There are several ways to check the HDMI port on a laptop, and it all involves looking at the spec sheet.
The spec sheet of a laptop can not only tell you the version of the HDMI port but can also detail its supported specifications.
You can access the spec sheet of your laptop by heading over to the manufacturer’s website or by looking at the manual provided with it.
If you do not have the manual and cannot access the spec sheet online, then trial and error is the only way to test.
In the following text, I will talk in detail about how to check what kind of HDMI port you have on your laptop.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Understanding the HDMI Versions and Specs
Before you try to understand what HDMI port you have on your laptop, it is worth understanding different HDMI port versions on the market currently.
HDMI is an ever-evolving interface. As the demand for resolution and refresh rate increases for monitors and screens, the market for newer and more robust HDMI standards increases.
Hence, the different HDMI versions are mainly differentiated by the maximum resolution and refresh rate they can carry.
For instance, the most common HDMI version, HDMI 1.4, found on laptops and PCs, can only show up to 4K resolution at a 30Hz refresh rate.
If you want to connect to a 4K monitor and have a 60Hz refresh rate, you need an HDMI 2.0 port at least. The following table explains this further:
| HDMI Version | Max Resolution | Max Refresh Rate | Max Bandwidth (Gbit/s) | Effective Bandwidth (Gbit/s) | HDR? | Audio Technology Supported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDMI 1.0 | 1080p | 1080p @ 60 Hz | 4.95 | 3.96 | No | – 8 Audio Channels |
| HDMI 1.1/1.2 | 1440p | 1440p @ 30 Hz | 4.95 | 3.96 | No | – 8 Audio Channels -Super Audio CDs |
| HDMI 1.3/1.4 | 4096 x 2160 (4K) | 120 Hz @ FHD Resolution 30 Hz @ 4k Resolution 24 Hz @ 4k Resolution | 10.2 | 8.16 | No | – 8 Audio Channels – ARC – Dolby TrueHD – DTS-HD |
| HDMI 2.0 | 4096 x 2160 (4K) | 60 Hz @ 4K Resolution | 18 | 14.40 | Yes | – 32 audio channels, – Dynamic Resolution Adaptation (DRA) – High-Efficiency Advanced Audio Coding (HE-AAC) |
| HDMI 2.1 | Upto 10240 x 4320 (10K) | Upto 120Hz @ 10K | 48 | 42.67 | Yes | – 32 audio channels – eARC |
Also Read: Does My Laptop Have an HDMI Input?
How to Check HDMI Port on Laptop?
There are a few things that you want to check.
- HDMI Port Version
- Whether it is Input or Output
- Type of HDMI Port (Form Factor)
The most important of these considerations is generally knowing the HDMI port version.
How to Check HDMI Port Version on Laptop?
You can check the HDMI port version on your laptop through two methods:
- Reading the Specsheet
- Trial and Error
1. Checking HDMI Port Version Through Laptop’s Spec Sheet
By accessing the technical spec sheet on the manufacturer’s official website or through the manual provided, you can definitively figure out what version of HDMI port your laptop has.
For instance, you can see that ASUS TUF Gaming F15 has an HDMI 2.0b port, according to its spec sheet. Hence it can support an external display with up to 4K@60Hz.
Sometimes the spec sheet does not tell you the HDMI port version but instead only lists the specs the HDMI port supports.
Take, for instance, the following MSI GL66 Pulse Gaming laptop. The spec sheet for this laptop does not tell you what version the HDMI port conforms to.
Instead, it tells you that the port supports 4K @ 60Hz. From this, we can infer that it has an HDMI 2.0 port.
2. Checking HDMI Port Version Through Trial and Error
Another method to check the HDMI port version on your laptop is through trial and error.
You must have a 4K monitor to test your HDMI port.
Plug in your monitor to the HDMI port on your laptop. Ensure you use an HDMI 2.0 cable (Premium High-Speed HDMI cable, at least).
If the monitor runs at 4K@60Hz, you have an HDMI 2.0 port. If it runs at 4K@30Hz, then you have an HDMI 1.4 port.
Similarly, to test if you have an HDMI 2.1 port, you must have at least a 4K monitor with a refresh rate higher than 60Hz, i.e., 100Hz, 120Hz, 144Hz, etc.
Again, to check if you have an HDMI 2.0 or an HDMI 2.1 port, you must use Premium High Speed or Ultra High-Speed HDMI cable.
Also Read: Are All HDMI Cables 4K?
How to Check if HDMI is Input or Output on Laptop?
The laptop is a source device just like a desktop, gaming console, Blu-Ray player, or Set-top Box is.
Hence, it SENDS audio/video signals to the display device such as monitors, TVs, or projectors.
As such, the HDMI port on a laptop is almost always an HDMI OUTPUT port unless otherwise specified in the spec sheet.
Since laptops have an HDMI output port, the laptop’s display cannot be used as an external monitor.
People often assume they can connect multimedia devices like a gaming console or set-top box to a laptop’s HDMI port and play them on its screen. However, that is not possible.
Display devices have HDMI input ports. Laptops only have an HDMI output port.
Also Read: What is HDMI Input Used For?
How to Check the Type of HDMI Port on Your Laptop?
In addition to that, there are also different sizes of HDMI ports, as shown in the image below:
The majority of the laptops have the Standard Type-A HDMI port.
However, if you have an ultra-portable laptop, you may have a mini or micro HDMI port. This is quite rare, and unless you have a very old ultrabook, chances are you have the Standard HDMI Type-A port on your laptop.
Final Words
In this short guide, I talked about how to check the laptop’s HDMI port. The quick and simple way to check is through the spec sheet.
However, you will need to know the jargon to understand what the specs in the datasheet mean.
Also Read: Is HDMI Backwards Compatible?
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. How do I check if my laptop’s HDMI port is working?
To check if your laptop’s HDMI port is working, you can connect it to a TV or monitor using an HDMI cable and see if the video and audio output are functioning correctly.
2. Can I connect multiple displays to my laptop’s HDMI port?
Yes, it is possible to connect multiple displays to your laptop’s HDMI port by using an HDMI splitter or by daisy-chaining multiple displays together.
3. What types of devices can I connect to my laptop’s HDMI port?
You can connect a wide range of devices to your laptop’s HDMI port, including external displays, projectors, gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, and more.
4. Can I use my laptop’s HDMI port for audio output as well?
Yes, you can use your laptop’s HDMI port for audio output by connecting it to an external audio device, such as a speaker or a soundbar, using an HDMI cable.
5. Do all laptops with HDMI ports support audio output through HDMI?
Not all laptops with HDMI ports support audio output through HDMI. Some laptops may require you to manually switch the audio output device to HDMI in the sound settings.
Additionally, older laptops may not support audio output through HDMI at all. It’s important to check your laptop’s specifications to see if it supports audio output through HDMI.
