Learn how to AirPlay photos, videos, and music, or mirror your iPhone, iPad, or Mac screen to another Mac.
What you can AirPlay to Mac
You can use your Mac as an AirPlay receiver or target display to AirPlay photos, videos, and presentations from another Apple device. You can also AirPlay music to Mac’s internal speakers and even mirror the entire screen onto Mac’s display or use it as a secondary display.
- Visual media: AirPlay pictures, videos, slideshows, and presentations from your iPhone, iPad, and Mac to a Mac.
- Audio: Play music, audiobooks, and podcasts on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac and have it output from the speaker of your Mac. If you use a multi-room audio setup, the Mac can also function as a secondary speaker. In other words, you can use Mac’s internal speakers as an AirPlay speaker.
- Mirror your iPhone, iPad, or Mac’s screen: Cast/mirror/screen/project your iPhone, iPad, or Mac’s display to another Mac. What you see on your first device screen will appear on your Mac’s screen.
- Use Mac as a second display: You can use your Mac as a second display for your iPad or another Mac.
We show you how to do all these below.
Turn your Mac into an AirPlay-receiving device
This feature is enabled by default, but here’s how to double-check: Open System Settings, go to General > AirDrop & Handoff or AirDrop & Continuity, and make sure AirPlay Receiver is enabled.
If you’re on an older version of macOS, go to System Preferences > Sharing and make sure AirPlay Receiver is ticked.
Select who can AirPlay to your Mac
Select an option for Allow AirPlay for:
- If you select Current user, only your Apple devices that have the same Apple Account as this Mac can AirPlay to it. Under this setting, it isn’t necessary for your iPhone and Mac to be on the same Wi-Fi network. You can AirPlay to Mac, even when your iPhone or iPad isn’t connected to a Wi-Fi network. But Wi-Fi must be enabled from the Settings app.
- If you select Anyone on the Same Network, people connected to the same Wi-Fi can see this Mac as an AirPlay display. Under this and the next setting, AirPlay from iPhone to Mac works even if both devices don’t have the same Apple Account.
- If you select Everyone, Mac will be available as an AirPlay display to other nearby devices.
Important: Make sure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled on both the source and target devices to ensure a smooth experience.
AirPlay from iPhone, iPad, and Mac to a Mac
The steps to AirPlay to a Mac are the same as Apple TV or other AirPlay devices. Tap or click the AirPlay icon or AirPlay option wherever you see it, and choose your MacBook as the target AirPlay device.
Most leading video streaming apps on iPhone and iPad have an AirPlay icon on the player (or behind a custom icon) that lets you AirPlay to a bigger display. Tap the AirPlay icon and choose your Mac as the AirPlay target.
Mirror or cast your iPhone or iPad screen to Mac
- Open Control Center on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap the Screen Mirroring icon.
- Tap your Mac’s name.
- If you see a passcode on Mac’s display, enter the same on your iPhone and iPad to authenticate the mirroring process.
You’ll now see the contents of your iPhone screen appear on your Mac.
Related: How to AirPlay or mirror your iPhone or iPad display to Apple TV
Mirror one Mac screen to another Mac
You can mirror your Mac’s screen to another Mac or use it as a separate display.
- Open Control Center on the source Mac and click Screen Mirroring.
- Select your target Mac.
- You can now choose to mirror the screen or use it as an extended display. If you choose the latter, you can easily drag the same mouse pointer between both displays.
If your source Mac is running an older version of macOS, go to System Preferences > Displays and check the box for Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available. After that, click the AirPlay Display icon from the menu bar and choose your target Mac.
To stop mirroring, click the Mirroring icon in the top menu bar and click the target Mac’s name to disconnect.
Note:
- You cannot use the target Mac for anything else while AirPlaying a video, photo, or presentation from iPhone, iPad, or another Mac to it, or while seeing their screen here. However, if you AirPlay music to Mac, you can use it normally while the music plays on its speakers.
- Secondly, you cannot AirPlay to a Mac from two devices at the same time. The first AirPlaying media will get replaced when you start AirPlaying something else to it.
Fun fact: In 2016, the HTC 10 was the first Android phone to have built-in and officially licensed AirPlay audio streaming support.
Check out next: 17 ways to use your iPhone and iPad together with your Mac