Screen mirroring on Apple TV works through AirPlay, Apple's wireless casting system

To mirror your device to Apple TV, open Control Center on your iPhone or iPad, tap Screen Mirroring, then select your Apple TV from the list. On a Mac, click the Control Center icon in the menu bar, select Screen Mirroring, and choose your Apple TV. Your device and Apple TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network. The mirrored content appears on your TV within a few seconds, and you can stop mirroring by opening Control Center again and tapping Stop Mirroring.

AirPlay works with Apple TV 4K (3rd generation and later), Apple TV HD, and Apple TV (2nd generation and later). Older models do not support mirroring. If your Apple TV is not appearing in the Screen Mirroring menu, restart both devices and confirm they are connected to the same network — not a guest network or separate 5GHz band if your router splits them.

Key Takeaways

  • Screen Mirroring is found in Control Center on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and appears as a list of available Apple TV devices on your network.
  • Your device and Apple TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network for mirroring to work; guest networks and split 5GHz bands often cause connection problems.
  • Mirroring works with Apple TV 4K, Apple TV HD, and Apple TV (2nd generation and later), but not with the original Apple TV or very old models.
  • You can mirror your entire screen or use AirPlay to send video from specific apps without mirroring everything else on your device.

How to set up mirroring on iPhone and iPad

Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to open Control Center. Look for the Screen Mirroring button — it shows a rectangle with a triangle at the bottom. Tap it to see a list of available Apple TV devices. Select the Apple TV you want to use. If a passcode appears on your TV screen, enter it on your device to complete the connection.

Once connected, everything on your device's screen appears on your TV. You can adjust brightness, volume, and other settings on your device as usual, and they will not affect what is showing on the TV. To stop mirroring, open Control Center again, tap Screen Mirroring, and select Stop Mirroring.

How to set up mirroring on Mac

Click the Control Center icon in the menu bar at the top of your screen — it looks like a grid of dots. Scroll down and select Screen Mirroring. A list of available Apple TV devices will appear. Click the one you want to use. If prompted, enter the passcode shown on your TV.

Your Mac screen will now appear on your TV. You can use your Mac normally while mirroring, and you can adjust the resolution and refresh rate by going to System Settings > Displays after mirroring is active. To stop mirroring, click the Control Center icon again, select Screen Mirroring, and choose Stop Mirroring.

Troubleshooting when your Apple TV does not appear

The most common reason your Apple TV does not show up in the Screen Mirroring menu is that your device is on a different network. Check that both your device and Apple TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network by opening Settings on your device and confirming the network name. If your router broadcasts separate 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks with different names, connect both devices to the same band.

Restart both your device and Apple TV if they are on the same network but still not connecting. Unplug your Apple TV for 10 seconds, then plug it back in. On your device, go to Settings > Wi-Fi, turn Wi-Fi off and on again, then try Screen Mirroring. If your Apple TV requires a software update, connect it to power and let it update overnight — older software versions sometimes have connection issues.

If you are using a guest network, try connecting both devices to your main network instead. Guest networks often isolate devices from each other to improve security, which prevents mirroring from working. Some routers also have a setting called AP Isolation or Client Isolation that blocks device-to-device communication — check your router settings if mirroring still fails after switching networks.

Using AirPlay to send video from specific apps

You do not always need to mirror your entire screen. Many apps — including Apple TV, YouTube, Spotify, and others — have their own AirPlay button that lets you send video or audio directly to your Apple TV without mirroring. Look for an AirPlay icon (a triangle with a rectangle above it) inside the app. Tap it and select your Apple TV.

This method uses less battery power on your device and lets you keep using your phone or iPad for other tasks while video plays on your TV. When you are done, tap the AirPlay button again and select iPhone, iPad, or This Mac to send the content back to your device.

What to do if mirroring is slow or keeps disconnecting

Slow or unstable mirroring usually means your Wi-Fi signal is weak. Move your device closer to your Apple TV or router, or check if other devices are using a lot of bandwidth. Close apps running in the background on your device to free up memory and processing power. On your Mac, this can make a noticeable difference in mirroring performance.

If your Apple TV is far from your router, consider moving the router closer or using a Wi-Fi extender to improve signal strength in that area. Interference from other wireless devices — microwaves, cordless phones, baby monitors — can also disrupt mirroring. If disconnections happen at specific times, check what else is using your network at those moments.

Update your device's operating system and your Apple TV's software to the latest version. Go to Settings > General > Software Update on your device, and on Apple TV go to Settings > System > Software Updates. Outdated software sometimes causes connection problems that newer versions fix.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I mirror from an Android phone or non-Apple device to Apple TV?

No. AirPlay is exclusive to Apple devices. Android phones, Windows PCs, and other non-Apple devices cannot mirror to Apple TV. If you need to cast from an Android device, you would need a different device like a Chromecast or Roku.

Do I need to pay for a subscription to use Screen Mirroring?

No. Screen Mirroring is built into Apple devices and Apple TV at no cost. You do not need an Apple TV+ subscription or any other paid service to use it.

Can I mirror to Apple TV over a cellular connection or without Wi-Fi?

No. Mirroring requires both devices to be on the same Wi-Fi network. Cellular data does not work for AirPlay. If you do not have Wi-Fi, you cannot mirror to Apple TV.

What happens to my privacy when I mirror my screen?

Everything on your screen is sent wirelessly to your Apple TV. If you are mirroring sensitive information like passwords or banking details, make sure you are in a private space and that no one else can see your TV. The connection is encrypted between your device and Apple TV.

Can I mirror to multiple Apple TVs at the same time?

No. You can only mirror to one Apple TV at a time from a single device. If you want to send content to multiple TVs, you would need to stop mirroring to one and start on another.