How to Connect Wii to Smart TV [Full Guide]

Connecting a Nintendo Wii to a TV enhances your gaming experience by providing a larger screen and better graphics. How to connect Wii to smart TV? In this post, several ways are shared to simplify your connection setup between the console and an LG, Samsung, or any other smart TV model.

How to Connect Wii to Smart TV?

Smart TVs make our lives easier, but when it comes to Wii setup on TV, it is much simpler on older TVs. Many older TVs are simply plug-and-play, whereas newer ones have different cable connections. But don’t worry, with this guide, Wii hookup to new TVs won’t be confusing.

Several methods of connecting Wii to smart TV are available, from using the default Wii cables to an HDMI adapter, component cable, VGA adapter, SCART converter, and S-Video cables.

Note that during the Wii setup on TV, place your Wii console at least 10cm away from walls or other surfaces for ventilation. Moreover, the WiFi setup needs to change the TV input. If your TV remote doesn’t operate, use the IR & Wi-Fi Universal TV Remote app, which enables you to control multiple TVs without a remote or Wi-Fi.

Method 1. Use the Default RCA Cables

How to set up Wii to TV? Nintendo Wii primarily uses the AV Multi Out port for video and audio connections and comes with default RCA cables (aka. composite cables). These cables feature red, white, and yellow connectors, allowing you to connect them to devices that have RCA ports (three round ports colored in red, white, and yellow respectively). So, setting up Wii for a TV using the RCA cables is the easiest and most economical method.

However, TV manufacturers have removed the old AV inputs from their most new smart TVs, and these TVs lack RCA ports. If those ports are still available on your smart TV, follow the tutorial on how to hook up Wii to smart TV below:

Step 1. Turn off your smart TV and Wii.

Step 2. Connect the RCA cables to the corresponding ports on your TV. This means that the yellow cable plugs into the video port, and the red and white cables plug into the audio ports.

Step 3. Plug the other end of the RCA cables into the back of your Wii.

Step 4. Turn on your TV and console.

Step 5. Press the input button on your TV remote or the universal remote app and choose the appropriate AV input, such as Composite or AV.

Method 2. Use an HDMI Adapter

How to connect Wii to TV with HDMI? You can connect a Wii to a smart TV through an HDMI port. Nowadays, many smart TVs, like Samsung TVs, adopt HDMI connections for better audio and video quality, but Wii does not have an HDMI port. Therefore, you need an external device, such as a third-party HDMI adapter, to convert the AV input to HDMI. What’s more, the HDMI adapter must be designed for the Wii.

Here is how to connect a Wii to a TV with HDMI:

Step 1. Turn off your smart TV and Wii.

Step 2. Connect the HDMI adapter to your Wii’s AV Multi Out port.

Step 3. Plug the other end of the HDMI adapter into an available port on your smart TV.

Step 4. Turn on your smart TV and Wii. Switch to the appropriate input on your TV using the TV remote or remote app.

Method 3. Use Component Cables

How to connect Wii to smart TV without HDMI? Many modern TVs, like LG, Vizio, and Hisense, feature five colored component ports, namely red, green, blue, red, and white. If your smart TV also has those ports, then connect a Wii to your TV through component cables.

Component cables have color-coded connectors (red, green, and blue for video, plus red and white for audio). Although component cables also use RCA-style connectors, component cables are designed for better video performance and higher resolutions, while RCA cables are generally for low-quality connections.

Once component cables for Wii are prepared, now check how to connect Wii to TV with component cables:

Step 1. Turn off your smart television and Wii.

Step 2. Connect the connectors of the component cables to the matched component ports on your TV.

Step 3. Connect the other end of the component cables to your Wii.

Step 4. Turn on your smart television and Wii.

Step 5. Press the input button on your TV remote or remote app to set Wii as the input source.

Step 6. Change the screen format for clear gameplay by going to Settings > Wii Settings > Screen > EDTV/HDTV (480p) and setting Widescreen Settings to Widescreen 16:9.

Method 4. Use a VGA Adapter

Without an RCA cable, HDMI adapter, or component cable, how to set up Wii to TV? Take it easy, there is a fourth method to bridge a smart TV and Wii: connect a Nintendo Wii to a smart TV through a VGA adapter.

VGA (Video Graphics Array) can offer good video quality, especially for older games, but does not support high-definition audio. The VGA port on a TV is a connector used to transmit video signals from a computer or other compatible device to the TV. It is typically placed on the back panel of the TV. You may find it alongside other input ports such as HDMI, USB, and audio connections.

Step 1. Turn off your television and Wii

Step 2. Plug the VGA adapter into the TV’s VGA port.

Step 3. Connect the VGA adapter to your Wii’s AV Multi Out port.

Step 4. Turn on your television and Wii.

Step 5. Press the input button on your TV remote and remote app to select the VGA input as your TV source.

In addition, you can connect a Wii to a smart TV in other ways. If your TV supports SCART input, use a SCART converter to set up the connection. If your TV supports S-Video, use an S-Video cable.

Solved: Wii Not Connecting to TV

If your Wii is not connecting to your TV, examine the issue with the steps below.

Step 1. Check the connections. For example, ensure that the adapter or cables are securely connected to both the Wii and the TV. Plus, check for any visible damage to the cables or adapter.

Step 2. Check the input source. Ensure that the Wii is selected as the input source.

Step 3. Power cycle your Wii and TV by unplugging them from the power source for a minute, then plugging them back in and powering them on.

Step 4. Make sure the Wii is powered on. If the console is on, the power LED should be lit. If it’s blinking, there may be a power issue.

Step 5. Connect the Wii to another TV to determine if the issue is with the Wii or the original TV.

Step 6. Reset the Wii (the last resort).

If all these steps can’t bridge the connection between the Wii and the TV, there may be a hardware issue with either the Wii or the TV. In that case, consider getting in touch with Nintendo Support.

Conclusion

Wii connection to TV makes it more enjoyable for both solo and multiplayer sessions. The connection needs to be bridged with an RCA cable, HDMI adapter, component cable, or VGA adapter, and the best way depends on which port your smart television has. After setting up the connection, you need to switch the TV input to Wii using the TV remote or remote app.

How to Connect Wii to Smart TV FAQ

Q: Can you hook up a Wii to a Samsung smart TV?

Yes, a Wii can be connected to a Samsung smart TV, but the specific step depends on which port your Samsung smart TV has. For example, if your Samsung smart TV has an RCA port, then you can use the default RCA cables to set up the connection. Alternatively, you can connect an HDMI adapter to the HDMI port on the TV, a component cable to the component ports, or a VGA adapter to a VGA port.

Q: How can I hook up my Wii to HDMI?

You can hook up your Wii to an HDMI port if you have an RCA to HDMI adapter. Connect the RCA end to the Wii, and the HDMI end to the HDMI port.