How to Mirror Your iMac Screen to Apple TV

The fastest way to mirror your iMac to Apple TV

To mirror your iMac to Apple TV, use AirPlay, which is built into both devices. Open the Control Center on your iMac (click the icon in the top-right corner of your menu bar), click the Screen Mirroring button, select your Apple TV from the list, and enter the four-digit code that appears on your TV screen. Your iMac display will then appear on your television within a few seconds.

This works only if your iMac and Apple TV are on the same Wi-Fi network. The process takes about 30 seconds from start to finish, and you can stop mirroring at any time by opening Control Center again and clicking Screen Mirroring to disconnect.

Key Takeaways

AirPlay mirroring requires your iMac and Apple TV to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network before you start.
You access Screen Mirroring through Control Center on your iMac, not through System Preferences or any other menu.
Apple TV will display a four-digit code on your television that you must enter on your iMac to complete the connection.
Once mirrored, your iMac screen shows everything you do — including the cursor, notifications, and any open windows.

What you need before you start mirroring

Your iMac must be running macOS 10.10 or later. Nearly all iMacs sold in the last ten years meet this requirement, but if your iMac is very old, check your macOS version by clicking the Apple menu in the top-left corner, selecting About This Mac, and looking at the version number.

Your Apple TV must be a second-generation model or newer. First-generation Apple TV does not support AirPlay mirroring. Both devices need to be plugged in and powered on, and both must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network — not a guest network or a different band of the same router.

If your iMac or Apple TV is on a different network, mirroring will not appear as an option. Restart both devices if they are on the same network but mirroring does not show up.

Step-by-step: connecting your iMac to Apple TV

Step 1: Open Control Center on your iMac. Click the icon that looks like overlapping rectangles in the top-right corner of your menu bar. If you do not see it, go to System Settings, click General, then Control Center, and make sure Screen Mirroring is turned on.

Step 2: Click Screen Mirroring. A dropdown menu will appear showing all available Apple TV devices on your network. Select the Apple TV you want to use. If you have more than one Apple TV, they will be listed by name — check your TV or the Apple TV Settings app to confirm which one you want.

Step 3: Enter the code on your iMac. Your Apple TV will display a four-digit code on the television screen. Type this code into the prompt that appears on your iMac. Do not share this code with anyone else on your network — it is a one-time connection code.

Step 4: Wait for the connection to complete. Your iMac screen will appear on your TV within a few seconds. You will see a blue AirPlay icon in the Control Center menu bar, indicating that mirroring is active.

Stopping the mirror and disconnecting

To stop mirroring, open Control Center again and click Screen Mirroring. Select the Apple TV you are connected to, then click Stop Mirroring. Your iMac display will return to your monitor, and the Apple TV will show whatever input or app it was displaying before you started.

If you walk out of range of your Wi-Fi network, the connection will drop automatically. You can reconnect the next time you are back on the same network by repeating the steps above — you will not need to enter the code again if you are connecting to the same Apple TV within a few minutes.

Troubleshooting when mirroring does not work

If Screen Mirroring does not appear in Control Center, check that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. Open System Preferences on your iMac and click Network to confirm your Wi-Fi connection. On your Apple TV, go to Settings, then Network, and verify it is connected to the same network name.

If both devices are on the same network but mirroring still does not show up, restart your iMac and Apple TV. Turn off the Apple TV completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. Then restart your iMac. This clears temporary connection issues that prevent AirPlay from discovering the Apple TV.

If you see the Apple TV in the list but the code does not appear on your television, the Apple TV may not be responding. Unplug the Apple TV for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for it to fully boot before trying again. If the code appears but your iMac says the connection failed, try entering the code more slowly or check that you typed all four digits correctly.

What happens when your iMac is mirrored to Apple TV

When mirroring is active, everything on your iMac screen appears on your television in real time. This includes your cursor, any open windows, notifications that pop up, and anything you type. The resolution will match your iMac's display settings, though the Apple TV may scale it slightly to fit the television screen.

Your iMac continues to work normally — you can open new apps, switch between windows, and use your keyboard and trackpad as usual. The only difference is that everyone watching the TV sees what you are doing. Audio from your iMac will play through your Apple TV's speakers or through whatever audio device your Apple TV is connected to.

When to use mirroring versus AirPlay video

Screen mirroring shows your entire iMac desktop on the TV. This is useful for presentations, showing photos from your computer, or letting others see what you are working on. However, it uses more bandwidth and can slow down your iMac slightly if you are doing processor-heavy tasks.

If you only want to watch video or listen to music from your iMac on your TV, you can use AirPlay to send just that content instead of mirroring the whole screen. Open the video or music app, look for the AirPlay icon (usually three stacked rectangles with a triangle), click it, and select your Apple TV. This uses less bandwidth and does not show your desktop or other open windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I mirror my iMac to Apple TV if they are on different Wi-Fi networks?

No. Both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network. If your iMac is on a guest network or a different band of your router, mirroring will not work. Connect both to the main network and try again.

Will mirroring slow down my iMac?

Mirroring uses some processor power and Wi-Fi bandwidth, but most iMacs handle it without noticeable slowdown for everyday tasks like browsing or document editing. If you are doing video editing or other heavy processing, you may notice a slight delay in your iMac's performance while mirroring is active.

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

No. You can only mirror to one Apple TV at a time. To switch to a different Apple TV, disconnect from the current one and select a new one from the Screen Mirroring menu.

What if I forget the four-digit code before I type it in?

The code stays on your Apple TV screen until you enter it or until the connection times out (usually after a few minutes). If it disappears, start the mirroring process again from your iMac and a new code will appear.

Does mirroring work if my iMac is asleep?

No. Your iMac must be awake and unlocked to mirror. If your iMac goes to sleep while mirroring is active, the connection will drop and you will need to wake it and reconnect.

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.