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How to Add Extra HDMI Ports to Your TV

Does your TV not have enough HDMI ports for all your devices? An HDMI splitter can fix that.

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By Tucker Bowe

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Here’s the problem: You have a lot of different devices that you need to connect to your TV — from your cable box to your streaming device (like an Apple TV), your numerous gaming consoles (such as an Xbox and Nintendo Switch) to your Blu-ray or DVD player, as well as your soundbar — but your TV doesn’t have enough HDMI ports for each. What do you do?

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One option is to buy an AV receiver, but that’s an expensive choice you shouldn’t make unless you were already considering building out a home theater system. The easier and more affordable option is just to buy some extra ports in the form of an HDMI switch.

What is an HDMI Switch?

An HDMI switch is essentially a hub that connects to one of your TV’s HDMI ports, and allows you to use that single HDMI port for multiple channels. For example, you can connect two, three or four of your gaming consoles to an HDMI switch so that they all only take up one port. From there, the switch will let you decide which device is routed through to the TV so you can swap between gadgets without pulling out any wires.

Just make sure you get a switch and not a splitter. A switch lets you connect multiple gadgets to one port, but a splitter just lets you connect the same device to multiple screens.

What to Look For

Number of ports: There are a lot of HDMI switches out there and they can have anywhere from two to seven (or more) HDMI ports. You want to get the option that matches the number of devices you want to connect to your TV. Generally, the more HDMI ports, the higher the price of the HDMI switch.

Max resolution: You want to get an HDMI switch that can match best match the resolution and capabilities of your TV. Today, the max resolution for an “cheap” HDMI switch is 4K (at 60Hz). If you have one of the newest consoles (like a PS5 or Xbox One X) or a gaming PC, you want to get a HDMI switch that’s compatible with HDMI 2.1 (instead of HDMI 2.0); these switches cost substantially more, but can support 4K at 120Hz.

External power: A lot of HDMI switches need to be plugged into a power source other than your TV. This can be an added headache as you’ll need to have extra outlet to plug in the HDMI switch.

Automatic switching: If an HDMI switch supports automatic switching, it will automatically switch to the input that it senses is last “active.” Some HDMI switches allow you to turn automatic switching on or off.

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Totu HDMI 4-in-1 Switch

  • Number of ports: 4 x 1
  • Max resolution: 4K at 60Hz
  • External power: Yes (required)
  • Automatic switching: Yes

This is an affordable HDMI switcher that adds four HDMI ports to your TV. It’s a decent option for new and older TVs as it supports 4K at 60Hz, as well as HDR and Dolby Vision. It also supports automatic switching (which you can’t toggle off).

SkycropHD HD0501 HDMI Switch 5-Port

  • Number of ports: 5 x 1
  • Max resolution: 4K at 60Hz
  • External power: Yes (required)
  • Automatic switching: Yes

SkycropHD’s newest HDMI switcher adds five extra HDMI ports to your TV. It supports 4K at 60Hz, as well as HDR and Dolby Vision. One of the things that make it unique is that it supports automatic switching that you can turn on or off, which is helpful for those who want to other active inputs running in the background.

Gana HDMI Switch

  • Number of ports: 2 x 1
  • Max resolution: 4K at 60Hz
  • External power: No
  • Automatic switching: Yes

The Gana HMDI Switch is an affordable option for those who just want to add an extra HDMI port to their TV. It’s a really simple gadget with a physical button to switch inputs — there’s no remote —and there’s no need for an external power source.

UGreen HDMI Switch

  • Number of ports: 3 x 1
  • Max resolution: 4K at 30Hz
  • External power: Yes (required)
  • Automatic switching: Yes

This switch also adds three additional ports. In addition, it supports auto-switching, meaning it will automatically default to the last active port. It supports 4K at 30Hz or 1080p at 60Hz, which will be good enough for most people, but if you’ve got a latest-gen console you’ll probably want to plug directly into the TV. And yes, it has a remote.

Ezcoo Matrix HDMI Switch

  • Number of ports: 4 x 2
  • Max resolution: 4K at 60Hz
  • External power: Yes (required)
  • Automatic switching: Yes

If you have a really nice 4K TV and a lot of gadgets that support all the best video and technologies, this is the HDMI switcher you want to get. It supports 4K and HDR (including Dolby Vision and HDR10), as well as immersive sound technologies, including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. If you have one of the latest-generation consoles, this supports 4K gaming at 60Hz, too. Finally, it has two HDMI outputs, which allows you to connect to another display, such as another TV or a projector.

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