly, a cycle between different picture modes is used to check which produces better color. Also, change the brightness and contrast to ensure the colors pop on your new 4K monitor.

Game mode can help you achieve 120 FPS by applying internal processing to match the GPU output. Try playing a few games and check if the 120 FPS looks better and lags. If you face any lag, turn the Game mode off and change the refresh rate to 60Hz on your PC. Also, check out PC mode settings to automatically power on the TV when you start your PC or laptop.

FAQs

Q. How do you use a TCL smart TV as a monitor?

A. You can use either wired or wireless method to use the TCL TV as a monitor. But I suggest using the TCL TV in the wired mode because the wireless mode is good for presentations and viewing photos but lags while watching content and gaming.

Q. What are the best picture settings for TCL 4K TV?

A. Best picture settings depend greatly on your room lights, the TV model and panel, and the content you want to watch. There’s no universal setting that works for everyone.

Q. How do you set TCL TV to 144Hz?

A. Open the display settings on your PC and set the refresh rate to the 144Hz option. There are very few TV models that support 144Hz.

Wrapping Up

Default picture and display settings might only work for some users. You can use the above tweaks to personalize the TV output and performance. If you know of any other improvements for the TCL TV, share them in the comments.

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How I Optimize My TCL 4K TV for Monitor Use