Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Play 4K video on desktop
• Method 2 of 3: Play 4K videos online
• Method 3 of 3: Play 4K videos on a TV
• Tips
• Warnings

This wikiHow shows you how to play 4K resolution (2160p) videos on your computer or TV.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Play 4K video on desktop

1. Understand the limitations. Few laptop computers have built-in displays that support 4K resolution, and laptops that do are very expensive to buy. 4K is primarily limited to desktop computers for now.
   • Another limitation is the power of your computer. 4K video requires a large processor, a lot of RAM and a modern video card; you can't just hook up a 4K monitor to your old PC and hope for the best.
2. Make sure you have a 4K monitor. 4K monitors come in a variety of shapes, sizes and price ranges. Ideally you will find a monitor with a frequency of 60 Hz, but any 4K monitor within your price range is good.
   • Unlike the differences between 1080p and 1080i monitors, all 4K monitors will show you the same resolution under the same conditions.
3. Buy a 4K HDMI cable. You probably already have an HDMI cable at home, and all HDMI cables technically support 4K videos. However, the most recent version of the HDMI cable - HDMI 2.0 or "high-speed HDMI" - supports up to 60 frames per second 4K, while conventional HDMI cables only support 30 frames per second.
   • You can find HDMI 2.0 cables in electronics stores and online for less than $ 10 each.
   • If you're using a DisplayPort connection instead, go for a DisplayPort 1.4 cable. The specifications are the same as HDMI 2.0.
4. Use your 4K HDMI cable to connect your monitor to your computer. Connect one end of the HDMI (or DisplayPort) cable to the back of your computer, and the other end to one of the HDMI (or DisplayPort) ports on your monitor.
5. Go to your 4K video. If you have the file for the 4K video you want to watch on your computer, find it. Otherwise, you will need to download the file before continuing.
6. Open your video in a video player that supports 4K. This allows you to view the video directly on your desktop:
   • Windows - You can use the Movies & TV app to watch 4K videos. Right click on your 4K video, select Open with and click on Movies & TV.
   • Mac - You can use QuickTime to play 4K videos. Click on your 4K video, click File, select Open with and click on the option QuickTime.

Method 2 of 3: Play 4K videos online

1. Make sure you meet the requirements. To enjoy 4K videos, your monitor must support 4K resolution and your monitor must be connected to your computer via an HDMI or DisplayPort cable. Your computer must also be able to process 4K videos, which can be difficult for laptops and less quality computers.
   • If you want to watch your 4K video at 60 frames per second, make sure you have an HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.4 cable.
2. Consider your computer to your router. Using an Ethernet cable for a direct internet connection to your computer instead of using Wi-Fi ensures the smoothest streaming possible.
3. Close any major background programs or processes. If additional programs, browsers or processes (such as downloads or updates) are running while you are trying to watch 4K video in your browser, the video will most likely be delayed.
4. Find and open a video that supports 4K. Many shows and movies on Netflix support 4K, and you'll find a significant amount of 4K content on YouTube and Vimeo.
5. Select 4K quality. This depends on your service, but usually you click on a gear-shaped icon Enjoy your 4K content. As long as you meet the hardware and software requirements to watch 4K videos, you should watch the 4K video in your computer's browser whenever you want.

Method 3 of 3: Play 4K videos on a TV

1. Make sure your TV supports 4K. You cannot watch 4K video on a TV with a resolution less than 4K (2160p).
   • If you don't have a 4K TV, you can buy one at an electronics store or online.
2. Buy a 4K ready source. Many modern video input sources, such as modern Blu-Ray players and the PlayStation 4 Pro / Xbox One X, support 4K DVDs at a speed of 60 frames per second. If you don't have a source that supports 4K, you can buy one online or at an electronics store.
   • If you want to stream 4K videos from a service such as Netflix, Ziggo or Pathé Thuis, your source does not have to support 4K.
3. Consider streaming 4K videos. You can stream 4K videos with almost anything from a computer to a game console. Many services such as Netflix support 4K videos for some content, so this is a good option if you don't want to overpay for a 4K DVD.
   • If you're streaming 4K video, connecting your source to your router is a good way to make sure you have a stable streaming speed.
4. Buy a 4K HDMI cable. You probably already have an HDMI cable at home, and all HDMI cables technically support 4K video. However, the most recent version of the HDMI cable - HDMI 2.0 or "high-speed HDMI" - supports up to 60 frames per second 4K, while older HDMI cables only support 30 frames per second.
   • You can find HDMI 2.0 cables online or in electronics stores for less than $ 10 each.
   • If you're using a DisplayPort connection instead, go for a DisplayPort 1.4 cable. The specifications are the same as HDMI 2.0.
5. Use your 4K HDMI cable to connect your TV to your source. Connect one end of the HDMI (or DisplayPort) cable to the back of your video source, and the other end to one of the HDMI (or DisplayPort) ports on your TV.
6. Sit close to the TV. Unlike traditional HD TVs, 4K is incredibly compact, which means you get the best visual quality sitting closer than if you were watching your video on a 1080p (or lower) resolution TV.
7. Watch your 4K content. The resolution depends on your selected display method, but you should be able to see most 4K content as such on your TV.
8. Adjust the settings of your TV or source if necessary. In some cases you need to increase the maximum standard quality of your TV (or source) from 1080p to 4K (or 2160p). You can usually do this in the Settings section. If you cannot find these settings, consult the manual for your TV or source.

Tips

• Conventional 4K TVs have pixel dimensions of 3840 x 2160, while 4K cinema screens have 4096 x 2160 dimensions. The latter is called cinema 4K.
• You can use the popular VLC Media Player to play 4K video on both Windows and Mac computers, although VLC is known for its jerkiness.
• While YouTube and Vimeo are reliable sources of 4K video, many other websites also offer 4K video streaming.

Warnings

• If your internet plan has a data limit, you can quickly run out of your monthly data when streaming 4K videos.