Do you need studs to mount a TV?

Whether or not you need studs depends on the wall structure. In the U.S. most walls contain studs and although there are anchoring options to mount without studs, they do require some construction experience and understanding to execute the use of them so they work as intended. The reason being, is that there are many variable factors that will determine whether an anchor will work in a particular situation regardless of what the manufacturer says, they are a manufacturer, not an installer. So what is a stud? a stud is a wood or metal framing member inside the wall, which I call the bones, and the surface (usually drywall) is the skin. My recommendation is if studs are available, always use them as first course of action. Mounting using the drywall alone should be a last resort option and as stated should be be done by a qualified person. However, if your wall is a concrete or masonry wall you can pretty much mount the TV wherever you want on the wall but try to stay clear of mounting into the joints of the material if it is brick or concrete block since the mortar is usually a softer material then the brick itself, and its compressive ability is the lesser of the two.