The basic steps to mirror your MacBook to Apple TV

To stream your MacBook screen to Apple TV, open the Control Center on your Mac, click the Screen Mirroring icon, and select your Apple TV from the list. Your MacBook and Apple TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network. Once you select your TV, your entire screen appears on the television within a few seconds.

If you don't see the Screen Mirroring icon in Control Center, you can add it: click the Control Center icon in the menu bar, select "Control Center Preferences," and drag Screen Mirroring into your Control Center. On older Macs running macOS Monterey or earlier, use the AirPlay icon in the menu bar instead — it works the same way.

Your Mac will stay connected to the TV until you manually disconnect. To stop mirroring, open Control Center again, click Screen Mirroring, and select "Disconnect" or choose a different display.

Key Takeaways

  • Your MacBook and Apple TV must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network before mirroring will work.
  • Screen Mirroring appears in Control Center on macOS Ventura and later; older versions use the AirPlay icon in the menu bar.
  • You can mirror your entire screen or use extended display mode to use your TV as a second monitor.
  • If your Apple TV doesn't appear in the mirroring list, restart both devices and check that they're on the same network.

What you need before you start

Your MacBook must run macOS Big Sur or later to use AirPlay to Apple TV. Check your macOS version by clicking the Apple menu, selecting "About This Mac," and looking at the version number. If you're running an older version, you can still mirror using third-party apps, but the built-in method won't work.

Your Apple TV must be a 4th generation model or newer (released 2015 or later). If you have an older Apple TV, it won't support AirPlay from a Mac. You can check your Apple TV's model by going to Settings > About on the TV itself.

Both devices need to be on the same Wi-Fi network. If your MacBook is on a guest network and your Apple TV is on your main network, they won't see each other. Connect them to the same network, then try mirroring again.

Finding and using Screen Mirroring in Control Center

On macOS Ventura and later, Control Center is in the top-right corner of your screen. Click it to open a panel of quick-access controls. Look for the icon that shows a rectangle with a triangle at the bottom — that's Screen Mirroring. Click it to see a list of available displays and Apple TVs.

When you click an Apple TV name, your Mac begins mirroring. You'll see a brief animation on your TV, and then your entire screen appears there. The mirroring happens over Wi-Fi, so your MacBook doesn't need to be plugged in, but it will drain the battery faster than normal.

If Screen Mirroring isn't in your Control Center, you need to add it. Click the Control Center icon, then click "Control Center Preferences" at the bottom of the panel. Find "Screen Mirroring" in the list on the left, and drag it into the "Included" section on the right. It will now appear in your Control Center every time you open it.

Using extended display mode instead of mirroring

Mirroring shows the same image on both your Mac and your TV. If you want to use your Apple TV as a second monitor instead — so you can drag windows between your MacBook screen and the TV — you can enable extended display mode.

Open System Settings on your Mac, go to Displays, and look for an option labeled "Extend into Space" or "Extend Display." This setting only appears when you're already mirroring to an Apple TV. Turn it on, and your TV becomes a separate workspace. You can now move windows and applications between your MacBook screen and the television.

Extended display mode is useful for presentations, video editing, or any task where you want more screen space. Your MacBook's performance may slow slightly because it's rendering two displays at once, but most everyday tasks won't be affected.

What to do if your Apple TV doesn't appear in the list

If you open Screen Mirroring and your Apple TV isn't listed, the most common cause is that the two devices are on different Wi-Fi networks. Check your MacBook's Wi-Fi connection by clicking the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar. Then go to your Apple TV's Settings > AirPlay and HomeKit and confirm it's on the same network.

Restart both devices if they're on the same network but still not connecting. Unplug your Apple TV for 10 seconds, then plug it back in. On your Mac, restart by clicking the Apple menu and selecting "Restart." Wait for both devices to fully boot up, then try Screen Mirroring again.

If your Apple TV is still not appearing, check that AirPlay is turned on. On your Apple TV, go to Settings > AirPlay and HomeKit, and make sure AirPlay is set to "On." Some Apple TVs also have a setting to restrict AirPlay to people on the same network — if that's enabled and your MacBook is on a guest network, the TV won't show up.

Controlling audio when you're mirroring

When you mirror to Apple TV, audio from your MacBook plays through the TV's speakers by default. If you want to hear sound from your Mac instead, you can change the audio output. Click the volume icon in the menu bar, and you'll see a list of audio devices. Select your MacBook's built-in speaker or any other audio device you want to use.

This is useful if you're presenting and want the TV to show your screen but you want to hear notifications or system sounds on your Mac. You can also use AirPods or external speakers as your audio output while mirroring to the TV.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I mirror just one window instead of my entire screen?

No — AirPlay mirrors your entire screen. However, you can minimize other windows or use full-screen mode in an process so only that window is visible. Some apps like Keynote have their own presentation mode that works well with mirroring.

Does my MacBook have to stay awake while I'm mirroring?

Yes. If your MacBook goes to sleep, the mirroring stops and your TV screen goes black. You can adjust your Mac's sleep settings in System Settings > Lock Screen to prevent it from sleeping while you're presenting or streaming.

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

No — you can only mirror to one Apple TV at a time. If you want to show your screen on multiple TVs, you would need to disconnect from one and connect to another.

Why is my mirroring laggy or choppy?

Lag usually means your Wi-Fi connection is weak or congested. Move your MacBook closer to your Wi-Fi router, or ask other people on your network to stop streaming video temporarily. If you're far from the router, your 5 GHz Wi-Fi band may drop to 2.4 GHz, which is slower. Restarting your router can also help.

What if I need to mirror to an older Apple TV that doesn't support AirPlay?

Older Apple TV models don't support AirPlay from Mac. You can use third-party apps like Reflector or AirParrot, which create their own mirroring connection, but these require a paid subscription. For most people, upgrading to a newer Apple TV is simpler than managing third-party software.