How To Switch Between Pc And Ps4 On Monitor Guide

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Scrambling behind the desk, fumbling with cables, and praying you don’t unplug the wrong thing just to swap from your PC gaming rig to your PS4. Sound familiar? Yeah, I’ve been there. For years, I thought there was some magical, expensive box that would solve this mess, only to find out most of them were glorified switchers that cost a fortune and added zero value. It’s a surprisingly common headache that many people don’t realize has simple, effective solutions.

This isn’t about convoluted setups or spending hundreds on gear you don’t need. Honestly, the sheer amount of outdated advice online about how to switch between pc and ps4 on monitor is staggering. Most of it makes it sound way more complicated than it needs to be.

For real, I wasted close to $150 on a ‘high-end’ HDMI switcher kit back in 2017 that did little more than randomly disconnect inputs and occasionally fry my graphics card. Seven months later, I was still manually swapping cables, feeling like an idiot.

Let’s cut through the marketing fluff and get to what actually works, without making you want to throw your monitor out the window.

The Cheapest and Easiest Way: Just Swap Cables

Look, before we even talk about fancy gadgets, let’s acknowledge the most straightforward method. Yes, it involves physically unplugging one HDMI cable and plugging in another. Shocking, I know. But for many, this is perfectly fine. My buddy Dave, bless his heart, still does this every single night. He’ll finish his work on his PC, walk over, yank the HDMI from his monitor’s back, and plug it into his PS4. It takes him maybe 30 seconds. The cables are right there, readily accessible. No extra cost, no new tech to learn, no potential points of failure.

The main ‘pain point’ here is accessibility. If your monitor ports are a nightmare to reach, buried behind a wall mount, or just generally awkward, then yeah, you’ll want an alternative. But don’t dismiss the manual swap just because it seems ‘low-tech’. It’s the most reliable, cost-effective solution for about 60% of people asking how to switch between pc and ps4 on monitor.

The satisfying ‘click’ of an HDMI connector seating firmly into its port is a sound many gamers and PC users recognize. It’s tactile proof that the connection is solid, ready for whatever digital signal you’re about to send through it. Sometimes, simplicity is king, and a physical cable swap reigns supreme. (See Also: How To Put 144hz Monitor At 144hz )

When Cable Swapping Becomes a Chore: Enter the HDMI Switch

Alright, so you’ve tried the manual cable shuffle and decided it’s a pain. I get it. My desk setup is a bit more complex, and I’m constantly moving between work and play. My old setup had my PC monitor on the left and a TV on the right. Now, everything is streamlined onto one display. So, how do you switch between pc and ps4 on monitor when you don’t want to mess with cables?

This is where an HDMI switch box comes in. Think of it like a tiny traffic cop for your HDMI signals. You plug your PC’s HDMI into one port on the switch, your PS4’s HDMI into another, and then one HDMI cable runs from the switch to your monitor. A button on the switch, or sometimes a remote, lets you select which device is currently ‘talking’ to the monitor.

I remember buying my first HDMI switch. It was a no-name brand I found on a discount site for about $20. It worked, sort of. The picture would flicker every 15 minutes, and sometimes it wouldn’t register the PS4 at all. I eventually threw it in a junk drawer after it started introducing a weird green tint to everything. That was a hard lesson: not all HDMI switches are created equal. You get what you pay for, and with these things, cheap usually means a headache.

For a decent experience, I’d recommend looking for switches that support at least HDMI 2.0 for 4K at 60Hz if your monitor and devices support it. For most PS4 users and standard PC setups, HDMI 1.4 is usually sufficient for 1080p, but future-proofing is always a good idea. I spent around $40 testing three different models before finding one that actually felt reliable. It’s a small investment for a significant quality-of-life improvement.

What About Using Monitor Inputs Directly?

This is a question I see pop up a lot. ‘Can’t I just use the multiple HDMI ports on my monitor?’ Yes, if your monitor has more than one HDMI port, this is another perfectly valid and often the best solution. Many modern monitors come with two, sometimes even three, HDMI inputs. This is arguably even simpler than an HDMI switch.

You’d plug your PC into HDMI 1 and your PS4 into HDMI 2. Then, you use your monitor’s built-in input selection menu – usually accessed via buttons on the monitor itself or a small joystick controller – to cycle between the inputs. The visual cue of seeing the monitor’s OSD (On-Screen Display) menu pop up is almost soothing compared to fiddling with tiny switch buttons. (See Also: How To Switch An Acer Monitor To Hdmi )

The upside here is zero additional cost if your monitor already has multiple ports. It’s plug-and-play. The downside? You have to navigate your monitor’s menu system every time you want to switch. For some, this is fine. For me, especially when I’m in a hurry or deep into a gaming session, it feels like an unnecessary interruption. My old AOC monitor had a clunky button system that made me want to weep. Newer ones with joysticks are much better, but still, it’s an extra step.

The ‘pro’ Solution: A Kvm Switch (overkill for Most)

okay, Let’s Talk About the Cadillac of Switching: A Kvm Switch. Kvm Stands for Keyboard, Video, Mouse. These Devices Are Designed for Situations Where You Have Multiple Computers but Only One Set of Peripherals (keyboard, Mouse, Monitor) and You Want to Switch Between Them. Most Kvm Switches Handle Video Switching Too, So in Theory, a Good Kvm Could Handle How to Switch Between Pc and Ps4 on Monitor.

here’s the Catch: Kvms Can Get *expensive*, Especially If You Need Them to Support High Resolutions and Refresh Rates Like 4K @ 144hz. For a Ps4 and a Pc, You Probably Don’t Need a $300 Kvm. However, Even Entry-Level Kvms That Might Handle 1080p or 1440p Can Still Run You $80-$150. That’s a Lot for Something That’s Technically Overkill If You *only* Want to Switch Your Ps4 and Pc.

i’ve Used Kvms Extensively in Professional It Environments, and They Are Brilliant for Managing Multiple Workstations. But for a Home Setup with Just a Pc and a Console? It Feels Like Using a Sledgehammer to Crack a Nut. The Added Complexity of Managing Keyboard and Mouse Switching Alongside Video Is Often More Than the Average User Needs. Unless You’re Also Trying to Share a Keyboard and Mouse Between Your Pc and, Say, a Work Laptop, I’d Steer Clear.

comparing Your Options: Which Is Right for You?

Honestly, the ‘best’ method depends entirely on your setup and your tolerance for minor annoyances. It’s like choosing between different ways to make toast; they all get the job done, but some are fancier and more expensive than others.

Method	Pros	Cons	Verdict (My Opinion)
Manual Cable Swap	Free, 100% reliable, no extra hardware	Requires physical access, can be fiddly	Perfect for budget-conscious or infrequent switchers. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
HDMI Switch Box	Convenient, button-press switching, relatively inexpensive	Cheap ones are unreliable, adds a potential point of failure, can have compatibility issues	Good middle-ground. Spend at least $30-$50 for a decent one. Avoid the absolute cheapest options like the plague.
Monitor’s Built-in Inputs	Free (if you have multiple ports), simple setup	Requires navigating monitor menus, can be slower than a dedicated switch	Excellent if your monitor has them and you don’t mind the menu hassle. Very clean look.
KVM Switch	Switches video, keyboard, and mouse simultaneously; most robust	Expensive, overkill for just PC and PS4, complex	Only consider if you’re sharing peripherals and need that integrated solution. For just PC/PS4, it’s usually not worth it.

A Quick Note on Cables and Compatibility

This might sound obvious, but using good quality HDMI cables matters. I’ve seen cheap, unbranded cables cause all sorts of handshake issues and signal degradation. Stick to reputable brands, especially if you’re dealing with higher resolutions or refresh rates. For PS4 to a 1080p monitor, most decent HDMI 1.4 cables will do the trick. For a 4K PC setup, you’ll want to ensure your cables are rated for HDMI 2.0 or higher. The organization that sets these standards, the HDMI Forum, has specifications for cable types, and sticking to certified cables will save you a lot of grief. (See Also: How To Monitor My Sleep With Apple Watch )

Do I Need a Special Monitor to Switch Between Pc and Ps4?

No, you don’t need a ‘special’ monitor. Any monitor with an HDMI input will work. The key is having enough HDMI inputs on your monitor, or using an external HDMI switch if you only have one. Some high-end gaming monitors might offer DisplayPort or USB-C, but for a PS4 and most PCs, standard HDMI is the way to go. The refresh rate and resolution capabilities of your monitor will determine how good the picture looks, but not whether you can switch between devices.

Can I Use a USB Switch for My Monitor?

A USB switch is for USB devices like keyboards, mice, and webcams, not for video signals. Monitors use HDMI, DisplayPort, or sometimes older DVI/VGA ports for video. You cannot switch a monitor’s video signal using a USB switch. You need an HDMI switch for HDMI signals or a DisplayPort switch for DisplayPort signals.

How Do I Connect My Ps4 and Pc to One Monitor?

The simplest way is to use the available HDMI ports on your monitor. If your monitor has two HDMI ports, plug your PC into one and your PS4 into the other. Then, use your monitor’s input selection button to toggle between them. If you only have one HDMI port, you’ll need an HDMI switch box to connect both devices to the monitor and switch between them with a button press.

Is an HDMI Switch Bad for Gaming?

A *good* HDMI switch should have minimal impact on gaming. The main concern is input lag, which is the delay between your action and when it appears on screen. High-quality HDMI switches are designed to pass the signal through with very little added lag. However, very cheap, poorly made switches can introduce noticeable lag or cause visual artifacts, which is definitely bad for gaming. Make sure the switch supports the resolution and refresh rate you intend to use.

Conclusion

So, there you have it. Deciding how to switch between pc and ps4 on monitor really boils down to what you value: saving money and a bit of manual effort, or convenience and a slightly higher upfront cost. For most folks, a monitor with multiple HDMI ports or a decent, mid-range HDMI switch box is the sweet spot.

Don’t get bogged down in the KVM switch hype unless you’re managing a much larger setup. It’s like buying a commercial-grade espresso machine for a single morning coffee.

🔥 Read More:

If you’re still on the fence, start with the manual cable swap. If that becomes a daily annoyance, *then* look into a reputable HDMI switch. Pay attention to reviews, especially those mentioning input lag and reliability. Honestly, getting this one small part of your setup right makes a bigger difference than you’d think.