How to Connect Your Mac to Apple TV

The fastest way to connect your Mac to Apple TV

To connect your Mac to Apple TV, use AirPlay, which is Apple's wireless casting system built into both devices. Open the Control Center on your Mac (click the icon in the top-right corner), select the AirPlay icon, and choose your Apple TV from the list. Your Mac screen will appear on your TV within seconds. No cables, no setup—if your Mac and Apple TV are on the same Wi-Fi network, they will find each other automatically.

If you do not see your Apple TV in the AirPlay menu, make sure both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network and that your Apple TV is powered on. Restart your Mac or Apple TV if the connection stalls. Once connected, you can mirror your entire screen or extend your display to use your TV as a second monitor.

Key Takeaways

Open Control Center on your Mac, tap the AirPlay icon, and select your Apple TV to mirror your screen wirelessly.
Both your Mac and Apple TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network for AirPlay to work.
You can mirror your entire screen or extend your display to use your TV as a second monitor instead of duplicating it.
If your Apple TV does not appear in the AirPlay menu, restart both devices and check that Wi-Fi is connected on each one.

Finding the AirPlay menu on your Mac

The AirPlay icon lives in Control Center, which you reach from the top-right corner of your screen. On newer Macs (2016 and later), click the Control Center icon—it looks like a rectangle with sliders. On older Macs running Big Sur or later, you may see separate icons for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other controls in the menu bar; click the one that looks like a rectangle with an arrow pointing upward.

Once Control Center opens, look for the AirPlay icon, which shows a rectangle with a triangle at the bottom. Click it, and a dropdown menu will show all available Apple TVs on your network. Select the one you want to use. If you have multiple Apple TVs, they will all appear in this list with their names—usually something like "Living Room" or "Bedroom" if you renamed them.

What to do if your Apple TV does not appear

If your Apple TV is not showing up in the AirPlay menu, the most common reason is that your Mac and Apple TV are on different Wi-Fi networks. Check that both devices are connected to the same network by opening System Settings on your Mac (click the Apple menu, then System Settings) and confirming the Wi-Fi name. On your Apple TV, go to Settings > AirPlay and HomeKit and verify it is on the same network.

If both devices are on the same network and your Apple TV still does not appear, restart your Apple TV by unplugging it for 10 seconds and plugging it back in. Then restart your Mac. Wait 30 seconds after each restart before trying again. If the problem persists, forget the Wi-Fi network on your Mac and reconnect: go to System Settings > Wi-Fi, click the network name, select "Forget", then reconnect and enter your password.

Mirroring versus extending your display

When you first connect via AirPlay, your Mac mirrors its screen—everything you see on your Mac appears on the TV. This is useful for presentations or watching videos, but it limits you to one display. To extend your display instead, hold the Option key while you click the AirPlay icon in Control Center. A menu will appear with options to mirror or extend; select "Extend Display".

When you extend your display, your TV becomes a second monitor. You can drag windows between your Mac and the TV, or move your mouse off the right edge of your Mac screen and it will appear on the TV. This is helpful for working while watching something on the TV, or for using your TV as extra workspace during video calls. To switch back to mirroring, open Control Center again, hold Option, and select "Mirror Displays".

Adjusting resolution and refresh rate

Your Mac automatically detects your Apple TV and sets the resolution to match. In most cases, this works without any adjustment needed. However, if the picture looks blurry or the text is hard to read, you can change the resolution manually. Go to System Settings > Displays, then click the dropdown next to "Resolution" and choose a different option. Lower resolutions make text larger; higher resolutions fit more on screen but make text smaller.

If you notice flickering or the picture seems unstable, try changing the refresh rate. In the same Displays settings, look for a "Refresh Rate" dropdown (this appears only on some Macs and Apple TV models). Select 60 Hz if you see options like 50 Hz or 60 Hz. Most Apple TVs work best at 60 Hz. After you change either setting, the picture will update within a few seconds.

Disconnecting and troubleshooting audio

To stop AirPlaying to your Apple TV, open Control Center, click the AirPlay icon, and select "Turn Off AirPlay". Your Mac screen will return to your built-in display. Alternatively, you can straightforward close Control Center and your connection will remain active—AirPlay does not disconnect until you manually turn it off or your Mac goes to sleep.

If sound is not coming through your TV speakers, check that your Apple TV is set as the audio output device. On your Mac, click the volume icon in Control Center, and a menu will show available audio outputs. Select your Apple TV from the list. If your Apple TV does not appear in the audio menu, disconnect and reconnect via AirPlay. If audio still does not work, go to your Apple TV's Settings > Audio and Video > Audio Output and make sure speakers are enabled, not headphones or optical audio.

Using AirPlay with different Mac models and macOS versions

AirPlay works on any Mac running macOS Big Sur (2020) or later. If your Mac is older than that, you will need to update macOS first. Go to System Settings > General > Software Update and install the latest version available for your Mac model. Some older Macs cannot run the newest macOS versions, so check Apple's website to see what your Mac supports.

Apple TV models from the 4th generation onward (released 2015 or later) support AirPlay from Mac. If you have an older Apple TV, you may not be able to use this feature. You can check your Apple TV model by going to Settings > About. The process for connecting is the same across all compatible models—the AirPlay menu works identically whether you have a newer Apple TV 4K or an older HD model.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use AirPlay if my Mac and Apple TV are on different Wi-Fi networks?

No. AirPlay requires both devices to be on the same Wi-Fi network. If your Mac is on a guest network and your Apple TV is on your main network, they will not see each other. Connect both to the same network and try again.

Does AirPlay work over the internet when I am away from home?

No. AirPlay only works on a local Wi-Fi network. You cannot use it to control your Apple TV remotely from another location. If you want to control your Apple TV from outside your home, use the Apple TV Remote app on your iPhone or iPad instead.

Will AirPlay slow down my internet speed?

AirPlay uses your local Wi-Fi network but does not consume internet bandwidth. It streams within your home network only. Your internet speed will not be affected, though a weak Wi-Fi signal can cause the connection to drop or become unstable.

Can I use AirPlay while my Mac is locked?

No. Your Mac must be awake and unlocked to use AirPlay. If your Mac goes to sleep, the connection will stop. You can wake your Mac by moving the mouse or pressing a key on the keyboard.

What if I want to use AirPlay with audio only, not video?

You can send audio to your Apple TV without mirroring your screen. Open Control Center, click the volume icon, and select your Apple TV from the audio output menu. Your Mac screen will stay on your display while sound plays through your TV speakers.

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.