Windows 8.1 on your big screen with Miracast
With Windows 8.1, you can now wirelessly project to a big screen without fussing with proprietary technologies, network access, and different display cables and adapters. Wireless display is available in new Windows 8.1 PCs – laptops, tablets, and all-in-ones — allowing you to display your full Windows 8.1 experience (up to 1080p) to large wireless display-enabled screens at home and work.
What can you do with it
In Windows 8.1, wireless display is a great way to share anything you do on Windows with friends and family in the living room, with colleagues in the conference room, and with students in the classroom. It lets you share experiences like shopping on Amazon or eBay, checking out 360-degree panoramas of vacation destinations in Bing Travel , solving puzzles in Disney Fairies with the kids, enjoying photos from a class field trip on OneDrive, or exploring the solar system with your classroom with the World Wide Telescope. Of course, you can also use it for watching movies and videos through your favorite services like Netflix, Xbox Video and YouTube.
Wireless display puts Windows 8.1 on your big screen.
With wireless display in Windows 8.1, you can duplicate your main display or extend your display, giving you two independent screens (multi-monitor). Duplicating the display takes what you have on the local screen of your device and shows it on the big screen. Extending your display allows you, for instance, to use Microsoft PowerPoint to show a presentation in Presenter View, where the local screen shows you your speaker notes, next slide, and slide controls, while the wireless display shows the audience your full-screen presentation. Great for when you want to come from behind the podium, while keeping your notes and controls in the palm of your hand.
What you need
When you use wireless display, you have a source and a receiver: your Windows 8.1 device is the source, while your TV or projector is the receiver.
How to use it
To get started with wireless display, first ensure that your Windows 8.1 device is ready by checking Windows Update and your PC manufacturer for any driver updates, including drivers presented as optional. After your machine is ready, you need to add your wireless display receiver for the first time. To add it, open the Devices charm by swiping in from the right and then tapping Devices (or if you’re using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, and then click Devices.). Select Project and then Add a wireless device to have Windows scan for available Miracast receivers.
Note: Wireless display is available on most new Windows 8.1 PCs, but some PC manufacturers might choose not to include it on some new and upgraded PCs. If you don’t see “Add a wireless display” when you tap the Devices charm and tap Project, try going to Windows Update and downloading all available updates (including optional drivers). If you still don’t see it, check for additional updates on your PC manufacturer’s support site, or contact them to ask how you can get this feature on your PC.
Selecting your receiver begins the secure pairing of your Windows 8.1 device to the Miracast receiver. After pairing is finished, you’ll be able to project your full Windows 8.1 experience wirelessly onto your big screen. To extend projection, open Devices and tap Project again (or press Windows key + P), and then tap Extend.
To end projection, open Devices and tap Project again (or press Windows key + P), and then tap or click Disconnect.
The next time you use your wireless display it will be even simpler, as Windows remembers the displays you’ve used, and automatically shows them whenever they’re available. Simply open Devices, tap or click Project, and then tap or click the display you want.
