How do you connect a laptop to a TV with audio-video cables?

If both the laptop and the television have HDMI ports, an HDMI cable can send both audio and video. If the laptop and television both have VGA ports, users can stream the video with a VGA cable and use the headphone or line-out port to send the audio.

Unlike HDMI cables, VGA cables can't send audio information. Most laptops have a 3.5-mm audio out port, and televisions with VGA capabilities often have a audio in port designed specifically for use with the VGA line. If the laptop doesn't have a VGA port but the television does, users can purchase a USB-to-VGA cable to connect.