Connecting an Epson projector to a laptop is as simple and straightforward as is connecting any other dongle to your laptop or PC.
Well, because most Epson projectors typically support both wired as well as wireless connectivity, you can quickly pull the job off either using a simple VGA/HDMI/USB Type-B to Type-A cable or utilizing the Epson’s Quick Wireless Connection USB Key and linking through wireless LAN module.
So it’s all as simple as that. Nevertheless, I am still astonished to see why a majority of people are confused with something as uncomplicated as “how to connect Epson projector to laptop?”.
But that may be because I reckon there isn’t a single plain and professional answer to this thing anywhere on the internet. Well, stay put with me as I’m just gonna make it a no-brainer by teaching you how to finish the setup in just a few minutes.
How to Connect Epson Projector to Laptop?
As giant as is Epson’s name in the electronics world, particularly in the projectors industry, the company has done so many trailblazing things to make our lives easier than ever. So contrary to what may a naïve person assume, it’s never any rocket science to connect the cutting-edge Epson projectors to your laptop. It’s all just a few steps process.
Well, before we move down to learn how to set this setup up, I’d like you to know that Epson’s projectors come in two categories i.e. Home projectors and Projectors for work. The two have some significant differences in quality, terms of working, etc., but the setup process is more or less the same for both of them.
To Connect Projector to Laptop Through Wires
Your Epson projector should have lots of ports and sockets on its rear side employing which you can easily establish a wired connection between the two gizmos. Here’s everything you need to know about that.
1. How to Connect Epson Projector to Laptop Using USB Cable?
The easiest and most instant of all the methods to connect your Epson projector to your laptop is the USB plug-and-play method.
- Get a standard USB Type-B to USB Type-A cable, first.
- Plug the Type-B end of the cable into the square/Type-B USB port on the projector and connect its other flat/rectangular end to any of your laptop’s Type-A ports.
- Your laptop screen will instantaneously appear on the projection screen without any need for manually switching to external displays.
- Depending on your laptop model, you may or may not send the audio to the projector via the USB cable. Check out your laptop’s manual for that. If it doesn’t allow so, make use of a separate audio cable connecting it to the projector’s Audio-in jack from the laptop.
Well, for the first-timers, installing the Epson USB Display Software is a must. So as soon as you establish the connection and turn ON the projector, you’ll see an “Epson USB Display Setup Wizard” showing up on your laptop display. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the software.
Once done, you’ll be up and running, and next time it will be as easy as plug-and-project only i.e. just plug the USB cable on both ends, and you’ll right away see your laptop display coming live on the projection screen.
If the software download prompt doesn’t appear automatically, go to My Computer (or Finder, in Macs), seek out, and install the USB Display Driver from there. And yea, for a MacBook with all USB Type-C ports only, a USB Type-C to Type-A adapter can do the trick.
2. Via VGA Cable
- Connect one end of a standard VGA cable to the Computer1 or Computer2 port on the projector’s back and its other end to the same 15-holed VGA port on your laptop.
- Then switch the laptop’s display mode to external display by pressing Fn and the respective Function key on your laptop model. For example, in my case, it’s the Fn + F8 combo that does the trick.
- As VGA cables transmit video signals only, you may also want to connect a separate audio cable, later on, if what you are projecting has a sound element in it as well.
For Apple laptops (i.e. MacBook(s)), you’d need to spend a few bucks and get a VGA to Mini Display Port Adapter first, if you want to connect both the dongles through VGA only. Then select System Preferences > Displays > Detect Displays > and select VGA display or check the Color LCD dialogue box to switch the display. Or proceed down to see other methods.
3. How to Connect Epson Projector to Laptop Via HDMI?
HDMI being an audio/video interface transmits not only video data but compressed and uncompressed audio as well. So it’s also one of the best alternative ways to connect the projector to the laptop.
Well, the process here is also as simple as is making the connection via a USB cable. Just plug one end of the HDMI cable into the projector’s HDMI/MHL jack and its other end into your laptop’s HDMI port. And you’re done.
In case either your laptop or your Epson projector doesn’t have an HDMI port on it, you may pull the job off using auxiliary gizmos like an HDMI to VGA adapter, etc.
How to Connect Epson Projector to Laptop Wirelessly?
Epson offers a compact wireless/Wi-Fi adapter guise as a USB flash drive for Windows PCs allowing you to seamlessly connect your Windows laptop to your Epson projector. The wireless adapter is referred to as Quick Wireless Connection USB Key.
Although it’s an optional gizmo not included with the projector, you can get one and wirelessly project media and content from your laptop to your projector. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set up the wireless connection between both your gadgets.
- Check out if your model of Epson projector comes with the wireless LAN module and see if the module is already installed. If not installed previously, plug it into the projector’s USB-A jack.
- Power ON the projector and press the LAN button on the projector’s control panel or remote control to activate it.
- Make sure the SSID and IP address are displayed on the projection screen after you activated the LAN button.
- Remove the LAN module and insert the Quick Wireless Connection USB Key into that same (USB Type-A) port. You’ll now see a popup saying: Network information update complete. Remove the USB Key Adapter.
- Take out the USB Key from the projector and put the Wireless LAN Module back again into that port.
- Now, plug the USB Key into one of your laptop’s (USB A) ports, and select your projector’s name from all the wireless networks that show up on your laptop screen.
- Go with all the on-screen instructions to download and install Quick Wireless Connection driver: EasyMP Monitor/Network Projection Software. Say YES to any firewall popup if appear, and disable it to successfully finish the install.
- When done, click OK to any prompts that appear next, select your projector from the list of available projectors in the EasyMP search box, and click Connect.
Your laptop’s screen will be projected on the projection screen shortly after that (maybe within 20 to 30 seconds). If in case the laptop’s screen is still not projecting or showing up bizarre, you may solve it via the Source Search button on the projector’s remote control. Or, simply consult the projector’s manual for other possible issues and their solutions.
How do I connect my projector to my laptop?
To establish a connection between your laptop and your Projector, all you have to do is grab a decent quality HDMI cable and plug its either end to the back panel of your projector and do the same for your laptop. You can even use a VGA cable if your laptop/Projector doesn’t have an HDMI interface.
Do Epson projectors have Bluetooth?
Most latest variants of Epson projectors tend to have a BlueTooth feature which lets you pair external auditory devices such as your Bluetooth speakers, Headsets, and even earbuds, just make sure they are paired before you initiate the connection.
Can I make my projector wireless?
Yes, you can and it’s pretty straightforward, however, you need to cough up extra cash by investing in a third-party wireless adapter such as Airtame which will let you connect to your WiFI to access internet connection.
Conclusion
Epson has got itself a big name, and that’s all because of the cutting-edge technologies and innovations the company brings on a daily basis to its products. And if we talk about Epson’s projectors, well, they are paces ahead in terms of being elegantly future-proofed.
Anyways, if you’ve also got yourself one Epson projector and are now perplexed with its crazy features, not understanding how to connect it to your laptop, scroll above. This blog post teaches you in detail as regards how to connect Epson projector to laptop.
I’ve discussed both the wireless as well as all the wired methods you can try to connect the two dongles in the article above. So check it out and let me know if it proved helpful to you.
