How to Set up a Projector: 8 Easy Steps

How to Set up a Projector: A home projector is a great way to make your home feel like a movie theater and get a picture that is much bigger than what your HDTV can do. Today’s projectors have great resolution, up to and including 4K, and are a great choice for home theaters.

The only catch is that projectors are harder to set up than TVs and may need a few extra steps. If you don’t know how to do it, our guide will show you what to do first and what you need to know about making those key changes. Let’s get started.

How to Set up a Projector

Find the right location

The first step is to figure out where you will put it. You’ll need enough room for the projection itself, which can be done on either a screen or a blank section of wall that is as close to white as possible.

The more space there is, the better. Projectors can show images that are as small as 40 or 50 inches or as big as 300 inches across. Keep in mind that larger images will be darker and, depending on the projector, may start to show the individual pixels if you sit close to the screen (this is called the “screen door effect”).

Find out how far the projector can throw

Check the projector’s manual or the manufacturer’s website to find out the best distance between the projector and the screen (called the “throw distance”). This will help you put the projector at the right distance from the screen to get the size you want.

Set up the screen

use a projector the next step, if you have a screen, is to set it up. And we recommend getting a screen. It gives you a smooth, blank surface without light switches or other “wall features,” and screens can reflect or even boost the light from your projector better than a wall, making the image brighter. Do a test run with the projector and the screen to make sure you have the right sizes and distances before you mount anything.

Get the right height

For this how-to, we will assume you’re using the most common projection orientation: a table mount from the front. But the idea is the same for ceiling mounts. If you don’t get the height right, the shape of the picture will be like a trapezoid. You might not think that’s a big deal, but if you’re trying to line up the edges of a screen perfectly, it can be hard or even impossible.

Most projectors setup a “upwards throw.” This means that the image is shown above the lens’s center. It depends on the model as to how much higher. This is good for putting on a coffee table or mounting on the ceiling because the image will be close to the center of the wall or screen even though the projector is closer to the floor or ceiling.

Plug everything in and turn it on

Now it’s time to find ways to work together. Keep in mind that you still haven’t mounted anything for good. You should make sure that everything works before you put it all together. So now is the time to run that extra-long HDMI cable.

This is the best option, better than wireless or connecting multiple sources to the projector itself, because it gives you the most flexibility and the highest frame rates and resolutions. It does, however, mean that you’ll need a receiver or sound bar to connect and switch your sources. A good idea anyway, since you should never depend on a projector’s speakers for sound.

Project an alignment image

A picture of alignment, like the one above, can help you make sure that everything is straight. If you want, you can find a good pattern on the site of Spears and Munsell. It also comes with a good setup disc that will help with some of these steps. You could also turn off all the lights and just look at the edges of the picture. But make sure to use real video content.

Select the right picture mode

Now that everything is working, it’s time to make sure the projector looks as good as it can. Like TVs, projectors have different picture modes that you need to choose from. Most of the time, “Movie” or “Cinema” will give you the best picture quality in a dark room.

If there is already light in the room, you might want to use a brighter mode like Vivid or Dynamic, but keep in mind that these modes tend to be too blue, too green, or both. Check out our guide to learning how to find the right settings. It’s for TVs, but it’s the same for projectors.

Check and improve the sound

If you have audio devices connected, test the audio output to make sure it goes along with what is being projected. For the best sound quality, adjust the volume on both the source device and the external speakers or audio system.

FAQs