Smart TVs have improved at-home enjoyment by allowing users to view streaming services such as Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, Hulu, and Amazon Prime without the need for additional cables or devices. However, if you don’t want to update your TV, you may still convert your current TV to a smart TV.
Amazon Fire TV Stick is on an impressively simple mission: to transform your dumb TV into anything a lot smarter without spending a lot of money or destroying the sleek aesthetics of your precious television. In fact, it even promises to provide you with levels of visual and sound clarity you might not have previously encountered through an internet service.
Do you want to stay with your TV’s dumb operating system and miss out on wonderful music and video streaming applications, as well as other excellent features? There are several methods to convert your non-smart TV into a smart TV without investing much money. Keep on reading!
Table of Contents
Setup the Smart Box
Attach one end of the HDMI cable to the box and the other to an HDMI port on the back of your TV to install the Apple TV box. Make a note of the HDMI slot on the TV you utilized. Then, connect the two-cylinder end of the cable to the rear of the Apple TV box and the other end to a power outlet.
Turn on your TV and set the input to the HDMI number corresponding to the slot you choose. The box’s setup screen should now display. Then, to finish the procedure, follow the directions displayed on the screen. The process is the same for the Amazon Cube. You attach the HDMI and power connections to the Fire Cube, click fast-forward on your controller to pick your WIFI network, enter your password, and hit connect before signing in or creating an Amazon account.
Download a Portable Media Player
Portable media players are little sticks that resemble USB pen drives. One possibility is Google’s Chromecast. Here’s how to do it:
- Place the Chromecast’s wire straight into one of the HDMI ports on the rear of your TV.
- Insert the USB power cord, one end into the Chromecast device and the other into a USB port of your Television.
- Switch on your TV, choose the proper HDMI port, and wait for the Chromecast setup screen to open. You’ll next be asked to install the Google app on your smartphone.
Once downloaded, open the application, press on the Devices button, and wait for Chromecast to recognize your phone (note that on an iPhone, you must first choose “Use without Bluetooth” and then tap “Skip Setup” before reaching the Google Home app’s homepage). You will then be given setup steps to complete to start utilizing your TV as a smart TV.
Connect Your Streaming Stick
If you pick the Amazon Fire Stick, connect it straight into your TV’s HDMI port. Then, put the USB cable into the mains adapter brick and unfold the plug from the brick to complete the power cord. Next, connect one wire to the connector on the side of the stick and another end to an electrical outlet. Then, set the TV’s input to the HDMI channel that corresponds to the slot on the back of your TV. After that, you’ll be requested to hit the Play/Pause button on your remote, which will connect the remote with your Fire Stick/TV.
You can then choose a wireless network and input the password. Lastly, you’ll be requested to login into your Amazon account. The streaming stick may then be used to transform your TV into a smart TV.
Use Apple TV 4K
If you own many Apple devices, such as iPads, iPhones, Macs, and Apple Watches, you should get an Apple TV to convert your non-smart TV into a smart TV. Indeed, it is four times the price of rival video streaming devices using Amazon’s Fire TV OS and Google’s Android TV OS; however, they are faster and smoother, have more storage, and can even play online games. You can even use the Apple TV to mirror the screen of your Mac, iPad, and iPhone. It can also access all of the music and video streaming applications.
Utilize Sony PlayStation and Xbox
Suppose you own a PlayStation or Xbox. In that case, you may utilize it to transform your TV into a smart TV because those game consoles offer access to applications, such as Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, Netflix, and YouTube. They also provide a lot of storage capacity, so you can save real music and video files on the gadget rather than streaming them from the internet.
However, they have their own set of drawbacks. The controllers included with the Xbox and PlayStation are challenging to use. You must purchase an extra media controller for them. The additional peculiarity of these game consoles is that they will not operate with your smart home devices or accept feeds from your phone or tablet.
Reuse an Old Laptop or Computer
You may also stream movies and music from your storage device or the internet using your current PC or laptop. To play music or movies, connect your device to your TV using an HDMI connection. You may do so via an internet browser or by downloading music and video streaming applications. You can even reach Google Assistant and Alexa from your computer; this implies you can use voice commands to receive answers from the web, operate compatible smart home gadgets, and contact your family and friends.
What Characteristics Define a Smart TV?
To be considered smart nowadays, a television must access the internet, stream music and movies from the internet, play multiple types of sound, movie, and picture files, and have connectivity to AI-powered digital voice assistants. An inexpensive smart streaming device that can connect to your current TV’s HDMI port and provide the following functionalities is a simple method to transform a dumb TV into a smart TV.
- Internet access through WIFI.
- Accessibility to sound – visual streaming applications such as Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar, Spotify and YouTube.
- Have screencasting or screen mirroring and DLNA capabilities on your phone or tablet.
- Possess modern voice assistants such as Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant.
These are the most effective methods for transforming your old TV or screen into a smart TV. You may save money by not purchasing a brand-new TV instead of turning existing TVs or screens into smart TVs. Finally, you may also utilize the monitor to play music or view movies and TV programmes in your office setting.
Read more: How to remove YouTube playback error on Smart TV
Veena is a prolific writer, blogger, and social media enthusiast known for her expertise in crafting engaging guest posts and managing successful blogs across various niches. With a passion for writing and a keen understanding of digital marketing trends, Veena has established herself as a prominent voice in the online community.