How to Play PS4 on a Laptop Screen

There might come a time where you need to plug your PS4 to your laptop to play. Your family or roommates might watch a movie or. the TV might be busy. There’s no reason why not having a TV should deter you from playing, you just need to learn how to play PS4 on a laptop.

That being said, any game lovers interested in doing this should keep in mind that the better the monitor, the better will be your experience in your device. Also, you will need a high-speed (at least 15mbps) internet connection to get the most of your experience.

How to Play PS4 on a Laptop Screen

Originally, PS4 is a game console designed to be used with a TV. This doesn’t mean that you can’t use your Laptop to Play or to watch your game, you just need to solve some communication issues before you can get into your action.

Black PS4 controller beside laptop

Both devices, your laptop, and PS4 have ports where they connect; but they’re output ports. This means that an HDMI port in our Laptop is designed to send data to the PS4, but not to receive it back. The same applies to the PS4: it’s HDMI port only sends data to the TV and is not designed to receive it.

However, you can connect them to play. You’ll only need an adaptor, and adjust some configurations to make it work.

How to Play PS4 on a Laptop Screen via Remote Play

Remote Play is the App developed by Sony that allows you to control remotely your PS4 from your Laptop. It’s the most recommended way to get connected to your PS4 through your laptop. This process is very similar with an Apple Laptop

To connect your Laptop and PS4 you will only need:

  • PS4
  • Laptop
  • Controller (Dual Shock Wireless Controller)
  • Adaptor (Dual Shock Wireless/Wired adaptor)
  • Account for PlayStation Network

How to Download and Configure the Remote Play App

Download Remote Play App

  1. Go to the Remote Play web page to download the installation file.
  2. Be careful to choose the downlink correspondent to your operative system. (Windows or Mac)
  3. Follow the instructions on the screen of the installation manager. You will probably need to download additional software, depending on your configuration.

Configure the App

Once downloaded, you will need to configure your adaptation. For that, you will need to Enable Remote Play in your Laptop; Activate it as your primary PS4; and keep it connected to the internet.

  1. To enable Remote Play, follow the route: Settings/ Remote Play Connection Settings/ Enable Remote Play.
  2. To activate your PS4 as primary, follow the route: Settings/ Account Management/ Activate it as Your Primary PS4
  3. To set the connection to the internet, follow the route: Settings/ Power Saving Settings/ Set Features Available in Rest Mode. With a check enable “Stay Connected to the Internet” and “Enable Turning On PS4 from Network”

You just set the main features of your PS4, and are almost ready to start playing. For this:

  1. Turn your PS4
  2. Connect your Controller to the Laptop. If you use the wireless connection, you only will need the wireless adaptor. If you have a wired adaptor, you will need a USB cable from your controller to your computer.
  3. Launch Remote Play in your Laptop and activate your Remote Play Account.   

How to Play PS4 on a Laptop Screen via Capture Card

Another way to play PS4 on a Laptop Screen is to use a capture card. A capture card is a device that decodes gameplay signals to digital data. That allows it to upload recordings of the games to the internet on your PC or Laptop. 

Capture cards usually connect through an HDMI cable, working as an output cable for your PS4, and an input cable for your Laptop. To connect your PS4 to your Laptop with a Capture Card, you will need:

  • Video Capture Card
  • PS4
  • Laptop
  • HDMI Dual Functioning
  • S- Video Connection Cable

How to Enable your PS4 connection

  1. Your Laptops and PS4 have to be online and in the same network. In your Laptop, open your PS4 App.
  2. Follow the route: Settings/ Network Settings/ Internet Connection Settings. Look for your Wi-Fi Network and be sure your PS4 is online.

How to Install your Video Capture Card

  1. Connect your Video Capture Card to your Laptop, using a USB port.
  2. Download the installation program of the Video Capture Card or use the one provided by the Card and install it, following its indications.

How to Connect your PS4 to the Video Capture Card

  1. With your S- Video cable, connect your PS4 with the Video Capture Card using the HDMI ports.
  2. Use the output HDMI port if the PlayStation and the input HDMI port in the Capture Card.

Now that you’ve connected your PS4 and Laptop, it’s time to turn on your system.

  1. First, open up your Capture Card App
  2. Second, turn on your PS4, so the Capture Card finds it and shows it on your Laptop screen.
  3. Now, you are ready to play.
Laptop, PS4 controller, phone and headphones on wooden table

How to Play PS4 on a Laptop Screen via OBS 

Another interesting way to watch your game in your Laptop, without a video capture card, is through OBS (Open Broadcasting System).

What is OBS?

Open Broadcasting System is open-source software for live streaming on several platforms. OBS capture and stream your screen without using a Video Capture Card. One outstanding feature of OBS is that it allows the user to choose from several platforms: YouTube, Twitter, Twitch, Instagram, Facebook and so on.

Note: Due to its capability of streaming without a Video Capture Card, OBS requires a very robust laptop, better one specifically designed for gaming, like the HP Omen. Your internet network has to be very fast and solid, too.

To connect your PS4 to your Laptop with OBS, you will need:

  •  PS4
  •  Laptop
  •  UBS Cable

How to Download and Configure the Remote Play with OBS

Download Remote Play App

  1. Go to the Remote Play web page to download the installation file.
  2. Be careful to choose the downlink correspondent to your operative system (Windows or Mac).
  3. Follow the instructions on screen of the installation manager. You will probably need to download additional software, depending on your configuration.

Configure the App

  1. Once downloaded, you will need to configure your adaptation. For that, you will need to Enable Remote Play in your Laptop; Activate it as your primary PS4, and keep it connected to the internet.
  2. To enable Remote Play, follow the route: Settings/ Remote Play Connection Settings/ Enable Remote Play
  3. Activate your PS4 as primary, follow the route: Settings/ Account Management/ Activate it as Your Primary PS4
  4. Set the connection to the internet, follow the route: Settings/ Power Saving Settings/ Set Features Available in Rest Mode. With a check enable “Stay Connected to the Internet” and “Enable Turning On PS4 from Network”
  5. Turn your PS4
  6. Connect your Controller to the Laptop. It’s recommended to install it with ethernet cables, instead of wireless.
  7. Launch Remote Play in your Laptop and activate your Remote Play Account.  
  8. Wait for the synchronization of your Laptop and PS4
  9. Open your OBS App

Begin Streaming

  1. Now you will see the PS4 Menu in your Laptop. In your OBS App use that window to start decoding. In “Scene Collection”, select “Window Capture”
  2. OBS will ask you to name the source. In this case is “Remote Play”. Give a check to “Make source visible”.
  3. Now that you have Remote Play inside OBS, you can start streaming.

Is there any emulator of the PS4 for a Laptop?

No. there isn’t an emulator of the PS4 for a laptop. Keep in mind that developing an emulator for a game device is a very complex process that goes in reverse engineering, and it can take several years till you develop.

The only last real emulator for a PlayStation is the PCSX2. There is another emulator, the PCSX3, but it only has a little portion of the game catalogue of the PS3. So probably we’ll see more years of development of the PS3 Release, before the presentation of a prototype of PCSX4.

Remember that emulators are devices designed to replicate exactly the features and specifications of a particular electronic equipment. With reverse engineering, all the specs and features of a device are replicated exactly the same way they behave and feel in the origina option.

Conclusion

Playing PS4 on a Laptop can be a very rewarding experience for a gamer. There are several ways that allow you to play in your Laptop. Some options require hardware and software, and some don’t. For all cases, a good data connection and a powerful device are prerequisites.

Liam Weissman

A lover of MacBook Air and the Dell XPS line of laptops, Liam has been researching and writing as a guest blogger for numerous websites for over 10 years. Now, he blogs about tech trends, PCs, laptops, gadgets, and other emerging gadgets on FancyAppliance.com.

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