6 Ways to Connect Your Nintendo Wii to Any Type of TV
Posted by CHRISTIAN CAWLEY
Your Nintendo Wii is older than your new TV, and it looks as though you can’t connect it. Will you have to sacrifice progress on Super Mario Galaxy, or is there something you’re missing?
Here’s how to connect a Nintendo Wii to your TV.
My Wii Doesn’t Have the Right TV Port!
You’re concerned that your Nintendo Wii doesn’t have a TV-out option that fits your new TV. However, despite first impressions, several methods of connecting the Nintendo Wii to a TV are available. These rely on the standard AV cable, which can be used to connect the Wii to a TV via:
- RGB
- S-Video
- SCART
- VGA
- Component
- HDMI
If your new TV is short of legacy inputs, or you have multiple devices vying for the same ports, the following instructions (intended for HD and HD Ready TVs) should help you to connect your Wii to almost any type of television.
Note that whichever solution you use, you’ll be limited to the Nintendo Wii’s maximum output resolution of 480p.
1. The Nintendo Wii’s Default TV Cables
Shipping with the Nintendo Wii was a proprietary cable, the Wii AV Cable. This is designed to connect to the Nintendo Wii at one end, and the RCA TV inputs at the other. (Red and white are for audio, while yellow is for video.)
Once connected, and the Wii switched on, you will be able to view the picture from the Wii using the TV/Video button on your remote. If this doesn’t work, look for Input Select, EXT, AUX, or AV. You might also try browsing to channel 00 or 99.
In most cases, this brief instruction should be all you need to get your Nintendo Wii connected to a TV set.
2. S-Video Cables and the Nintendo Wii
The Nintendo Wii can also be enjoyed with an S-Video cable connected to your TV.
The RCA connectors might also be included, giving you the option to use either depending on your TV. For S-Video connections, however, you’ll need the red and white audio cables to be connected to your television as well as the S-Video. Typically, these will be grouped together on the back or side of your TV (occasionally hidden behind a door).
Once connected to the TV and the Wii, with both devices are switched on, you will be able to use the Input Select or similar button on your remote control (see above) to find the signal from your Wii and begin enjoying your game.
3. Using a SCART Connector With the Nintendo Wii
Want to use the SCART connector on your TV? If you’re limited for ports, this might be a good option, as the SCART is also easily extendable, supporting splitters and switched hubs for multiple connections, in some ways like a USB hub.
RCA to SCART adapters aren’t as common as they used to be. If you were lucky, one might have been included with your Nintendo Wii. Otherwise, you’ll need to buy a new one.
With three inputs (red, white and yellow) once the RCA cable is plugged in, you can connect the SCART to the back of your TV, switch the input mode, and view the SCART input channel on your TV.
4. Connecting the Nintendo Wii to a VGA Monitor
Again, using an adaptor, you can also connect your Nintendo Wii to a VGA monitor. This is particularly useful if your Wii has been relegated to a back room, for instance, or you’re using it as a PC after installing Linux.
Here, simply connect the cable to the VGA input on the TV or monitor, hook it up to your Wii, switch on the display device, and ensure that the input option is set to VGA.
5. Using Component Cable Input With the Wii
Available for under $10, a component cable will connect the Nintendo Wii to the component input jacks on the back or side of your TV. This is an increasingly rare collection of five inputs, two for audio, three video.
If you purchase a device like the one shown, you’ll begin by connecting the red and white audio connectors into the matching inputs, and the green, blue and red likewise. In the rare but occasional absence of matching color coding on the inputs, you’ll need to pay attention to the labels.
For audio, this means red is right, left is white. For video, green is Y, blue is Pb/Cb, and red Pr/Cr. With the cable connected at both ends, select the correct input mode on your remote control; note that if the TV has Progressive Scan, this will need to be enabled before you can see images from the Nintendo Wii.
You’ll also need to open Settings > Wii Settings > Screen and set the TV Resolution setting to EDTV or HDTV (480p) and Widescreen Settings to Widescreen 16:9, clicking Confirm after both changes are made.
This video explains in more detail:
Note that component inputs, are regularly found alongside the RCA inputs, as the red/white audio cables can be used for both. Make sure you get the right cables in the right ports!
6. The Nintendo Wii and HDMI
Originally, the component cable option was the only way to connect the Wii reliably to a HDTV. Happily, it is now possible to use a HDMI converter for audio and video to produce a good quality image on a HD or HD Ready TV.
With one of these inexpensive devices attached to the back of your Nintendo Wii, you’ll be able to connect a HDMI cable (but don’t spend too much) from your TV to your Wii, and view the output on the HDMI channel using Input Select or a similar option on your TV remote.
It’s a quick, simple solution to connecting your Nintendo Wii to any available HDTV using the most popular modern video connection standard.
Fit Your Own HDMI Output With Wii Dual
More #WiiDual action. The HDMI output really is quite good. pic.twitter.com/4BDPWIpYn6
— Mobius Strip Tech (@Mobiusstriptech) November 15, 2018
For the best results connecting a Nintendo Wii to your TV’s HDMI port, consider the Wii Dual solution.
This is an internal upgrade to your Nintendo Wii, one that not only adds a HDMI port, but also improves the quality of the RGB signal. It’s developed by Dan Kunz, and works with the following board versions of the original Nintendo Wii (as opposed to the Family edition or the Wii Mini):
- RVL-CPU-40
- RVL-CPU-60
- RVK-CPU-01 (K01)
- RVK-CPU-02 (K02)
Head to shop.dansprojects.com to find out more. Kunz offers an installation service, but if you’re feeling confident, the Wii Dual will eventually be available to buy and install yourself.
Dolby Surround Sound Options
Although digital audio isn’t present for the Nintendo Wii, you can still get good sound. Mono, stereo and surround—specifically, Dolby Prologic II—are available, the latter providing a simulated surround sound ideal for entertainment systems with a surround sound setup.
To switch between these options, open Settings > System Settings > Sound, and make your choice. Remember to Confirm your choice when you’re done.
(If you’re not sure about audio options, our surround sound guide explains it all.)
Easily Connect Your Nintendo Wii to Any TV!
While you might not have that old television any longer, if you want to carry on gaming on your Nintendo Wii, you can easily hook it up to your new TV.
Although 480p is the best quality resolution it can manage, all of your old games will be ready to play. Not only that, you can enjoy a whole world of classic video gaming with these great retro emulators for the Nintendo Wii.
Read the full article: 6 Ways to Connect Your Nintendo Wii to Any Type of TV
