The Basic Steps to Send Video and Audio From Your Mac

To stream from your Mac to Apple TV, open the Control Center on your Mac, click the Screen Mirroring icon, and select your Apple TV from the list. Your Mac screen will then appear on your television. If you do not see your Apple TV listed, make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network and that your Apple TV is powered on.

The entire process takes about 10 seconds once you have both devices set up. Your Mac will mirror everything on its display — your desktop, browser windows, applications, and cursor — directly to your TV screen in real time.

You can also stream individual apps or videos without mirroring your entire screen. This method, called AirPlay content streaming, lets you send just one window or video player to your TV while keeping other work private on your Mac.

Key Takeaways

  • Screen mirroring sends your entire Mac display to Apple TV and works on any Mac with an Apple silicon chip or Intel processor from 2013 or later.
  • Both your Mac and Apple TV must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network for AirPlay to work.
  • You can control volume and stop mirroring directly from the Control Center on your Mac without touching your Apple TV remote.
  • If your Apple TV does not appear in the Screen Mirroring menu, restart both devices and check that Wi-Fi is working on each one.
  • Individual apps like Apple TV, YouTube, and web browsers often have their own AirPlay buttons that let you send just that content to your TV.

Finding and Opening the Screen Mirroring Control

On a Mac with macOS Monterey or newer, open Control Center by clicking the icon in the top-right corner of your menu bar — it looks like a rectangle with several smaller rectangles inside. On older Macs, you may see the AirPlay icon directly in the menu bar instead.

Once Control Center opens, look for the Screen Mirroring icon. It shows a rectangle with a triangle at the bottom. Click it to see a list of available Apple TVs on your network. The list will show the name of each Apple TV (for example, "Living Room" or "Bedroom TV") along with its connection status.

If you do not see the Screen Mirroring option in Control Center, your Mac may be running an older version of macOS. You can also access AirPlay through the menu bar by holding the Option key and clicking the AirPlay icon if it appears there.

Selecting Your Apple TV and Starting the Stream

Click the name of the Apple TV you want to use from the Screen Mirroring menu. Your Mac will connect to that device, and your screen will appear on your television within a few seconds. You will see a blue border around your Mac's display on the TV, indicating that mirroring is active.

While mirroring, your Mac continues to work normally. You can open files, browse the web, watch videos, or use any process — everything will show on both your Mac screen and your TV at the same time. The resolution on your TV will match your Mac's display settings, though Apple TV will scale it to fit your television's screen size.

To stop mirroring, return to Control Center, click Screen Mirroring again, and select "Stop Mirroring." Your TV will return to its previous input or home screen, and your Mac will no longer be connected to the Apple TV.

Using AirPlay to Stream Individual Apps and Videos

Many apps on your Mac have their own AirPlay button that lets you send just that content to your TV without mirroring your entire screen. Look for an AirPlay icon — usually a triangle pointing upward into a rectangle — in the app's playback controls or menu bar.

The Apple TV app, YouTube, Apple Music, Podcasts, and most video players include this feature. Click the AirPlay icon, select your Apple TV from the list, and that content will stream to your television. You can then close the app on your Mac or use your Mac for other work while the video or audio continues playing on your TV.

This method is useful when you want to watch a movie on your TV but do not want to show your entire desktop, open browser tabs, or notifications on the big screen. The content streams directly from your Mac to the Apple TV without displaying anything else.

Troubleshooting When Your Apple TV Does Not Appear

If your Apple TV is not showing up in the Screen Mirroring menu, start by checking that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. Open System Preferences on your Mac and confirm the Wi-Fi network name. On your Apple TV, go to Settings, then Network, and verify it is connected to the same network.

Restart both devices if they are on the same network but still not connecting. Unplug your Apple TV for 10 seconds, then plug it back in. Restart your Mac by going to the Apple menu and selecting Restart. After both devices have restarted, try opening Control Center again and looking for your Apple TV.

If the problem continues, check that your Apple TV software is up to date. Go to Settings on your Apple TV, select System, then Software Updates, and install any available updates. Older Apple TV models may also have compatibility limits — AirPlay works with Apple TV 4K, Apple TV HD, and Apple TV (3rd generation) or later.

Adjusting Volume and Display Settings During Mirroring

While your Mac is mirroring to Apple TV, you can control the volume directly from your Mac's Control Center. Open Control Center, find the volume slider, and adjust it to change the audio level on your TV. You can also mute the sound by clicking the volume icon.

If the image on your TV does not fill the entire screen or appears stretched, this is usually a display scaling issue. On your Apple TV, go to Settings, then Video and Audio, and check the Resolution setting. Make sure it matches your TV's native resolution. On your Mac, you can also adjust the resolution in System Preferences under Displays.

If you experience lag or stuttering during mirroring, move your Mac closer to your Apple TV or Wi-Fi router. Interference from other devices or distance from the router can slow down the wireless connection. Closing unnecessary apps on your Mac can also improve performance.

Connecting Multiple Macs to the Same Apple TV

Only one Mac can mirror to an Apple TV at a time. If you try to connect a second Mac while another is already mirroring, you will be asked whether you want to stop the current connection and start a new one. The first Mac's connection will end when ready.

However, multiple Macs can take turns using the same Apple TV throughout the day. Each time you want to switch, straightforward select the Apple TV from your new Mac's Screen Mirroring menu. The previous connection will stop automatically, and the new one will begin.

If you want to use AirPlay content streaming (sending just one app rather than your entire screen) from multiple Macs, this works more smoothly. Several Macs can queue up content to the same Apple TV, though only one stream plays at a time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be on the same Wi-Fi network as my Apple TV?

Yes. Your Mac and Apple TV must both be connected to the same Wi-Fi network for AirPlay to work. They do not need to be on a guest network or a separate network — just the same one. If you are on different networks, reconnect your Mac to the same network as your Apple TV.

Can I use AirPlay if my Mac is on Wi-Fi and my Apple TV is connected with an ethernet cable?

Yes. Your Apple TV can be connected to the internet via ethernet cable while your Mac uses Wi-Fi, as long as both devices are on the same local network. This setup often works more reliably than Wi-Fi alone.

What happens to my Mac screen when I stop mirroring?

Your Mac screen returns to normal — nothing changes on your Mac itself. Your Apple TV will return to its home screen or whatever it was displaying before you started mirroring. Stopping mirroring does not close any apps or delete any files on your Mac.

Can I mirror from my Mac to an older Apple TV model?

AirPlay works with Apple TV 3rd generation and newer. If you have an Apple TV 2nd generation or earlier, mirroring is not supported. You can check your model by going to Settings on your Apple TV and looking at About.

Why is my video choppy or delayed when I mirror to Apple TV?

Move your Mac closer to your Wi-Fi router or Apple TV, as distance and interference can slow the connection. Close other apps on your Mac to free up processing power. If you are streaming video, lower the video quality in the app if that option is available. Restarting both devices sometimes improves performance as well.