How to Connect A Super Nintendo SNES to a Modern TV Screen

If you dig out your old Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) you might be worried about how to connect it to your modern TV screen. This video explains:
all the SNES connectors
which TV connector to use
how to adjust the screen resolution to 4x3
why images will still look pixelated
see: www.urtech.ca/...

[@ReelGuyTv]

Thank you so much dude. This was the exact setup I did early 2000s but when I moved I actually gave away my snes and games. Now I want to play them again and I couldn't remember for the life of me how I had it setup.

[@MediaSearch09]

Thank goodness I didn’t throw out my SNES thinking it was old and broken. Once I remembered that I had to “manually create” Channel 3 on my new tv, it worked like a charm. Thank you!

[@URTechDotCa]

Glad I could help!

[@nei_hmande2427]

@@URTechDotCa How do you create a channel? I have a Vizio P quantum TV

[@johnmorin7244]

I love the opening with the old snes commercial that was a very nice touch

[@susanfit47]

I got my Super Nintendo in 2002. My grandmother had misplaced it in 2005. It's lost. Now I had to repurchase another one soon. Now I know how to hook it up, setup, and it works, and play my Super NES games again, get more games and the accessories (Super Advantage, Super NES Mouse, Capcom Fighter Power Stick, Fighter Stick SN, Power Plug, Super Game Boy, Superpad Controller). Will try this one day.

[@susanaavv]

Did exactly as you said and it worked! Thank you!!!!!

[@YOU_CREATE_YOUR_OWN_KARMA_369]

*FFS!!* I hope so!! It was literally only plugging in 2 things & screwing in 1 & one of the plug ins was the MFing power cord!! 😑🙄

[@dirtycreeksports3543]

Mines still won’t work!!!

[@S.L.1211]

@@dirtycreeksports3543 same. 2015 samsung

[@mythosarts1005]

Is no one going to mention young Paul Rudd in that commercial?! Lol

[@thekatekane]

Lol!

[@johnmartin9451]

I was wondering about that. It sure looks like him

[@daniellealexandria7946]

LMAO!! That is awesome.

[@josephalvarado7008]

The first thing I noticed lol

[@simonwernerisaksen]

First thing i noticed to! Fantastic!

[@asquinas]

Thanks for this vid! I have an Philips HDTV as well, so the vid is perfect. Can't wait to show my son the SNES and all my old games!

[@pinnokkiomusicchannel7787]

I love the old trailer for the game it's comforting.

[@LowLevelWarrior]

0:53 young Paul Rudd already playing with "Super Power" before he was as Ant man.

[@XxStarFoxWolfFalcoxX]

That's a demonstration and great way to plug it in but I usually use a convert box to connect the AV to HDMI on my 1080p HDTV which works really well on all HDTVs.

[@crafty_mom_art]

Can you link the convert box please?

[@bethjune8372]

THANK YOU!!! I had bought an AV->HDMI adapter but it would only play the sound for the snes and no video. While the box works for the other systems, this worked perfectly for the snes! Super happy to be able to play again. My go to is Super Mario World. 😅

[@URTechDotCa]

You are welcome. These are sooo much fun to play today. Thanks for the comment Beth!

[@bethjune8372]

@@URTechDotCa I’m going to have to dig out my Donkey Kong Country games after this too. It’s been a while haha

[@barringtongoulbourne9524]

Where can I get the games to purchase?

[@marcuskoolrt]

Mine is doing the same thing with the av to hdmi adapter :(

[@oril22]

Thanks. Literally took a trip down memory lane tonight with your help.

[@KUarentaKILLA]

I turned my grandkids on to some old school games and it was fun watching them play the classics

[@brianr17]

Just what I was looking for and the same game too. Will try this tomorrow.

[@brianc9036]

Thanks for the video. The strange thing for me being a kid in the mid 90s. I remember the AV way more than the RF cable. What is crazy about 2020 is with how many people are going unplugging from Cable and Satellite, the RF spot is becoming popular again.

[@Der_Kleine_Mann]

Strange right, cause I still only ever used it via AV. But I still have an AV output at my TV(from 2013). I've heard that the newer TV's don't have AV output anymore, which seems crazy to me. But I got myself an small CRT again, so even when I would get a newer flatscreen, I can still play my Super Nintendo on it, and the picture is also way better then with a flatscreen.

[@bubbafett9210]

This helped tons. Its cool to go back and play my parents age of video games.

[@Robert-ui1dg]

Reading all the comments makes me feel so old. Seems like yesterday when we're rocking and rolling Don. Key Kong. and Mario.

[@Biowolf626]

Mine doesn’t have the component cables mine came with the line that plugs into the cable inlet

[@joshi_6887]

uh, best quality and lowest lag on HDTV is acquired by using an RGB cable and a scaler such as the ossc! and the SNES is 240p, NOT 480i or 480p!!

[@vanessar8770]

Thanks so much! This was the exact help I needed. (At first it still wasn't working after I set it up, so I kept taking out the cartridges and blowing in them...sure enough, that worked! Took me back.)

[@Ti-tus]

thanks bro! i found my dads old one and hooked it up. old mario is awesome

[@URTechDotCa]

So much fun.

[@RETROSENSHI]

I found my dads old snes in my closet and we watched this and hooked it up I now have a crt tv for it thanks for this vid

[@URTechDotCa]

Thanks for the comment Retro!

[@Brendan-Allison]

Is the Super Nintendo supposed to have a rf converter because I bought one and it didn’t have one?

[@brianc9036]

Most of them have the AV connector with the 3 color plugs which were standard before HDMI. Super Nintendo straddled the a period of the 1990s when TVs switched from RF or Antennas and Cable TV became much more popular. So you will see both RF and AV cables. Then when n64 was released in the late 90s it only came with the AV cable you had to buy and RF adapter if you had an older TV at the time.

[@unknownfreak3843]

Life was easier back then. You could hook up anything to everything and it would work. I miss the 80s.

[@URTechDotCa]

Ya... I am with you, but I do like having my Tesla drive me to the next city sooooo I will put up with the complexity.

[@JonFromWA]

Took a while to get it going on my flat screen TV. Sure enough, RF isn't very clean. I need to buy a multi out adapter, for a cleaner picture that I can convert to HD. Thanks for the setup guide.

[@URTechDotCa]

Thanks for sharing

[@its_becks119]

Okay idk if you will see this, but I have a new LG- I don’t have a multi connector cord but i tried connecting the RF out to the back of the tv and I don’t have analog channels just digital so I don’t get a channel “3”- should I order the cord?

[@stormblade3626]

I don't know if anyone can help but I did everything and it still won't work I'm on channel three my cables are both tightly plugged in the Nintendo has the red LED light on but it stays on the blue screen saying no signal

[@TheSwaggerVision]

I just watched a video addressing this issue that said the contacts need to be cleaned

[@crandell85]

Entertaining seeing an early Super Nintendo commercial with actor Paul Rudd. The 'Ant Man', also in 'Anchorman- the legend of Ron Burgundy' and more recently 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife'. 👏

[@Der_Kleine_Mann]

I got myself a small CRT again, just to play Super Nintendo on. Cause the picture is way too blurry with a new TV(in AV as well as RF). For just playing it once or twice a year, it's ok, but not when you want to play it more often.

[@catherineblue5607]

How did I forget about channel 3?! Thanks man!!!!! 😊👍❤👍🍾

[@kirkwarren2250]

I went to TV but I can’t find or know how to make a channel 3 or 4?

[@Anonymous-mx1sg]

It matters on what type of TV do you have

[@Furanky]

@@Anonymous-mx1sg we can use that 3-colored (white, yellow, red) things and connect them to their socket (fit to the colors) and then change the tv input to the video mode... so there's no need to change tv channel... is that right?

[@Captain.Dank64]

AV cables*

[@lillyfields5626]

I just used my remote and put in 04 and had snes on channel 4 and it worked. Hope that helps.

[@cangri1788]

@@lillyfields5626 3-1 is the way to go or 4-1 if you chose channel 4 on the back of the SNES.

[@shapsugh1864]

I'm late to the party, but I want to ask can it work without the Antena cable hooked into the converter?

[@prolifichands]

I found my old snes but from looking at your video the place where ac adapter is supposed to connect is missing on my snes is it possible to fix or get another piece or is my snes officially dead?

[@MB-qx9vn]

Thank you. Had everything down except remembering to change the channel to 3 like old times haha.

[@URTechDotCa]

Ya... I missed that a few times... well, a few hundred times in the past too :)

[@canuck64]

I have video which is very poor and no sound on any of my Samsung tvs. Can't seem to get it to work better. My model is SNS-001

[@shantaldeokie8799]

What's the name of the place where you put the coax cable. My TV has two ports: 1. BS 110 2. BHF/UHF I'm not sure which to put the coax in.

[@jonbertocchi173]

Back in the day, not just in the 80s I had my snes since 94 and I used 3 and 4 lol

[@URTechDotCa]

Wow... these were/are great Thanks Jon

[@Chickpeass]

A key component is missing here on the smart TVs what is the tv input called for the rf co ax I can’t find it also how do you change the smart tv to a channel never used it for regular tv

[@Chickpeass]

Never mind I found it under the TVs antenna setting it works but pixelated

[@URTechDotCa]

@@Chickpeass Yaaaaa!

[@juny1982]

Does this work ok n Smart tv? I have a Vizio 4k? Im have been trying and doesn't work. Input on Vizio are just HDMI 123, antenna but once i click it takes me directly to normal content like tvi that's Spanish channel 4 or if 3 then is local news!! Nothing more appears. And i have both cable RCA and antenna neither works. My sister had to buy that mini convert from RCA to HDMI and works great she send me a video of her playing her Sega Genesis just fine on her smart tv which is a Vizio to like mine.

[@makaylamuschiatti377]

Where can I buy the coax converter? Or what is the official name for that cable that’s directly for the Super Nintendo?

[@kaitlinpothast959]

MaKayla Muschiatti it’s on amazon

[@kaitlinpothast959]

Nintendo NES RF Adapter

[@viannyhenriquez3]

My vizio TV won’t take Chanel 3 therefore can’t connect,any advice?

[@hvacguy84]

The snes outputs 240p instead of 480i and modern TVs don't accept 240p. 240p was hack on top of the 480i NTSC standard so 240p isn't a real broadcast standard when you play these consoles on a crt you would see a scan line effect because 240p only draws the odd video fields so it fooled the TV that the start of the picture was line 1 you got a true 60 hz out of the game instead of 30 hz technically 29.97 hz. instead of switching from odd to even Nintendo called it "double strike" most consoles before the Sega Dreamcast, Nintendo Gamecube and the original xbox used 240p

[@nonamenoneofurbiz9286]

I connected the RF to bk of my tv but the only one that I could screw it on said Antenna. Should that have worked either way or it has to say RF on my tv?

[@HouseofHeisz]

Thank you for all the help. All set now. Blessings!

[@Chaz_NFQ]

Did exactly as you said and it didn’t work, using the red white and yellow cords now and still not working. switched my tv to Composite input, it just says no signal detected no matter what

[@msb4838]

Me too, sadly. That's what I get for lending it to my sister. Sigh.

[@Robert-ui1dg]

Work for me fantastic thank you.The other guy didn't know what he was talking about worked perfect.I pulled out my old n.E!S so my grandson can play It.He's excited thanks

[@shaunmoeller3288]

1 question I have is... Do I need to hook up any cable cord to the RF box I don't have cable tv anymore I just have the fire stick

[@mskiara18]

Is this possible for every modern HDTV? I am planning to buy a new television and hope Samsung has these features available.

[@URTechDotCa]

I as long as it still has a TV Tuner (i.e. COAX connector), it should work :)

[@kenny-loo]

So the multi-connector is not necessary for the SNES to work on this case a modern tv Is that right?

[@twcclassics]

I completed the steps, but all I get is a black screen. No sound or video. I do get the red LED light, though. I've tried two consoles and two games. Any ideas?

[@Pigbeater]

I currently have my snes connected to a Hisense Roku tv and I'm having trouble getting a signal I made sure everything is connected properly do you have any suggestions on what to do?

[@RailFan1981]

Having the same issue 😞

[@bradhend]

Thank you! Was having issues and it was my connection not being tight enough.

[@URTechDotCa]

Old hardware with friction fit connections can be problematic. ...glad you figured it out

[@HaloTropical]

thank you so much for this!

[@URTechDotCa]

I'm glad it helped :) Thanks

[@S.L.1211]

I totally did this and it still isn’t working :(

[@michaelaherne2275]

Did you end up getting it to work?

[@ericolson1459]

Same

[@Kathallica]

Same here :( could you solve it?

[@pewpewcat7679]

Same. I even tried an hdmi adapter, nothing works. I have a samsung tv if that matters

[@ethancruse2445]

If you can't get picture to pop up when turning the Nintendo on its definitely not a problem with the cartridge. Come on man.

[@myhandlewasstolen2]

I tried connecting an N64 to an LCD Smart TV, but I couldn't figured it out, then I remembered I had small CRT TV, and used that, no problem. I used the RF connection. I will check the SNES on my TV, and I'll try again with the N64 on my parents SAMSUNG Smart TV. Their TV have an option of Cable/Antenna vs Air.

[@URTechDotCa]

Odd, it should work with your LCD. Did you change the RV to channel 3 and then 4 to confirm?

[@danielrivara4727]

Can I just only use the AC Aadapter and AV Cable instead? No RF Switch

[@brianc9036]

Yes, AV adaptor was actually more common from SNES and then N64. But the early days of N64 there was a transition period. The strange thing is with TV in 2020 more and more people are getting rid of cable and satellite so the RF connector for the antenna is becoming more and more popular again.

[@Penelope-rosa]

Amazing video! Thanks for that

[@niamhmorrin389]

Hi I've done all that but the picture is flashing and making a crackling sound. Just to say it's working perfect on an old crt tv but would prefer to have it connected to my modern tv. Any suggestions??

[@Der_Kleine_Mann]

The picture is way better on a CRT, please stick with it. I got myself a small CRT again, just to play Super Nintendo on it. You would need an HDMI scaler or what it's called to get an acceptable picture on a flatscreen.

[@mandeepvirdi2002]

I have RF cable but its video quality is not good. Some disturbance is coming, Can you help me regarding this.

[@redpyramid1914]

Universal RF adapters work just as well on the Super NES. NGL

[@daphneecoulombe3330]

Hello! I’ve been trying to find a RF ‘RCA’ connector for a few weeks now, and I can’t seem to find any. Do you have any tips on where I could possibly find one for my Nintendo super snes?

[@caitlinharper1633]

Amazon

[@mrmfamily]

Amazing job! Thank you…got it done!

[@soerabajah9673]

Hmmmm this is not the SNES i have…I have the PAL edition?If that makes sense?

[@ammiam87]

I can’t seem to find the right channel on my vizio. I’ve scanned for all the channels but it still isn’t poppin up. Although it doesn’t have a channel 3 which is weird. Everything works but I’m wondering if maybe it my RF connected? Ugh this sucks I wanna play so bad! 😭 help!

[@sterp33]

I can’t get to analog channel 3. Any ideas?

[@MissRuthless]

So the red/white/yellow av cable is unnecessary?

[@iluvwigs1210]

I still have my SNES my mom bought 24 years ago it still works I've got to try this so I can play DKC again

[@URTechDotCa]

It is sooooo awesome

[@SmoovNoCriminal]

Do I need something other than just the RF cable connector to connect to a smart TV?

[@miltonpound763]

Thanks for the help. Super easy to minder stand.

[@URTechDotCa]

Glad it helped!

[@michaelwarwavesyn9391]

Great instruction, thank you!

[@jessicaraelene5276]

I saw a connector that allows you to plug it into an HDMI port. Are those good?

[@assface2724]

If you’re talking about one of those av to hdmi converters on eBay they are not good. They introduce input lag and video noise and I’ve heard they give out after a few weeks. I would recommend a retrotink since it has s video ports and thats the 3rd best output on the snes, next to component and rgb scart but they are more expensive.

[@gt_5.0_madness]

Ant man in the Comercial 🤣

[@FreshClinicTV]

😂 is that Paul Rudd in that SNES Commercial?

[@URTechDotCa]

I think so!

[@Dan-ud7cm]

My LG tv has for connector not ‘TV’ but ‘Live TV’ and I cannot get it to work.

[@Orange-Jumpsuit-Time]

I have a 2014 50" vizio flat screen tv, the lowest setting is normal which blows.

[@askapk]

What about when your TV doesn't have a TV input? Mine has a live TV input where it goes online...

[@trabloblablo9332]

Was that Paul Rudd in the SNES commercial?

[@wwalkerofthesky]

Channel 3 or 4 doesn’t matter as long as your TV ISN’T set to that? Edit: 3:02 his power light is blue but mine is orange (I am colorblind but blue doesn’t become orange to me… at least I don’t think it does) Edit: At 3:33 he said Red= Good so maybe mine is red as I said I am colorblind Edit: his light still looks different than mine so I don’t know (why have I edited this so much lol and why did I retype the word “know” so many times because I couldn’t decide whether to use a lowercase or capital K lol)

[@nei_hmande2427]

BIG BTW That's Paul Rudd playing the SNES on the commercial

[@shawnrobidoux]

Lol is that Paul Rudd in the snes commercial!!?? Hahah

[@shawnrobidoux]

Might have messed up his last name.

[@URTechDotCa]

ya... thats Mr Sexy

[@drewsquickfix]

Alot of people don't realize that's batman paul Rudd in the super Nintendo commercial

[@WalgreensWarrior]

You are the best person ever

[@URTechDotCa]

While my ex-wife would disagree, I appreciate the sentiment. Thanks and have a great day.

[@dabunnyrabbit2620]

excellent help, thank you.

[@jason41483]

I have a Samsung 1080p HDTV. I replaced my SNES fuse and tested with multimeter just fine. I’ve tried with the RF Switch to coax on Ch 3 or 4, just get a black screen. Tried RCA direct and via HDMI adapter, get a black screen as well. So frustrating that I can’t get my SNES to work when I’ve tested everything and followed every KZbin instruction to get it to work. 👎

[@monivivi.]

Me too I have a Samsung and it turns on I can see the Nintendo logo then it goes to no signal so irritating

[@bryanssj3949]

I think that it may be beacause of the Super Nintendo uses a trick called 240p (it outputs 480i but not really a "native" 480i) and so it is why you see a black screen, if you hear sound that surely be the problem as your tv doesn't know of to interpret that signal, anyway, if you plug it to an hdtv it is gonna look bad, I recommend you getting and old CRT, if it has S-video, better, thats the cheapest way to have a good experience (Im waiting for my s-video cable for my snes and n64 from insurrection industries 😁

[@bryanssj3949]

@@monivivi. check my comment upside, that may be your problem

[@bebobebo4407]

You should switch to composite for your SNES since those cables are easy to find, then make a new video on how to connect the SNES using composite cables.

[@URTechDotCa]

Yep. Find a TV that does that that's a great way to go

[@mulishamadness5150]

I tried and did everything like it’s supposed to however my digital channels found 2 channels however when I try channel 3 or 4 my tv just shows; Channel not available can anyone help me?!!!

[@darrencouncell4946]

Gonna try this tommorow. Hope it works.

[@MichaelConroy24]

So no av cables only?

[@Ludith]

My RF RCA connector screw to the TV doesn’t work, it’s loose.

[@mandeepvirdi2002]

You can use Multi out (audio video) jack also if you have.

[@brianc9036]

@@mandeepvirdi2002 The AV jack should have better picture. It was what predated the HDMI cable.

[@Wildue]

Is the RF "RCA" cable required?

[@Wildue]

I have a smart TV from 2015 or 2014 i think

[@Wildue]

Brand: LG

[@Wildue]

Well actually, I have the multi out to the yellow, orange, and red cable (whatever you call it) do I also need the rf cable thing?

[@kenny-loo]

This has also been my issue. I ordered a SNES off ebay and just got it but the seller did not include the RF output so i just ordered it off another seller. Hopefully that does the trick on these new tvs because i tried plugging everything in without using the RT out cable and it did not work 😮‍💨

[@brittanyelledge479]

Mine is not working no matter what I do. I’ve been trying for over an hour. I have everything plugged in correct and have it on tv but it will not work. I’ve also tried with the red white and yellow cords and it wouldn’t work that way either. :(

[@pringlesjames]

Thank you! Now Im playing Thomas!

[@URTechDotCa]

Hellz ya! Enjoy James!

[@VampGal]

Where can I get the RF RCA converter? I searched Amazon and I don’t see one that looks the same as in the video.

[@gamecubeplayer]

nintendo rf switch

[@URTechDotCa]

Hi Marisol; www.ebay.ca/b/Nintendo-Rf-Adapter/171814/bn_7023253855 and www.etsy.com/il-en/listing/717694351/nintendo-rf-switch-for-nes-nintendo should work.

[@VampGal]

@@URTechDotCa ok, I bought the part and tried connecting to both TVs in my house. I had no issue with connecting however I couldn’t get channel 3 or 4 to come up and actually work? Any suggestions? Or is there a cord I can get that is HDMI instead of coax?

[@gamecubeplayer]

@@VampGal use snes av cables instead of rf

[@cbd-bychristy4240]

Thanks for helping!

[@URTechDotCa]

Soooo much fun!

[@christiandj50]

Actual tutorial starts at 1:40

[@VanillaLimeCoke]

6:09-6:36 Doesn’t work for me.

[@prettyandstuffff]

What if your television doesnt have a coax connection?

[@Furanky]

we can use that 3-colored (white, yellow, red) things and connect them to their socket (fit to the colors) and then change the tv input to the video mode... is that right?

[@brianc9036]

@@Furanky Also called the AV connection. The strange thing I will say about the coax connection for the antenna is that as more and more people dump cable and satellite and go cordless. Most new TVs have the hookup for an antenna again. For Super NES the AV connection which is the 3 colored plugs which predated the HDMI cable will give you the best picture.

[@DaBrian21]

Thankyou, I unboxed my original Nintendo and thought I was missing a cable but I wasnt

[@URTechDotCa]

Glad it helped. Thanks for the comment

[@merlynganancial5099]

It's not working on my tcl tv??

[@MichalAndel77]

Thank you. Worked perfect!

[@DeimosPC]

The best console of all time in my opinion, followed by the N64 and the PS1.