How to easily hook up your XPS 13 to your TV

It sounds simple, but without an HDMI output on the XPS 13, you can't just pick up a cable, plug it in, and start watching on your TV. It's a mild inconvenience, but never fear; there's always a way around these things, you just need the right equipment.

Products used in this guide

• One cable: Thunderbolt 3 to HDMI cable ($19 at Amazon)
• More expansion: Cable Matters Thunderbolt 3 dock ($230 at Amazon)
• The other cable: Thunderbolt 3 certified USB-C to USB-C cable (From $24 at Amazon)

How to connect your XPS 13 to your TV

When connecting specifically to a TV, you're going to need HDMI connectivity, something that the XPS 13 doesn't have built-in.

Instead, you'll need to use the Thunderbolt 3 output and turn that into the HDMI that your TV will require. Thankfully, it can be done with a single, affordable Thunderbolt 3 to HDMI cable.

1. Connect the USB-C end of the cable to the Thunderbolt 3 port on your laptop.
2. Connect the HDMI end of the cable to an empty HDMI input on your TV.
3. Turn on the laptop, and you'll now see Windows 10 on your TV.

That's all there is to it. Thunderbolt 3 has an incredible amount of bandwidth to deliver video output, and the cable we've recommended here is capable of delivering 4K at 60Hz to your TV.

How to connect your XPS 13 using a dock

A single cable is the cheapest and quickest way to hook up your XPS 13 to your TV, but if you'd like a little extra connectivity as well, a Thunderbolt 3 dock is the answer.

The Cable Matters Thunderbolt 3 dock is a particularly good choice because not only does it have a raft of USB ports and Ethernet built-in, it also has an HDMI output. Note that you need a cable like this Thunderbolt 3 certified USB-C cable to connect to the dock.

The process of using it is equally simple.

1. Connect the Thunderbolt 3 certified USB-C to USB-C cable to the Thunderbolt 3 port on your laptop.
2. Connect the other end to the Thunderbolt 3 input on the dock.
3. Connect a regular HDMI cable from your TV to the HDMI output on the dock.

A dock is an excellent solution if you're going to be connecting your laptop to your TV a lot, and this one can deliver up to 60W of power to keep it charged while connected.

Both of these methods will provide you with a video connection from your XPS 13 to your TV, and both will leave you with just a single cable coming from the laptop. It's a very quick and affordable process, with enough flexibility to add plenty more connectivity into the mix if you wish.

Our top picks

One cable

Thunderbolt 3 to HDMI cable

$19 at Amazon

One affordable cable getting the job done

With no HDMI on the XPS 13, you're instead left relying on the Thunderbolt 3 port, and this cable will make the magic happen.

It's the quickest and most affordable way to connect your XPS 13 to your TV. One on end, you have the USB-C connector for the Thunderbolt 3 port on the laptop, and on the other, you have the HDMI that you need to plug into the TV.

Additional Equipment

A single cable might be the easiest way to do this, but more advanced needs can be met by using a Thunderbolt 3 dock.

Cable Matters Thunderbolt 3 dock

$230 at Amazon

One cable from your laptop can get you a bunch of USB ports, Ethernet, and an HDMI output to your TV.

Thunderbolt 3 certified USB-C cable

From $24 at Amazon

To connect to a dock, you need to make sure you get one of these Thunderbolt 3 certified cables.