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How to Connect a Webcam to a TV

Lawrence Bonk Profile image

Written by:

Lawrence Bonk
Updated February 10, 2023

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If you are new to the world of digital video, you may wonder how to connect a webcam to a TV. Some of the best webcams, after all, integrate nicely with some smart televisions. So why would you want to hook a webcam up to a TV, and how do you get this done quickly? Keep reading to find out.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Many modern smart TVs integrate nicely with webcams, allowing for video calls on large television screens and the use of remote control on the smart TV screen.
  • Before buying anything, make sure the USB webcam and the TV will play nice together, though newer models of both should work fine.
  • This is a plug-and-play experience, so connect the camera or related external device to the TV via a standard USB cable.

Why Use a Webcam With a TV?

Short answer? Hooking a webcam to a television allows for increased immersion and a higher resolution, which are features not available when learning how to install a webcam on a laptop. Additionally, making this move means you won’t have to lug your computer around and allows you to refrain from learning how to connect a webcam to a computer. Even better, the integration process is on the simpler side, akin to learning how to install a webcam to any other type of screen.

Insider Tip

For the sake of security, cover up the webcam with tape, a rag, or a shirt when not in use.

How to Install a Webcam to a TV

This process should be plug-and-play, as long as your webcam plays nice with smart TVs. You also need a smart TV that integrates with a camera.

STEP 1 Purchase the Right Gear

  1. Make sure you purchase a webcam that offers integration with a smart TV and vice versa.
  2. Read the advertising materials carefully, and feel free to reach out to salespeople or tech experts for more information.
  3. In most cases, a newer webcam should play nice with a newer TV, so long as the television includes USB ports and the camera connects via the same type of port.

STEP 2 Plug and Place

  1. Now it’s time to plug the camera into the TV.
  2. Plug one end of the USB cable into the webcam and the other into an available USB port on the television.
  3. Affix the webcam to the TV or anywhere else you prefer. It’s up to you.

STEP 3 Find the Right Input and Test

  1. Once the camera is plugged into the TV, search through the inputs and find one that displays footage from the camera.
  2. Adjust the webcam until you are properly in the frame and you are pleased with the view.

STAT: First developed in 1991, a webcam was pointed at the Trojan Room coffee pot in the Cambridge University Computer Science Department (initially operating over a local network instead of the web). The camera was finally switched off on August 22, 2001. (source)

How to Connect a Webcam to a TV FAQs

What are the benefits of a smart TV webcam?

Having a webcam connected to your TV allows for many benefits, including increased input screen options, the ability to walk away from a cramped computer screen, access to additional webcam features, and more.

What kind of teleconferencing apps are available for smart TVs?

Whether you are using a Samsung smart TV or a model from another brand, many video conferencing apps are available, like Skype and Zoom.

How do you use your webcam with a Vizio?

A Vizio smart TV works just like a Samsung smart TV or television from any other brand. In other words, the aforementioned steps should still apply to using a TV’s video function for video chats and video conferencing.
Lawrence Bonk Profile image
Lawrence Bonk
Lawrence Bonk is a copywriter with a decade of experience in the tech space, with columns appearing in Engadget, Huffington Post and CBS, among others. He has a cat named Cinnamon.