Enable wireless display on Windows 11 by installing the Wireless Display optional feature on the target PC, then press Win+K to connect.
Miracast lets you beam your Windows 11 screen to another display or PC without cables. But knowing how to enable Miracast on Windows 11 means finding the hidden optional feature that makes the receiving side visible. Most people don’t realize the option isn’t active out of the box — you need to add it through Settings first. This walkthrough covers the exact steps for both the receiving PC and the source device, plus what to do when the feature won’t install or connect.
Enable Miracast on Windows 11: The Optional Feature Requirement
Miracast is a wireless display standard built into Windows 11 that mirrors or extends your screen over Wi-Fi. The catch: the PC receiving the projection must have the Wireless Display optional feature installed. On devices running Windows 11 version 22H2 or later, Microsoft makes this feature available through the Optional Features menu. Earlier versions of Windows use the Connect app instead, but the same basic setup applies.
If you are running a Windows 11 N edition, media-related technologies including Miracast may be missing entirely. In that case, adding the Wireless Display feature from Optional Features usually resolves the problem — it is an edition limitation, not a hardware failure.
How To Install the Wireless Display Optional Feature
Start on the PC that will receive the projection. Open Settings > System > Projecting to this PC. Under Add the “Wireless Display” optional feature to project to this PC, select Optional features.
Next to Add an optional feature, choose View features. Type wireless display in the search box, check the box next to Wireless Display, then click Next and Install. The download takes under a minute in most cases.
After the installation completes, return to Projecting to this PC and launch the Wireless Display app by typing its name into the taskbar search. The app must be open and actively running on the receiving PC — it does not listen in the background. Without it running, the source PC will not see the target in the device list.
Setting Up the Receiving PC for Incoming Projections
With the Wireless Display app open, the Projecting to this PC settings page controls how other devices find and connect to this computer. You can choose whether to allow discovery from all networks or only secure networks, and whether to ask for a PIN before each connection. The defaults work for most home setups.
When a connection attempt arrives, the receiving PC may display a PIN that the sender must enter. This is normal behavior and confirms both sides agree to the link.
How To Connect From Your Source PC
The fastest route is pressing Windows logo key + K. This opens the Cast panel and lists every available wireless display on the network. Select the target PC from that list.
Alternate methods work when Win+K is unresponsive. Search Cast in Windows Search and choose Connect to a wireless display. Or open Settings > System > Display > Multiple displays > Connect to a wireless display > Connect. Once linked, you can switch between Duplicate, Extend, or Second screen only modes using the Cast panel or Display settings.
To stop projecting, press Win+K again and select Disconnect.
Miracast Setup Requirements
| Component | Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Receiving PC OS | Windows 11 22H2 or later | Earlier versions use the Connect app |
| Optional Feature | Wireless Display installed | Settings > System > Projecting > Optional features |
| Wireless Display App | Running on the receiving PC | Must be open before connection attempt |
| Sending PC OS | Windows 11 or Windows 10 | Requires Miracast-compatible hardware |
| Wi-Fi | Active on both devices | Both must be on the same network |
| Graphics Driver | Current version recommended | Outdated drivers cause most dropouts |
| Wi-Fi Driver | Current version recommended | Updated driver improves detection speed |
| Display Compatibility | Miracast-capable or external adapter | HDMI adapter works for non-Miracast screens |
What If Wireless Display Won’t Install or Connect?
A few common issues explain most failures. If the Wireless Display feature does not appear in Optional Features at all, your PC may be running a Windows 11 N edition. N editions intentionally omit media technologies, so the absence is expected. Installing the same feature from Optional Features still works, but the lack of a pre-installed option is an edition choice, not a bug.
If the feature installs correctly but the source PC cannot find the receiving PC, check two things: Wi-Fi must be active on both machines, and the Wireless Display app must be open on the receiver. The app does not auto-start or run as a background service — it must be visibly launched.
Hardware compatibility matters too. Both the sending PC and the receiving display or PC must support Miracast. Most modern Windows 11 devices with a wireless adapter do, but older hardware or external displays without built-in Miracast support may need an external Miracast adapter plugged into an HDMI port. Microsoft’s screen mirroring support page covers the full requirements and setup flow.
Updating your graphics driver and Wi-Fi driver can improve connection reliability, particularly on older laptops upgraded to Windows 11. Driver mismatches are the leading cause of intermittent drops after an initial successful connection.
Windows 11 Version Requirements for Wireless Display
Microsoft officially supports the Wireless Display app on Windows 11 version 22H2 and later. If your device runs an earlier build of Windows 11 or still uses Windows 10, the Connect app serves the same purpose. The interface is simpler, but the logic is identical — install the appropriate optional feature and launch the receiving app before attempting to project.
Troubleshooting Common Miracast Issues
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Wireless Display missing in Optional Features | Windows 11 N edition or older build | Search "wireless display" in Optional Features; if missing, use Connect app or update to 22H2+ |
| Source PC cannot find the receiving PC | Wireless Display app not running, or Wi-Fi off | Launch the Wireless Display app on the receiver; turn on Wi-Fi on both devices |
| Connection fails or drops after a few seconds | Driver issue or hardware incompatibility | Update graphics and Wi-Fi drivers; check Miracast support on both devices |
| PIN not accepted | Mismatched or mistyped PIN | Reconnect and carefully re-enter the PIN shown on the receiving screen |
| No "Projecting to this PC" in Settings | Edition or version limitation | Run ms-settings:project in the Run dialog to open the page directly |
| Feature installs but app will not launch | Corrupted feature installation | Remove and re-add Wireless Display from Optional Features |
| Connection succeeds but no image appears | Display mode mismatch or cable conflict | Press Win+K and change projection mode to Duplicate or Extend |
Miracast on Windows 11: Final Setup Checklist
To get Miracast working on Windows 11 from scratch, run through this sequence once on the receiving PC:
- Open Settings > System > Projecting to this PC and select Optional features.
- Add the Wireless Display feature via View features > search
wireless display> Install. - Return to Projecting to this PC and launch the Wireless Display app from the taskbar search.
- On the source PC, press Win+K and select the receiving PC from the list of available displays.
If the connection succeeds, you are set. If it does not, check the troubleshooting table above for the symptom that matches your situation — the fix is almost always a missing app launch, a driver update, or a quick edition check.
References & Sources
- Microsoft Support. “Screen mirroring and projecting to your PC or wireless display.” Official Microsoft guidance on setting up Miracast and the Wireless Display feature on Windows 11.