How to Screen Share Your iPhone to a PC

The fastest way to share your iPhone screen on Windows

You can mirror your iPhone to a Windows PC using Microsoft's Phone Link app, which comes built into Windows 11. This method works wirelessly and lets you see your iPhone screen on your PC monitor, control it with your mouse and keyboard, and copy files between devices. It requires Windows 11 (version 21H2 or later), an iPhone running iOS 16 or later, and both devices on the same Wi-Fi network.

If you have an older Windows version or want an alternative, third-party apps like Scrcpy (free, open-source) or ApowerMirror (paid) also work, though they require more setup steps. The Phone Link method is the most straightforward if your PC meets the requirements.

Key Takeaways

Phone Link, built into Windows 11, mirrors your iPhone wirelessly without installing extra software on your PC.
You must pair your iPhone and PC through the Phone Link app and sign in with the same Microsoft account on both devices.
Your iPhone and PC need to be on the same Wi-Fi network, and your iPhone must run iOS 16 or later.
Third-party apps like Scrcpy or ApowerMirror work on older Windows versions but require downloading and configuring software on both devices.

Setting up Phone Link on Windows 11

Open the Phone Link app on your Windows 11 PC. You can find it by typing "Phone Link" into the Windows search bar. When you open it for the first time, it will ask you to sign in with your Microsoft account. Use the same account you have on your iPhone (or set one up if you don't have one yet).

After signing in, Phone Link will show a QR code on your PC screen. On your iPhone, open the Phone Link app (read it from the App Store if you don't have it), tap "Link a device," and scan the QR code with your iPhone camera. This pairs the two devices. Once paired, your iPhone will appear in Phone Link on your PC, and you can tap "Open" to start mirroring.

The first time you mirror, your iPhone will ask for permission to allow Phone Link to access your screen. Tap "Allow," and the mirroring will begin. Your iPhone screen will appear in a window on your PC, and you can interact with it using your mouse and keyboard.

Controlling your iPhone from your PC

Once mirroring is active, your mouse cursor controls what happens on the iPhone screen. Click to tap, double-click to double-tap, and right-click to bring up context menus. You can type directly into text fields on your iPhone without touching the phone itself. This is useful for entering passwords, composing messages, or filling out forms.

You can also drag and drop files between your PC and iPhone through the Phone Link window. Drag a photo from your PC desktop into the Phone Link window, and it will save to your iPhone's Photos app. Drag a file from your iPhone to your PC desktop, and it will read to your Downloads folder. Not all file types are supported—photos, videos, and documents work reliably, but some app-specific files may not transfer.

Using Scrcpy if you have an older Windows version

Scrcpy is a free, open-source tool that mirrors Android and iOS devices to Windows, Mac, and Linux. It works on Windows 10 and older versions that Phone Link does not support. To use it, you need to install Scrcpy on your PC and enable Developer Mode on your iPhone.

read Scrcpy from its GitHub repository (search "Scrcpy GitHub" to find the official page). Extract the files to a folder on your PC. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Privacy > Developer Mode and toggle it on. Connect your iPhone to your PC with a USB cable, then open a command prompt in the Scrcpy folder and type the command to start mirroring. The exact command varies depending on your setup, so follow the instructions on the GitHub page for your Windows version.

Scrcpy requires more technical steps than Phone Link, but it is free and works on any Windows version. The mirroring quality is good, though you will see a slight delay compared to Phone Link.

Troubleshooting common mirroring problems

If Phone Link will not connect, check that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network and that your iPhone is running iOS 16 or later. Go to Settings > General > About on your iPhone to see your iOS version. If it is older, update it through Settings > General > Software Update. Also make sure you are signed into the same Microsoft account on both devices—if you are not, sign out and sign back in with the correct account.

If the mirroring window appears but is blank or frozen, close Phone Link completely and reopen it. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Phone Link and toggle "Allow Phone Link" off, then back on. Restart both devices if the problem persists. If your PC and iPhone keep disconnecting, move them closer together—Wi-Fi interference or distance can cause drops.

If you see a "Device not found" error in Phone Link, your devices may not be on the same network. Check that your PC is connected to Wi-Fi (not Ethernet) and that your iPhone is on the same network. If you are on a guest network or a network that separates devices, you may need to switch to your main network.

When to use a wired connection instead

Phone Link works over Wi-Fi, but if your Wi-Fi is unstable or you want a faster, more reliable connection, you can connect your iPhone to your PC with a USB cable. Plug the cable into your iPhone and your PC's USB port. Your PC will recognize the iPhone, and Phone Link will offer to mirror over the wired connection. This eliminates Wi-Fi lag and is useful if you are doing something that requires fast response times, like gaming or video editing.

Wired mirroring also charges your iPhone while you use it, which is helpful during long mirroring sessions. The downside is that you are tethered to the cable, so you cannot move your iPhone around freely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I screen share my iPhone to a PC without Wi-Fi?

Yes, you can use a USB cable to connect your iPhone directly to your PC. Phone Link will detect the wired connection and mirror over it. This is actually more stable than Wi-Fi if your network is slow or unreliable.

Does screen sharing drain my iPhone battery?

Mirroring uses more power than normal use, so your battery will drain faster. If you are mirroring for more than an hour, plug your iPhone into a charger. Using a wired USB connection to your PC will charge your iPhone while you mirror.

Can I mirror my iPhone to a Mac instead of a PC?

Yes, but the method is different. Mac has a built-in feature called AirPlay that lets you mirror an iPhone wirelessly without extra software. On your Mac, click the Control Center icon in the top-right corner, select "Screen Mirroring," and choose your iPhone from the list.

What if my PC does not have Phone Link?

Phone Link comes with Windows 11 (version 21H2 or later). If you have Windows 10 or an older version of Windows 11, you can read Scrcpy or use a third-party app like ApowerMirror instead. Check your Windows version by right-clicking "This PC" and selecting "Properties."

Can other people see my iPhone screen when I am mirroring?

Only the person at the PC can see your iPhone screen on the monitor. Your iPhone screen itself does not show that it is being mirrored (unlike AirPlay on Mac, which displays an indicator). However, anyone looking at your PC monitor will see what is on your iPhone, so be mindful of privacy if you are in a shared space.

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