To screen mirror on Mac, connect your Mac and an AirPlay-compatible TV to the same Wi-Fi network, open Control Center > Screen Mirroring, select the TV, and choose whole-screen mirroring after entering any requested code. For a wired connection, connect the display, then select it under System Settings > Displays and choose mirroring from Use as. Mirroring duplicates your desktop, while extending gives you a separate desktop on the other display.
The short version
- AirPlay: Select a compatible receiver on the same Wi-Fi network through Control Center > Screen Mirroring.
- Cable connection: Connect HDMI or a compatible video adapter, select the TV's input, then choose mirroring in Displays.
- Google Cast: In Chrome's casting controls, choose Sources > Cast screen to share your desktop.
- Display mode: Use Use as in Displays to switch between mirroring and a separate desktop.
| Method | What you need | Where you can mirror |
|---|---|---|
| AirPlay | Compatible receiver and shared Wi-Fi | Apple TV and AirPlay-compatible TVs |
| HDMI or another video cable | Matching video ports or a compatible adapter | TVs, monitors, and projectors |
| DisplayLink | DisplayLink hardware and DisplayLink Manager | Displays connected through DisplayLink hardware |
| Chrome desktop casting | Chrome and a supported Google Cast receiver | Google Cast televisions and devices |
| AirPlay to Mac | Supported Mac with AirPlay Receiver enabled | Another Mac's screen |
| Sidecar | Compatible Mac and iPad using the same Apple Account | Your iPad's screen |
Mirror your Mac wirelessly with AirPlay
Connect your Mac and the receiving TV or Apple TV to the same Wi-Fi network. On your Mac, click Control Center in the menu bar, open Screen Mirroring, and select the receiver. Enter its onscreen code when requested, then choose whole-screen mirroring in the sharing chooser.
Choose the entire screen when you want the TV to show your complete desktop. Selecting an app or window shares only that content instead. During window sharing, click Change to change your selection or Add Window to include another window.
You can also connect through the Apple menu > System Settings > Displays > Add Display. Select the available wireless display, then select the connected display and use Use as to choose mirroring. To end AirPlay sharing, open the Screen Mirroring menu and click Stop.
Turn on AirPlay on your TV
Your television must support AirPlay to receive your Mac's screen through the built-in controls. These paths apply only to compatible models, and menus can vary by model and software version. Enable AirPlay on the receiver before selecting it on your Mac.
On Apple TV, open Settings > AirPlay and Apple Home > AirPlay and turn it on. Use Allow Access to choose who can connect. Turn on Require Password to require authentication.
For a compatible Roku device, press Home on its remote and open Settings > Apple AirPlay and HomeKit > AirPlay > On. Then select the Roku from your Mac's Screen Mirroring control.
On a compatible Samsung TV, press Home and open All Settings > Connection > Apple Airplay Settings, then enable AirPlay. Samsung says you may need to sign into a Samsung account and accept its terms if that option is missing.
With a compatible LG TV, press Input and choose Home Dashboard > AirPlay > AirPlay and HomeKit settings. Turn AirPlay on, then select the TV from your Mac's Screen Mirroring control.
For a compatible Sony BRAVIA, press Quick Settings or HOME and open Settings > System > Apple AirPlay & HomeKit > Apple AirPlay & HomeKit settings > AirPlay. Press Enter to enable it, then select the TV on your Mac.
Connect a TV or monitor with a cable
For a Mac with an HDMI port, connect an HDMI cable between the Mac and the TV or monitor. Select the matching HDMI input on the receiving display. Open the Apple menu > System Settings > Displays, select that display, and use Use as to choose mirroring.
If your Mac has compatible USB-C or Thunderbolt ports, use a USB-C or Thunderbolt-to-HDMI cable or adapter. Apple lists its USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter as one option. Older Macs with Thunderbolt 1, Thunderbolt 2, or Mini DisplayPort can use a compatible HDMI adapter for those ports. After connecting, select the TV's HDMI input and choose mirroring in Displays.
For a USB-C, Thunderbolt, or DisplayPort monitor, connect the powered display using a video-capable cable that matches your ports, then choose mirroring in Displays. A charging-only USB cable cannot carry the display signal. Your Mac, adapter, and cable determine the supported resolution and refresh rate.
When an Apple silicon Mac laptop asks to approve a newly connected display or adapter, unlock the Mac and click Allow. To send sound to an HDMI-connected television, open System Settings > Sound > Output and select the connected display.
A DisplayLink-based dock or adapter also requires DisplayLink Manager. Install the release matching your macOS version, connect the device, and use the configuration wizard's Open System Settings control to grant screen-recording permission. Restart DisplayLink Manager, grant Background Activity when requested, and click Finish. Choose mirroring in macOS Displays.
Choose mirroring and adjust the picture
If your connected display shows a separate desktop, open System Settings > Displays, select the display, and open Use as. Choose its mirroring option to duplicate your desktop, or its extension option to return to separate desktops. The final option's wording depends on your connected displays.
On a compatible Mac keyboard, you can also press Command + Brightness Down to toggle mirroring when more than one display is connected. Use the brightness key rather than assuming F1 performs that function on every keyboard.
To adjust the mirrored image, select the receiving display in Displays and use Optimize for to choose which display governs the picture. Adjust Resolution using the choices offered for your connection. On Apple TV, AirPlay Display Underscan can correct a cropped image.
Cast your desktop with Chrome
You can cast your Mac desktop to a supported Chromecast, Google TV Streamer, or TV with Google Cast through Chrome. Install Google Chrome on your Mac if you do not already have it. This gives you a desktop-sharing option for a Google Cast receiver.
Open Chrome's More menu and choose Cast, save, and share > Cast…. Open Sources, choose Cast screen, and select the receiver. Select the screen in the capture chooser if one appears.
Casting a browser tab sends only that tab, so choose Cast screen for whole-desktop mirroring. To finish, click the toolbar's Cast control and select Stop casting. Google has ended support for first-generation Chromecast, so use a supported receiver.
Show your screen on another Mac
On the receiving Mac, open the Apple menu > System Settings > General > AirDrop & Continuity. Turn on AirPlay Receiver, then select that computer from Control Center > Screen Mirroring on the sending Mac. Choose whole-screen mirroring to share your desktop.
Your receiving Mac needs macOS Monterey 12 or later and supported hardware: an iMac Pro, a Mac mini introduced in 2020 or later, or another supported Mac model introduced in 2018 or later. Under Allow AirPlay for, choose Current User, Anyone on the Same Network, or Everyone to match who needs access. For password protection, enable Require password, click Set, enter the password, and click OK.
If you're connecting an older sending Mac, allowing Everyone or Anyone on the Same Network can permit a connection at reduced resolution. Legacy iMac Target Display Mode is not supported as a current macOS or Apple silicon connection method. Use AirPlay to Mac when your receiving hardware supports it.
Mirror to an iPad with Sidecar
To use Sidecar wirelessly, sign your Mac and iPad into the same Apple Account with two-factor authentication. Enable Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Handoff, and keep the devices within 10 meters. Open Control Center > Screen Mirroring, select the iPad, and choose mirroring rather than extension.
Your iPad must run iPadOS 13 or later and be an iPad Pro, iPad sixth generation or later, iPad mini fifth generation or later, or iPad Air third generation or later. Your Mac needs macOS Catalina 10.15 or later and supported hardware. Qualifying models include MacBook Air from 2018 onward, other supported Macs from 2016 onward, and the late 2015 27-inch Retina 5K iMac.
For a USB connection, connect the iPad with a compatible cable and trust the Mac when prompted. Select the iPad through Screen Mirroring and choose mirroring; the same Apple Account and two-factor authentication requirements apply. You can also open System Settings > Displays > Add Display, select the iPad, then select it in Displays and use Use as to choose mirroring.
To disconnect, deselect the iPad under Mirror or Extend to in Screen Mirroring. You can also tap the iPad sidebar's Disconnect icon.
Fix a missing receiver or blank display
If an AirPlay receiver is missing from the list, check that your Mac and receiver are on the same Wi-Fi network and that the receiver has AirPlay enabled. Review its access settings so your Mac is permitted to connect. On a receiving Mac, those controls are under AirDrop & Continuity; on Apple TV, they are under AirPlay and Apple Home.
When Chrome cannot find a casting destination on macOS 15 or later, open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Local Network and enable Google Chrome. If Chrome or another mirroring app needs capture permission, open Privacy & Security > Screen & System Audio Recording and enable that app. These permissions allow discovery or capture, but you still need a compatible receiver.
For a wired display, check its selected input, cable compatibility, and any accessory approval prompt first. Open System Settings > Displays, hold Option to reveal Detect Displays, and click it. Check your Mac's supported display count and resolution limits when connecting through a dock or using multiple displays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you mirror a Mac to Apple TV without joining the same Wi-Fi network?
Yes, compatible Macs and Apple TV hardware support peer-to-peer AirPlay. On Apple TV, enable AirPlay and Peer-to-Peer Wireless under Settings > AirPlay and Apple Home, and choose Everyone under Allow Access. Keep your Mac nearby with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, then select Apple TV in Screen Mirroring.
Can you use a TV with the MacBook lid closed?
Yes, on a compatible Mac notebook, connect the display, connect your Mac to power, and connect an external keyboard and mouse or trackpad before closing the lid. Your desktop displays externally, but this does not simultaneously duplicate an active built-in screen.
Can you mirror just two displays in a larger setup?
Yes, set your displays to an extended desktop in Displays settings first. In the arrangement view, hold Option and drag one display icon onto another to mirror that pair. Your Mac must support the number of connected displays.
How can you make Screen Mirroring quicker to open?
Open Control Center, hold Control while clicking the Screen Mirroring control, and choose Add to Menu Bar. You can then select a receiver directly from the resulting menu bar control. On compatible keyboards, Fn + C also opens or closes Control Center.
Can you send a video to the TV without mirroring your entire desktop?
Yes, click the AirPlay icon in a compatible Mac video app's playback controls and choose the receiving TV or Apple TV. Safari also supports AirPlay in compatible web video players. This sends the video rather than your complete desktop.
Does Universal Control mirror your Mac screen?
No, Universal Control lets you share input devices between supported devices rather than mirroring their displays. iPhone Mirroring serves a different purpose too: it sends your iPhone screen to your Mac, which is the opposite direction.