The fastest way to get your iPhone screen on your TV

Mirroring your iPhone to Apple TV sends everything on your phone's screen to your television in real time. You do this through AirPlay, Apple's wireless connection system. The process takes about 30 seconds once your devices are on the same Wi-Fi network, and you don't need any cables or extra apps.

Your iPhone and Apple TV must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. If you're using an older Apple TV (3rd generation or earlier), mirroring still works but the setup is slightly different — we'll cover that below.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Control Center on your iPhone, tap Screen Mirroring, and select your Apple TV from the list to start mirroring when ready.
  • Both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network for mirroring to work.
  • Your iPhone screen appears on the TV with a slight delay, and you control everything from your phone as usual.
  • To stop mirroring, open Control Center again, tap Screen Mirroring, and select Stop Mirroring.

Step 1: Check your Wi-Fi connection

Make sure your iPhone and Apple TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Check your iPhone's Wi-Fi settings by opening Settings, tapping Wi-Fi, and confirming which network you're on. Then check your Apple TV by going to Settings > Network and verifying it shows the same network name.

If they're on different networks, connect your iPhone to the same network as your Apple TV. You may need your Wi-Fi password. Once both devices show the same network, you're ready to mirror.

Step 2: Open Control Center on your iPhone

Swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPhone screen (on iPhone X and newer) or swipe up from the bottom (on iPhone 8 and earlier). This opens Control Center, a panel with quick toggles and buttons.

Look for the Screen Mirroring button — it shows a rectangle with a triangle at the bottom. If you don't see it when ready, you may need to swipe left or right within Control Center to find it, or add it through Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls.

Step 3: Select your Apple TV

Tap Screen Mirroring. A list of available Apple TVs on your network will appear within a few seconds. Select the name of your Apple TV from the list.

If your Apple TV doesn't appear, make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network and that your Apple TV is powered on. If it still doesn't show up, restart your Apple TV by unplugging it for 10 seconds, then plugging it back in.

Step 4: Confirm mirroring has started

Once you tap your Apple TV's name, your iPhone screen will appear on your television. You'll see a blue bar at the top of your iPhone screen with the Apple TV name and a Stop Mirroring button. Everything you do on your phone — opening apps, scrolling, typing — shows on the TV in real time.

The mirroring connection is live as long as both devices stay on the same Wi-Fi network and your Apple TV remains on. If you walk out of range or turn off Wi-Fi on your iPhone, mirroring stops automatically.

How to stop mirroring

Open Control Center again and tap Screen Mirroring. Select Stop Mirroring from the menu. Your iPhone screen will no longer appear on the TV, though your Apple TV will stay on.

You can also stop mirroring by turning off your Apple TV, disconnecting from Wi-Fi, or putting your iPhone to sleep. The connection ends when ready in all cases.

Mirroring on older Apple TV models (3rd generation and earlier)

If you have an Apple TV from 2012 or earlier, the Screen Mirroring button in Control Center may not work. Instead, open Control Center, tap AirPlay, select your Apple TV, and toggle on Mirroring. The process is the same, but the menu is labeled differently.

If your older Apple TV doesn't appear in the AirPlay menu, check that it's powered on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone. Some older models require you to enable AirPlay in the Apple TV settings first — go to Settings > AirPlay and make sure it's turned on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't my Apple TV show up in the Screen Mirroring list?

The most common reason is that your iPhone and Apple TV are on different Wi-Fi networks. Check that both devices are connected to the same network name. Also make sure your Apple TV is powered on and not in sleep mode. If it's still not showing, restart your Apple TV by unplugging it for 10 seconds.

Does mirroring work over cellular or hotspot?

No. Mirroring requires both devices to be on the same Wi-Fi network. Cellular data and personal hotspots don't work for AirPlay mirroring. You must use a standard Wi-Fi network that both your iPhone and Apple TV can reach.

Can I mirror from an iPad or Mac instead of an iPhone?

Yes. iPads use the same Screen Mirroring button in Control Center. Macs have an AirPlay icon in the menu bar at the top of the screen. The process is identical — select your Apple TV and mirroring starts when ready.

Is there a delay between my iPhone and what shows on the TV?

Yes, there's typically a one- to two-second delay. This is normal and happens because the signal travels wirelessly. The delay is noticeable if you're playing fast-action games, but fine for watching videos, presentations, or browsing.

Can I use my iPhone while mirroring?

Yes. Everything you do on your iPhone appears on the TV, so you can open apps, take photos, scroll through websites, or type messages while mirroring. Your phone controls the TV screen just as if you were looking at it directly.