The Basic Steps to Mirror Your MacBook

To mirror your MacBook 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 screen will then appear on your TV within a few seconds. Both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network, and your Apple TV must be powered on and set up.

The entire process takes less than a minute once you have the devices connected to the same network. You can mirror your entire screen, or use AirPlay to send video from specific apps while keeping your Mac display separate. Mirroring works with all modern Apple TVs and MacBooks running macOS Big Sur or newer.

Key Takeaways

  • Your MacBook and Apple TV must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network before mirroring will work.
  • Open Control Center on your Mac by clicking the icon in the top-right corner, then select Screen Mirroring to see available Apple TVs.
  • You can switch between mirroring your full screen and using AirPlay to send only specific app content to your TV.
  • If your Apple TV does not appear in the Screen Mirroring menu, restart both devices and check that they are on the same network.

Finding and Opening Control Center on Your Mac

Control Center is the fastest way to start mirroring. On your MacBook, look at the top-right corner of the menu bar and click the icon that looks like overlapping rectangles. This opens a panel with quick-access controls for your Mac.

If you do not see this icon, your Mac may be running an older version of macOS. You can also access mirroring through the Apple menu: click the Apple logo in the top-left corner, select System Settings, then click Displays on the left sidebar. Look for an AirPlay Receiver or Screen Mirroring option, though the Control Center method is faster for regular use.

Selecting Your Apple TV from the Screen Mirroring Menu

Once Control Center is open, look for the Screen Mirroring option. Click it to see a list of available Apple TVs on your network. Each Apple TV will appear by the name you gave it during setup—for example, "Living Room" or "Bedroom TV." Click the name of the Apple TV you want to use.

If you see a password field, your Apple TV has AirPlay security turned on. Enter the four-digit code shown on your TV screen. This code changes each time you connect from a new device, so you will need to enter it only once per Mac. After you select your Apple TV and enter the code if needed, your MacBook screen will appear on the TV within a few seconds.

What to Do If Your Apple TV Does Not Appear

If your Apple TV is not showing up in the Screen Mirroring menu, the most common cause is that the two devices are not on the same Wi-Fi network. Check your MacBook's Wi-Fi settings by clicking the Wi-Fi icon in the top-right corner of the menu bar. Then check your Apple TV's network settings by going to Settings > AirPlay and HomeKit on the TV itself. Both should show the same network name.

If they are on the same network and the Apple TV still does not appear, restart both devices. Turn off your Apple TV by unplugging it for 10 seconds, then plug it back in. Restart your MacBook by clicking the Apple menu and selecting Restart. Wait for both devices to fully boot up, then try opening Control Center again. If the Apple TV still does not appear after these steps, check that your Apple TV model supports AirPlay—all Apple TV 4K models and Apple TV HD (2015 or newer) support mirroring.

Mirroring Your Full Screen Versus Sending Specific Apps

When you select your Apple TV from the Screen Mirroring menu, your entire MacBook display mirrors to the TV by default. Everything you see on your Mac—including notifications, passwords you type, and private browser tabs—will show on the TV. This is useful for presentations or showing photos, but not ideal if you want to keep some of your Mac activity private.

To send only a specific app to your TV while keeping your Mac display separate, open the app you want to share, then click the AirPlay icon inside that app. Not all apps support this feature, but most video and presentation apps do—including Keynote, Zoom, and Apple TV. When you use app-level AirPlay, your Mac screen stays private and only the app content appears on the TV.

Stopping the Mirror and Disconnecting

To stop mirroring, open Control Center again and click the Screen Mirroring option. Select Stop Mirroring from the menu. Your MacBook screen will no longer appear on the TV, though the Apple TV will remain on.

You can also disconnect by clicking the AirPlay icon inside an app if you are using app-level mirroring. Your Mac will remember your Apple TV and its security settings, so the next time you mirror to the same TV, you will not need to enter the code again—unless your Apple TV's AirPlay security has been reset.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

The screen appears but is very slow or laggy: This usually means your Wi-Fi connection is weak. Move your MacBook closer to your Wi-Fi router, or check that no other devices are using a lot of bandwidth. Mirroring works best on a 5 GHz Wi-Fi network rather than 2.4 GHz.

The image on the TV is cut off or has black bars: This is a resolution mismatch. On your Apple TV, go to Settings > Video and Audio > Resolution and try a different setting. On your Mac, go to System Settings > Displays and check the resolution. You may need to adjust one or both to match.

The audio from your Mac does not play on the TV: When you mirror, audio should automatically play through your TV speakers. If it does not, check your Mac's volume by clicking the volume icon in the top-right corner. Also check that your Apple TV is not muted and that the TV input is set to the correct HDMI port.

Your MacBook gets very hot during mirroring: Mirroring uses more power than normal. This is normal, but if your Mac feels too hot, take a break or close other apps running in the background. Make sure your Mac has good ventilation and is not sitting on a soft surface like a pillow or blanket.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I mirror my MacBook to an older Apple TV model?

Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD (2015 or newer) support mirroring. Older models like Apple TV (3rd generation) do not support AirPlay mirroring from a Mac. If you have an older Apple TV, you can still use it to watch content from the Apple TV app, but you cannot mirror your screen to it.

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

Yes, your MacBook and Apple TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network to mirror. If you travel or change networks, you will need to connect both devices to the same network again before mirroring will work. This is a security feature that prevents unauthorized devices from mirroring to your TV.

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 from a single Mac. If you want to send content to multiple TVs, you would need to stop mirroring to the first TV, then start mirroring to the second one. Some apps like Zoom allow you to send video to one TV while others use AirPlay independently.

What happens to my Mac when I am mirroring?

Your MacBook continues to work normally while mirroring. You can use your trackpad and keyboard, open new apps, and switch between windows. Everything you do on your Mac will appear on the TV in real time. If you want to keep something private, use app-level AirPlay instead of full-screen mirroring.

Why does my Apple TV ask for a code when I try to mirror?

Your Apple TV has AirPlay security turned on, which requires a four-digit code to connect from a new device. This code appears on your TV screen and changes each time a new device connects. You only need to enter it once per Mac—after that, your MacBook will connect automatically. You can turn off this security in Apple TV Settings if you prefer, though keeping it on is safer.