How to Share Your iPhone Screen on a PC

The fastest way to share your iPhone screen on a PC

You can mirror your iPhone to a Windows PC using Wireless Display (built into Windows 10 and later) paired with an app like Reflector 4 or LonelyScreen, or by connecting a USB cable and using QuickTime on a Mac. Windows PCs do not have native iPhone mirroring the way macOS does, so you will need third-party software. The easiest route for most people is downloading Reflector 4 on your PC, then using Control Center on your iPhone to cast to that app—no cable required.

If you own a Mac instead of a Windows PC, the process is simpler: plug in your iPhone with a USB cable, open QuickTime Player, and select File > New Movie Recording. Your iPhone screen will appear in the window. But if you are on Windows, read ahead for the step-by-step method that works without extra hardware.

Key Takeaways

Windows PCs require a third-party app like Reflector 4, LonelyScreen, or Scrcpy to mirror an iPhone screen wirelessly.
Your iPhone and PC must be on the same Wi-Fi network for wireless mirroring to work.
On your iPhone, open Control Center and tap Screen Mirroring to see available devices and connect.
Mac users can skip the app and use QuickTime Player with a USB cable instead.
The mirrored screen shows everything on your iPhone in real time, including notifications and app activity.

Setting up Reflector 4 on your Windows PC

Reflector 4 is one of the most reliable options for Windows users. read it from the official Reflector website (reflector.app), then run the installer and follow the on-screen prompts. Once installed, open Reflector 4 and leave it running in the background. The app will display your PC's name and a code on the screen—write down the name, because you will need it when you set up your iPhone.

Make sure your Windows PC and iPhone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. This is essential: if they are on different networks, your iPhone will not see the PC as an available device. Check your PC's network settings by clicking the Wi-Fi icon in the system tray, and verify the network name. Then check your iPhone's Wi-Fi settings (Settings > Wi-Fi) and connect to the same network.

Reflector 4 is not free—it costs around $20 for a one-time license—but it works reliably and supports multiple devices at once. If you want to test the concept first without spending money, LonelyScreen and Scrcpy are free alternatives, though they have fewer features and less polished interfaces.

Mirroring your iPhone screen from Control Center

On your iPhone, swipe down from the top-right corner (or up from the bottom on older models) to open Control Center. Look for the Screen Mirroring button—it looks like a rectangle with a triangle in the corner. Tap it, and a list of available devices will appear. You should see your PC listed by the name you noted from Reflector 4.

Tap your PC's name from the list. Your iPhone will connect within a few seconds, and your screen will appear in the Reflector 4 window on your PC. The mirroring is live: everything you do on your iPhone—opening apps, typing, swiping—will show on your PC screen in real time. Audio from your iPhone will play through your PC's speakers.

To stop mirroring, open Control Center again, tap Screen Mirroring, and select Stop Mirroring. Your iPhone screen will no longer appear on your PC, but Reflector 4 will remain open and ready for the next connection.

Using a USB cable with QuickTime on a Mac

If you have a Mac instead of a Windows PC, the process is much simpler and requires no third-party software. Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB cable. On your Mac, open QuickTime Player (search for it in Spotlight or find it in Applications > Utilities).

In QuickTime Player, click File in the menu bar, then select New Movie Recording. A recording window will open. Click the small arrow next to the red record button and select your iPhone from the Camera dropdown. Your iPhone screen will appear in the window. You can now see and record your iPhone's display. To stop, close the window or press Control + Command + Escape.

Troubleshooting common mirroring problems

If your iPhone does not appear in the Screen Mirroring list, the most common cause is that your devices are on different Wi-Fi networks. Disconnect from your current network and reconnect to the same one your PC is using. Wait 10 to 15 seconds, then try Screen Mirroring again. Some routers separate devices on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands—if your PC is on one and your iPhone on the other, they will not see each other. Log into your router settings and make sure both devices are on the same band, or disable band separation if your router allows it.

If Reflector 4 is running but your iPhone still does not detect it, restart both devices. Close Reflector 4 completely, restart your PC, reopen Reflector 4, and then restart your iPhone. This clears any connection cache that may be blocking the pairing. If the problem persists, check your Windows Firewall: Reflector 4 needs permission to communicate over your network. Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Windows Defender Firewall > Allow an app through firewall, find Reflector 4 in the list, and make sure it is checked for both Private and Public networks.

If the screen mirroring is laggy or choppy, move your iPhone and PC closer to your Wi-Fi router, or switch to a 5 GHz network if available—it is faster than 2.4 GHz. Closing other apps on your iPhone and PC will also free up bandwidth and improve performance.

Free alternatives to Reflector 4

Scrcpy is a free, open-source tool that mirrors Android phones to a PC, but it also works with iPhones if you are willing to use the command line. It requires some technical setup (installing ADB and running commands in a terminal), so it is best for users comfortable with that workflow. read it from github.com/Genymobile/scrcpy.

LonelyScreen is another free option that works similarly to Reflector 4. read it from lonelyscreen.com, install it, and follow the same process: connect your iPhone and PC to the same Wi-Fi, open Control Center, and select LonelyScreen from the Screen Mirroring list. LonelyScreen is simpler than Scrcpy but has fewer customization options than Reflector 4.

Both free tools work, but they are less stable than Reflector 4 and may drop the connection occasionally. If you plan to mirror your screen regularly—for presentations, recording tutorials, or troubleshooting—Reflector 4 is worth the cost. If you only need it once in a while, the free options are sufficient.

Recording your iPhone screen on your PC

Once your iPhone is mirrored to your PC, you can record the screen using Windows' built-in Game Bar. Press Windows Key + G to open Game Bar, then click the red record button (or press Windows Key + Alt + R). The recording will capture your iPhone's screen and audio. To stop recording, press Windows Key + Alt + R again or click the stop button in Game Bar.

Reflector 4 also has a built-in recording feature. Click the record button in the Reflector 4 window, and it will save a video file of your iPhone's screen to your PC. This method gives you more control over video quality and file format than Game Bar.

Recorded videos are saved to your Videos folder by default. You can then edit them in any video editor, upload them to YouTube, or share them with others. Make sure you have enough free disk space before recording—a 10-minute video can take 500 MB to 1 GB depending on resolution and frame rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to jailbreak my iPhone to mirror it to a PC?

No. Screen mirroring works on any iPhone running iOS 11 or later without jailbreaking. It is a built-in feature that Apple provides through Control Center. You only need a third-party app on your PC to receive the signal.

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

Not with the standard Screen Mirroring feature. Your iPhone and PC must be on the same Wi-Fi network. However, some third-party apps like Scrcpy can work over USB cable, though setup is more complex. For most users, Wi-Fi is the simplest approach.

Will mirroring drain my iPhone battery?

Yes, screen mirroring uses more battery than normal use because your iPhone is constantly transmitting video data. If you are mirroring for more than an hour, plug your iPhone into a charger. Keeping your iPhone plugged in while mirroring is the best practice.

Can I use my PC while my iPhone is mirrored?

Yes. Mirroring does not lock your PC—you can use other apps, open files, or work on other tasks while your iPhone screen is displayed in Reflector 4 or another mirroring app. The mirrored window is just another window on your desktop.

What if my PC does not have Wi-Fi?

If your PC is connected by Ethernet cable only, you can still mirror your iPhone if your PC and iPhone are on the same network (the same router). Your PC does not need Wi-Fi itself—it just needs to be reachable from your iPhone over the network. If your PC is completely isolated from your network, mirroring will not work.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.