• Plug the adapter into an HDMI port on your HDTV, monitor, or projector and into a USB charging port. The adapter gets its power through the USB charging port.
• For best performance, keep your device within 23 feet of the HDTV, monitor, or projector. To learn how to connect the adapter to your HDTV, monitor, or projector, please consult your product guide. Product Guides can be downloaded:
  • Here for Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter
    
  • Here for Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter (with Microsoft Four Square Logo)
    
• The adapter can connect to only one HDTV, monitor, or projector at a time.
• For Android device troubleshooting, read more here.

Note

The Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter (with Microsoft Four Square Logo) is supported on select Android devices.
For more information, please go here.

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If you’re having trouble connecting your device to the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter, try these solutions in order:

Solution 1: Install the latest updates

Installing the latest updates for your device and Windows can help fix many common connection issues. For Windows devices, here’s how:

Step 1: Go to Start, and select Settings > Update & security > Windows Update. Step 2: Select Check for updates. If updates are available, they will install automatically. You may need to restart your device after the updates have installed.

If installing updates doesn’t help, try Solution 2.

Solution 2: Check your HDMI and USB connections

Make sure both the HDMI end and USB end of the adapter are connected correctly.

• Make sure the HDMI end of the adapter is connected to the HDMI port on your HDTV, monitor, or projector. Use the included HDMI extension cable if needed.
• Make sure the USB end of the adapter is plugged into a USB power source.

Note

• If the HDTV, monitor, or projector you’re connecting to doesn’t have a USB charging port, you can use the USB charging port on a device power supply or any other USB charger.
• Use a USB extension cord if you need more length for your USB connector.
• Make sure the electrical outlet you’re using for USB power is working properly. Test it by plugging in something else.

If you’re still having trouble after checking your connections, try Solution 3.

Solution 3: Update the adapter’s firmware

If you can connect your device to the adapter but what you can see on your device isn’t visible on your second screen, the adapter’s firmware may be out of date.

The Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter app provides settings and firmware updates for the adapter. If you haven’t already done so, install the app from the Windows Store.

To use the app to update the adapter’s firmware:

Step 1: Open the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter app.Step 2: If a firmware update is available, select Install and follow the on-screen instructions.

Note

The Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter app must be in the foreground on your device while installing firmware updates. Suspending the app will also suspend the update or may cause it to fail.

If your adapter’s firmware is up to date and you still have a problem, try Solution 4.

Solution 4: Restart the adapter

Step 1: Remove the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter from the TV or Monitor. Step 2: Restart your device. Step 3: Re-insert the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter into your TV or Monitor. Step 4: Attempt to display one more time.

Note

It is recommended to check for updates on both your device, and Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter after completing Solution 4.

If you still have a problem, try Solution 5.

Solution 5: Reset the adapter

Try resetting the adapter. This is also helpful if you’ve forgotten your password. Here’s how:

Step 1: On the adapter next to the wired connection, press and hold the reset button for 10 seconds. The LED light on the adapter will blink.Step 2: When the message “Ready to connect” appears on your second screen, swipe in from the right edge of your device screen or select Action Center in the taskbar.Step 3: Select Connect, and in the list of displays, select the name of the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter.

If resetting the adapter doesn’t solve the problem, try Solution 6.

Solution 6: Remove the adapter and reconnect

There might be a problem with the connection between your device and the adapter. To fix the issue, try disconnecting the adapter from your device and reconnecting it. Here’s how:

Step 1: Go to Start, and select Settings > Devices > Connected devices.Step 2: Under Projectors, select the name of the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter and select Remove device.Step 3: Select Add a device to connect your device and the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter.

If disconnecting and reconnecting the adapter doesn’t help, try Solution 7.

Solution 7: Allow the adapter to communicate through Windows Firewall

Windows Firewall might be preventing the adapter from connecting to your device. To allow the adapter to communicate through the firewall:

Step 1: Select the search box in the taskbar, enter allow firewall, and in the search results, select Allow an app through Windows Firewall.Step 2: Under Name, find Wireless Display and make sure Private and Public are selected. Then, select OK. If you can’t select anything in the Allowed apps and features box, you are not logged in as an administrator. Select Change Settings, enter your administrator password, and select Yes. Your administrator password should be the same as the password you used to set up your device. Then, make sure Private and Public are selected and select OK.

If your firewall is set to allow the adapter to communicate but you still can’t connect, try Solution 8.

Solution 8: Change the wireless frequency band on your device

The Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter can communicate with device on either the 2.4GHz or 5GHz wireless frequency bands, but you must have the 2.4GHz band enabled on your device when you’re pairing your device with the adapter.

If you’re still having trouble connecting your device to the adapter, the 2.4GHz band might be disabled.

Note

Surface Pro, Surface Pro 2, and Surface 2 default to the 2.4GHz band, and this can’t be changed.

Here’s how to enable the 2.4 GHz, or 5 GHz band:

Step 1: Select the search box in the taskbar, enter Device manager, and in the search results, select Device Manager. Step 2: Select the arrow to the left of Network adapters and press and hold (or right-click) the Marvell AVASTAR adapter. Step 3: Select Properties > Advanced. If you don’t see the Advanced tab, you are not logged in as an administrator. Select Change Settings, enter your administrator password, and select Yes. Your administrator password should be the same as the password you used to set up your device. Then, select Advanced. Step 4: Under Property, select Band. Step 5: Under Value, select the arrow and select Auto > OK.

If you still can't connect, try Solution 9.

Solution 9: Reinstall the Intel HD Graphics driver

An issue with the Intel HD Graphics driver on your device might be preventing your device from communicating with the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter. Try uninstalling and reinstalling the driver. Here’s how:

Step 1: Select the search box in the taskbar, enter Device manager, and in the search results, select Device Manager. Step 2: Select the arrow to the left of Display adapters and press and hold (or right-click) the Intel HD Graphics driver. Step 3: Select Uninstall. Step 4: Go to Start, and select Power > Restart. Step 5: After your device restarts, go to Start, and select Settings > Devices > Connected devices. Step 6: Select Add a device to connect your device and the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter.

If you still can’t connect your device to your Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter continue to solution 10.

Solution 10: Uninstall and Reinstall the Device Wi-Fi Driver

Step 1: Select the search box in the taskbar, enter Device manager, and in the search results, select Device Manager. Step 2: Select the arrow to the left of Network adapters and press and hold (or right-click) your device’s network adapter. Step 3: Select Uninstall. Step 4: Go to Start, and select Power > Restart. Step 5: After your device restarts, go to Start, and select Settings > Devices > Connected devices. Step 6: Select Add a device to connect your device and the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter.

If you still can’t connect your device to your Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter, contact us.

If you have any of these issues with video or audio playback, here are some solutions to try.

Nothing displays on the second screen

If you can connect your device to the adapter but nothing displays on your second screen, try performing the steps in the solutions above. If that doesn’t solve the issue, try these solutions:

• Make sure you have your device set to duplicate or extend the screen.
• Unplug the USB end of the adapter to turn it off, and plug it back in to turn it on again.
• Make sure your HDTV, monitor, or projector is set to the HDMI channel. To check and, if necessary, change the video input settings on your display, check the info that came with your device or go to the manufacturer’s website.
• Make sure your HDTV, monitor, or projector supports HDCP. If you aren’t sure if your display supports HDCP, check the info that came with your device or go to the manufacturer’s website.

Video is pixilated or audio stutters

If you notice pixilation in the video or if the audio stutters, try the following:

• Move your device closer to the adapter. For best performance, your device should be within 23 feet of your HDTV, monitor, or projector.
• Move the adapter away from microwave ovens, cordless phones, or baby monitors. Common household electronics such as these can cause radio frequency interference that may disrupt the connection between your device and the adapter.
• If you don’t have enough room to plug the adapter into the HDMI port on your second screen, use the HDMI extension cable that was included in the box your adapter came in. If you’ve plugged the adapter into the HDMI port at an angle, this can cause issues with the video quality.

App based video (YouTube, Netflix, Amazon) cannot play while connected to Wireless Display Adapter

If you are having issues playing video and content from an application service such as Netflix, YouTube, or Amazon Instant Video, try the below steps:

Solution 1: Close and relaunch, or refresh the app. Solution 2: Disconnect from the Wireless Display Adapter Solution 3: Restart device

Video plays on your device but is frozen on your second screen

If video plays correctly on your device but is frozen on your second screen, disconnect the adapter from your device and the display, and reconnect it. Here’s how:

Step 1: Swipe in from the right edge of the screen or select Action Center in the taskbar. Step 2: Select Connect, select the name of the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter, and select Disconnect. Step 3: Unplug both ends of the adapter from your HDTV, monitor, or projector and plug them in again. Step 4: Swipe in from the right edge of the screen or select Action Center. Step 5: Select Connect, and in the list of displays, select the name of the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter to reconnect your device to the adapter.

Poor video quality

If the quality of the streaming video is poor, here are some ways to help improve it:

• Make sure you're not using an HDMI to VGA converter. Converting from HDMI to VGA reduces the signal strength of the video output and can distort the images.
• Reduce radio frequency interference by moving the adapter away from microwave ovens, cordless phones, and other common household electronics.
• Move your device closer to the adapter. The adapter works best when it’s within 23 feet of your device.
• Download higher-quality video. The source itself might be of poor quality, which will affect the quality of the streaming video.

Video plays on the connected display, but audio comes from your device

If sound plays on your device when you’re streaming video to a connected display, you can configure the sound source manually. Here’s how:

Step 1: Select the search box in the taskbar, enter sound, and in the search results, select Sound. Step 2: Select Playback > Speakers/Intel WiDi > Set Default > OK.

Can’t change the resolution on your device

If the resolution on your HDTV, monitor, or projector is less than 1080p, your device will default to the resolution of your HDTV, monitor, or projector while it’s connected to the display.

You need an HDTV, monitor, or projector that supports up to 1080p resolution to stream content from your device in that resolution. After you disconnect your device from the adapter, your device will revert to its default resolution.

If part of the screen on your device doesn’t appear on your second screen, the display might not be to scale. Try these solutions:

Adjust the resolution on your device

If you’ve set the resolution on your device to a lower resolution than its default setting, you can increase the resolution so it will fit correctly on your second screen. Here’s how:

Step 1: Select the search box in the taskbar, enter screen resolution, and in the search results, select Change the screen resolution. Step 2: Under Resolution, select the arrow, and select the resolution that says Recommended. (The highest resolution is the recommended resolution on device.) Step 3: Select Apply.

Use the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter app to adjust display settings

You can use the adapter app to change how the screen on your device scales to the screen on your HDTV, monitor, or projector. Here's how:

Step 1: Open the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter app. Step 2: Under Adjust display, drag the slider to the right until you can see everything that’s on your device on the HDTV, monitor, or projector.

If you’re having issues with the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter app, here are some things to try:

The app shows "You're not connected"

If the message "You're not connected" appears in the app:

Step 1: Make sure both the HDMI end and the USB end of the adapter are connected to your HDTV, monitor, or projector. Step 2: In the app, select Refresh.

App always shows "Waiting for connection"

If the app always shows "Waiting for connection," first make sure your device is connected to the adapter, then disconnect the adapter and reconnect it. Here’s how:

Step 1: Swipe in from the right edge of the screen or select Action Center in the taskbar. Step 2: Select Connect. The adapter will appear at the top of the menu. (If the adapter doesn’t appear at the top, your device isn’t connected to the adapter.) Step 3: Select the name of the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter and select Disconnect. Step 4: Swipe in from the right edge of the screen or select Action Center. Step 5: Select Connect, and in the list of displays, select the name of the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter to reconnect your device to the adapter.

Note

The adapter won’t work if you are using a proxy server to access the Internet.