You’ve got a perfectly good PlayStation 4 sitting there. You’ve also got a PC monitor that’s probably crisper than your old living room TV. Naturally, you want to bridge the gap. Maybe your roommates are hogging the big screen, or maybe you just want to stream your Bloodborne run to Discord without buying a $200 internal capture card. Honestly, the process of figuring out how to connect ps4 to a pc used to be a nightmare involving expensive adapters and specific hardware quirks. Now? It’s actually pretty straightforward if you know which path to take.
There are basically three ways to do this. You can go the software route with Remote Play, use a physical capture card, or just plug the console directly into your monitor and pretend the PC isn’t there. Each has its own weird little drawbacks.
The Remote Play Method: Gaming Over Your Network
Sony actually made an official app for this. It’s called PS Remote Play. This is the most popular way people handle the how to connect ps4 to a pc question because it doesn't cost a dime. You aren't actually sending a video signal through a cable; you're streaming it over your home Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
First, you have to prep the console. Head into your PS4 settings. Look for "Remote Play Connection Settings" and make sure that checkbox is ticked. If it isn't, your PC will just shout into the void and find nothing. You also need to go to "Account Management" and activate the system as your Primary PS4. Sony is picky about that.
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On the PC side, you download the Remote Play client from the official PlayStation website. Don't get it from some random mirror site; those are often packed with bloatware you don't want. Once it's installed, sign in with your PSN ID.
Why Ethernet is Non-Negotiable
If you try to do this over 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, you’re going to have a bad time. The input lag will make games like Sekiro or Call of Duty virtually unplayable. You’ll press jump, and your character will react three business days later.
If you want a smooth 60fps experience at 1080p (which is the max for a PS4 Pro, standard PS4 caps at 720p for streaming), both your console and your PC should be plugged into your router with Cat6 cables. Even a 5GHz Wi-Fi signal is "okay," but it’s prone to interference from your microwave or your neighbor's router.
Hardware Hack: Using a Capture Card
Maybe you're a streamer. Or maybe you just hate the compression artifacts that come with Remote Play. If you want the "real" signal, you need a capture card. Think of this as a middleman.
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The setup looks like this: PS4 HDMI out goes into the Capture Card "In" port. Then, a USB cable goes from the Capture Card to your PC. This tricks your computer into thinking the PS4 is just a really high-end webcam.
Brands like Elgato or AverMedia are the gold standards here. Specifically, the Elgato HD60 S+ or the newer 4K series. You’ll open software like OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software) on your desktop. Add a "Video Capture Device" source, select your card, and boom—your PS4 dashboard appears in a window on your Windows or Mac desktop.
One weird thing people forget: HDCP.
High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection is a built-in "anti-piracy" feature on the PS4. If it's turned on, your capture card will just show a black screen. You have to go to Settings > System > Enable HDCP and uncheck that box. Just remember that you can't watch Netflix or Hulu on the PS4 while that's off. It'll block the video apps entirely.
The Direct Monitor Approach (The "Cheat" Method)
Sometimes when people ask about how to connect ps4 to a pc, they actually just want to use their PC's screen. They don't actually care about the PC running in the background. If your monitor has two HDMI ports, you're golden. Just plug the PS4 into the second port.
But what if your monitor only has one port? Get an HDMI switcher. It’s a tiny box that costs fifteen bucks. You plug the PC and the PS4 into the box, and the box into the monitor. You hit a button to swap between them. It’s simple, lag-free, and doesn't stress your CPU.
What About the Audio?
This is where people get tripped up. Most PC monitors don't have speakers, or if they do, they sound like a tin can in a hurricane. If you’re using a capture card or Remote Play, the audio comes through your PC speakers or headset automatically.
If you're plugged directly into the monitor, you'll need to plug your headphones into the DualShock 4 controller's 3.5mm jack. Or, if you’re fancy, use an optical audio Toslink cable from the back of the PS4 (if you have the Original or Pro model) to a dedicated DAC or soundbar. The PS4 Slim famously removed the optical port, which was a pretty annoying move by Sony, frankly.
Using a Laptop as a Monitor
Laptops are tricky. Almost every laptop HDMI port is an "Output" only. You cannot just plug a PS4 into a laptop and expect it to work. It won't. You will essentially have to use Remote Play or a USB Capture Card to get that video signal onto a laptop screen.
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I’ve seen people try to force it and end up damaging their ports. Don't be that person. If there's no "HDMI In" label (which only exists on super rare, old Alienware laptops or specialized workstation machines), it’s not going to work without a USB interface.
Troubleshooting Common Connection Failures
It’s never as easy as "plug and play," is it? Usually, something goes wrong. If Remote Play can't find your console, it's usually a NAT Type issue. You want NAT Type 2. If you see NAT Type 3, your router's firewall is being too aggressive. You'll need to look into "Port Forwarding" for PSN.
- Laggy Video: Drop the resolution in the Remote Play settings. 540p isn't pretty, but it's better than a slideshow.
- Controller Not Working: Windows doesn't always love the DualShock 4 natively. You might need a utility called DS4Windows. It tricks your PC into thinking the PS4 controller is an Xbox 360 controller, which Windows supports perfectly.
- Black Screen on Capture Card: Double-check that HDCP setting I mentioned earlier. It is the culprit 90% of the time.
Actionable Next Steps for a Perfect Setup
To get the best possible experience when you connect ps4 to a pc, follow this specific order of operations:
- Check your hardware: If you have a desktop with a spare HDMI port on the monitor, buy an HDMI cable and a cheap HDMI switcher first. It provides the lowest latency and best image quality.
- Hardwire everything: If you must use Remote Play, find two Ethernet cables. Plug the PS4 and the PC directly into the router. This reduces "input lag" from 100ms+ down to a manageable 10-20ms.
- Install DS4Windows: Even if you use the official Sony app, having DS4Windows installed ensures your PC recognizes the touchpad and gyro if you decide to play other PC games later.
- Toggle HDCP: Go into your PS4 System settings right now and turn off HDCP if you plan on using a capture card or any third-party recording software.
- Update Firmware: Ensure your PS4 is on the latest system software. Sony frequently updates the Remote Play protocol, and if the versions don't match, the handshake will fail every time.
Connecting these two platforms makes your setup way more versatile. Whether you're trying to reclaim the living room TV for your family or starting a burgeoning Twitch career, these methods bridge the gap between console comfort and PC power.