Do you want to play your PS4 games on your laptop without using Remote Play? If yes then you are not alone. Many PS4 gamers prefer to use their laptop as a display for their console especially when they don’t have access to a TV or monitor. Remote Play is a feature that allows you to stream your PS4 games to another device such as a PC Mac smartphone or tablet. However Remote Play has some drawbacks such as:
- It requires a fast and stable Wi-Fi connection with a minimum download speed of 15 Mbps.
- It may cause lag or latency issues with the PS4 controller.
- It may reduce the quality and resolution of the game graphics.
- It may not support all PS4 games and features.
Fortunately there is another way to connect your PS4 to your laptop without using Remote Play. In this article we will show you how to do it using a capture card and an HDMI cable. We will also explain the benefits and drawbacks of this method and compare it with other alternatives.
Key Takeaways
| Method | Pros | Cons |
| Capture card and HDMI cable | – No need for Wi-Fi connection. <br> – No lag or latency issues with the controller. <br> – High-quality and resolution graphics. <br> – Supports all PS4 games and features. | – Requires additional hardware and software. <br> – May be expensive and complicated to set up. |
| HDMI encoder | – No need for Wi-Fi connection. <br> – No lag or latency issues with the controller. <br> – Supports all PS4 games and features. | – Reduces the quality and resolution of the graphics. <br> – Requires additional hardware and software. |
| PS4 emulator | – No need for additional hardware. <br> – Free and easy to use. | – Requires a powerful laptop. <br> – May cause lag or latency issues with the controller. <br> – May not support all PS4 games and features. <br> – May violate Sony’s terms of service. |
| Cloud gaming service | – No need for additional hardware or software. <br> – Supports high-quality and resolution graphics. | – Requires a fast and stable Wi-Fi connection with a minimum download speed of 25 Mbps. <br> – May cause lag or latency issues with the controller. <br> – May not support all PS4 games and features. <br> – Requires a subscription fee. |
System requirements for all methods:
| Method | Hardware | Software | Wi-Fi |
| Capture card and HDMI cable | PS4 laptop capture card HDMI cable USB-C to USB-A cable PS4 controller | Game capture or control center software | No |
| HDMI encoder | PS4 laptop HDMI encoder HDMI cable USB cable PS4 controller | None | No |
| PS4 emulator | Laptop PS4 controller | PS4 emulator software PS4 game file | No |
| Cloud gaming service | Laptop TV or monitor HDMI cable PS4 controller | Internet browser | Yes |
How to Connect PS4 to Laptop Without Remote Play Using a Capture Card
A capture card is a device that allows you to record or stream video and audio from an external source such as a PS4 to your laptop. By using a capture card you can use your laptop as a monitor for your PS4 and play your games without any Wi-Fi connection lag or quality loss.
To connect your PS4 to your laptop without Remote Play using a capture card you will need:
- A PS4 console with a power cable.
- A laptop with a USB 3.0 port and an HDMI port.
- A capture card with an HDMI input and output port and a USB-C port.
- An HDMI cable.
- A USB-C to USB-A cable that is USB 3.0 compliant.
- A PS4 controller with a charging cable.
- A game capture or control center software that is compatible with your capture card.
Here are the steps to follow:
- Download and install the game capture or control center software from the official website of your capture card. For example if you are using the Elgato HD60s1 you can download the Game Capture software for Windows2 or Mac3.
- Connect your PS4 to a power outlet using the power cable.
- Connect your PS4 controller to your PS4 using the charging cable.
- Connect one end of the HDMI cable to the HDMI Out port on your PS4.
- Connect the other end of the HDMI cable to the HDMI In port on your capture card.
- Connect one end of the USB-C to USB-A cable to the USB-C port on your capture card.
- Connect the other end of the USB-C to USB-A cable to the USB 3.0 port on your laptop.
- Launch the game capture or control center software on your laptop.
- The software should automatically detect your capture card and your PS4 as the input source.
- If not you can manually select your capture card and your PS4 as the input source in the settings menu of the software.
- You should see your PS4 screen on your laptop screen in the preview window of the software.
- You can adjust the settings of the software according to your preferences such as resolution frame rate audio etc.
- You can also record or stream your PS4 gameplay using the software if you want.
- You can now play your PS4 games on your laptop using your PS4 controller.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Using a Capture Card
Using a capture card to connect your PS4 to your laptop without Remote Play has some benefits and drawbacks that you should consider before choosing this method. Here are some of them:
Benefits
- You don’t need a Wi-Fi connection to play your PS4 games on your laptop. You can play offline or online without any interference or interruption.
- You don’t experience any lag or latency issues with your PS4 controller. You can enjoy a smooth and responsive gameplay experience.
- You can enjoy high-quality and resolution graphics on your laptop screen. You can also adjust the settings of the capture card and the software to optimize the performance and quality of your PS4 games.
- You can play any PS4 game and use any PS4 feature on your laptop. You don’t have any compatibility or functionality issues with your PS4 games and features.
Drawbacks
- You need additional hardware and software to connect your PS4 to your laptop. You need to buy a capture card an HDMI cable and a USB-C to USB-A cable. You also need to download and install a game capture or control center software that is compatible with your capture card.
- You may spend a lot of money and time to set up your capture card and software. A capture card can cost anywhere from $50 to $200 depending on the brand and model. You also need to follow the instructions carefully to install and configure your capture card and software.
- You may encounter some technical issues or errors with your capture card or software. You may need to update the drivers firmware or software of your capture card or laptop to ensure the compatibility and functionality of your devices.
| Game Capture Software | Compatible Capture Cards | Compatible Operating Systems |
| Elgato Game Capture | Elgato HD60s Elgato HD60 Pro Elgato 4K60 Pro etc. | Windows 10 (64-bit) Mac OS X 10.13 or later |
| AVerMedia RECentral | AVerMedia Live Gamer Portable 2 Plus AVerMedia Live Gamer Ultra AVerMedia Live Gamer 4K etc. | Windows 10 (64-bit) Mac OS X 10.13 or later |
| Razer Synapse | Razer Ripsaw HD | Windows 10 (64-bit) |
| OBS Studio | Any capture card with a video capture device driver | Windows 8 or later (64-bit) Mac OS X 10.13 or later Linux |
Other Alternatives to Connect PS4 to Laptop Without Remote Play
If you don’t want to use a capture card to connect your PS4 to your laptop without Remote Play you can try some other alternatives that may suit your needs and preferences better. Here are some of them:
HDMI Encoder
An HDMI encoder is a device that converts the HDMI signal from your PS4 into a USB signal that can be recognized by your laptop. By using an HDMI encoder you can use your laptop as a monitor for your PS4 and play your games without any Wi-Fi connection or lag.
To connect your PS4 to your laptop without Remote Play using an HDMI encoder you will need:
- A PS4 console with a power cable.
- A laptop with a USB port.
- An HDMI encoder with an HDMI input and output port and a USB output port.
- An HDMI cable.
- A USB cable.
Here are the steps to follow:
- Connect your PS4 to a power outlet using the power cable.
- Connect one end of the HDMI cable to the HDMI Out port on your PS4.
- Connect the other end of the HDMI cable to the HDMI In port on your HDMI encoder.
- Connect one end of the USB cable to the USB Out port on your HDMI encoder.
- Connect the other end of the USB cable to the USB port on your laptop.
- Your laptop should automatically detect your HDMI encoder as a video input device.
- If not you can manually select your HDMI encoder as a video input device in the display settings menu of your laptop.
- You should see your PS4 screen on your laptop screen in full screen mode.
- You can now play your PS4 games on your laptop using your PS4 controller.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Using an HDMI Encoder
Using an HDMI encoder to connect your PS4 to your laptop without Remote Play has some benefits and drawbacks that you should consider before choosing this method. Here are some of them:
Benefits
- You don’t need a Wi-Fi connection to play your PS4 games on your laptop. You can play offline or online without any interference or interruption.
- You don’t experience any lag or latency issues with your PS4 controller. You can enjoy a smooth and responsive gameplay experience.
- You can play any PS4 game and use any PS4 feature on your laptop. You don’t have any compatibility or functionality issues with your PS4 games and features.
Drawbacks
- You need additional hardware to connect your PS4 to your laptop. You need to buy an HDMI encoder an HDMI cable and a USB cable.
- You may reduce the quality and resolution of the graphics on your laptop screen. An HDMI encoder may not support the full HD or 4K resolution of your PS4 games depending on the model and specifications of the device.
- You may encounter some technical issues or errors with your HDMI encoder or laptop. You may need to update the drivers or firmware of your HDMI encoder or laptop to ensure the compatibility and functionality of your devices.
PS4 Emulator
A PS4 emulator is a software that mimics the PS4 hardware and software on your laptop allowing you to run PS4 games on your laptop without using a PS4 console. By using a PS4 emulator you can play your PS4 games on your laptop without any additional hardware or software.
To connect your PS4 to your laptop without Remote Play using a PS4 emulator you will need:
- A laptop with a powerful processor graphics card RAM and storage space.
- A PS4 emulator software that is compatible with your laptop’s operating system.
- A PS4 game file that is compatible with your PS4 emulator software.
- A PS4 controller with a USB cable or a Bluetooth connection.
Here are the steps to follow:
- Download and install the PS4 emulator software from a reliable source. For example if you are using Windows you can try the PCSX4 emulator which claims to be the first and only PS4 emulator for Windows.
- Download and install the PS4 game file from a legitimate source. For example if you want to play God of War you can download the game file from the PlayStation Store.
- Connect your PS4 controller to your laptop using the USB cable or the Bluetooth connection.
- Launch the PS4 emulator software on your laptop.
- The software should automatically detect your PS4 controller and your PS4 game file.
- If not you can manually select your PS4 controller and your PS4 game file in the settings menu of the software.
- You should see your PS4 game on your laptop screen in full screen mode.
- You can now play your PS4 game on your laptop using your PS4 controller.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Using a PS4 Emulator
Using a PS4 emulator to connect your PS4 to your laptop without Remote Play has some benefits and drawbacks that you should consider before choosing this method. Here are some of them:
Benefits
- You don’t need any additional hardware or software to play your PS4 games on your laptop. You only need a powerful laptop and a PS4 emulator software.
- You can play your PS4 games for free and without any subscription fee. You don’t need to buy a PS4 console or a PlayStation Plus membership to play online.
- You can customize the settings of the PS4 emulator software according to your preferences such as resolution frame rate audio etc.
Drawbacks
- You need a powerful laptop to run the PS4 emulator software and the PS4 game file smoothly. You may experience lag stuttering or crashing if your laptop does not meet the minimum requirements of the software and the game.
- You may encounter some compatibility or functionality issues with your PS4 game file and your PS4 emulator software. You may not be able to play all PS4 games or use all PS4 features on your laptop.
- You may violate Sony’s terms of service by using a PS4 emulator software and a PS4 game file without their permission. You may face legal consequences if Sony finds out that you are using their intellectual property without their consent.
Cloud Gaming Service
A cloud gaming service is a service that allows you to stream and play games from a remote server to your device such as a laptop smartphone or tablet. By using a cloud gaming service you can play high-quality and high-resolution games on your laptop without any hardware or software installation.
To connect your PS4 to your laptop without Remote Play using a cloud gaming service you will need:
- A laptop with an internet browser and an HDMI port.
- A fast and stable Wi-Fi connection with a minimum download speed of 25 Mbps.
- A cloud gaming service subscription that supports PS4 games.
- An HDMI cable.
- A TV or monitor with an HDMI port.
- A PS4 controller with a USB cable or a Bluetooth connection.
Here are the steps to follow:
- Subscribe to a cloud gaming service that supports PS4 games. For example you can try PlayStation Now which is Sony’s official cloud gaming service that allows you to stream and play over 800 PS2 PS3 and PS4 games on various devices.
- Connect your laptop to a TV or monitor using the HDMI cable.
- Connect your PS4 controller to your laptop using the USB cable or the Bluetooth connection.
- Launch the internet browser on your laptop and go to the website of the cloud gaming service that you subscribed to.
- Log in to your account and select the PS4 game that you want to play from the library of games.
- The game should start streaming to your laptop screen in full screen mode.
- You should see your laptop screen mirrored on your TV or monitor screen using the HDMI cable.
- You can now play your PS4 game on your laptop using your PS4 controller.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Using a Cloud Gaming Service
Using a cloud gaming service to connect your PS4 to your laptop without Remote Play has some benefits and drawbacks that you should consider before choosing this method. Here are some of them:
Benefits
- You don’t need any additional hardware or software to play your PS4 games on your laptop. You only need a laptop a Wi-Fi connection and a cloud gaming service subscription.
- You can enjoy high-quality and high-resolution graphics on your laptop screen. You can also adjust the settings of the cloud gaming service according to your preferences such as resolution frame rate audio etc.
- You can access a large library of PS2 PS3 and PS4 games on your laptop. You don’t need to buy or download any PS4 games to play them.
Drawbacks
- You need a fast and stable Wi-Fi connection to play your PS4 games on your laptop. You may experience lag buffering or disconnection if your Wi-Fi connection is slow or unstable.
- You may encounter some compatibility or functionality issues with your PS4 controller and your cloud gaming service. You may not be able to use all PS4 features or settings on your laptop.
- You need a subscription fee to use a cloud gaming service. You may have to pay a monthly or yearly fee to access the library of games and features of the service.