Mirroring sends your Mac screen to Apple TV wirelessly

Mirroring your Mac to Apple TV displays everything on your Mac's screen on your TV in real time. Your Mac and Apple TV communicate wirelessly over the same Wi-Fi network, so you don't need cables. The TV shows exactly what your Mac shows—your desktop, open windows, videos, presentations, everything.

This is different from AirPlay, which is Apple's name for the wireless connection method. When you mirror, you're using AirPlay to send video and audio from your Mac to the Apple TV.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Mac and Apple TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network before you can mirror.
  • You start mirroring by clicking the Control Center icon in the top-right corner of your Mac and selecting your Apple TV from the display options.
  • Your Mac's screen will appear on the TV within a few seconds, and you can continue using your Mac normally while mirrored.
  • You can stop mirroring by returning to Control Center and clicking the same display option again.
  • If your Apple TV doesn't appear in the list, restart both devices and check that they're connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Check your Wi-Fi connection first

Both your Mac and Apple TV need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Open the Wi-Fi menu on your Mac (click the Wi-Fi icon in the top-right corner of your screen) and note which network you're on. Then check your Apple TV: go to Settings > Network and confirm it's connected to the same network.

If they're on different networks, connect your Mac to the network your Apple TV uses. Some homes have multiple Wi-Fi networks (a main one and a guest network, for example), and mirroring won't work across them.

Open Control Center on your Mac

Click the Control Center icon in the top-right corner of your Mac's menu bar. It looks like a grid of squares. A panel will slide down from the top of your screen showing various quick-access controls.

Look for the section labeled "Display" or "Screen Mirroring." If you don't see it when ready, scroll down in the Control Center panel. On newer Macs running macOS Monterey or later, this option is usually visible without scrolling.

Select your Apple TV from the list

In the Display section of Control Center, you'll see a list of available devices. Your Apple TV should appear by its name (for example, "Living Room" or "Apple TV"). Click on it.

If your Apple TV doesn't appear in the list, make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network and that your Apple TV is powered on. Wait a few seconds and try opening Control Center again. Sometimes it takes a moment for the Apple TV to show up.

Your Mac screen now appears on the TV

Once you select your Apple TV, your Mac's display will appear on your TV within a few seconds. The resolution may adjust slightly to match your TV's capabilities. You can use your Mac normally while mirrored—open new windows, click around, play videos—and everything will show on the TV in real time.

Your Mac's trackpad and keyboard continue to work as usual. The mirroring happens in the background; you're not controlling the TV, you're just sending your Mac's picture to it.

Stop mirroring when you're done

To end the mirroring session, open Control Center again and click the Display option. You'll see your Apple TV listed with a checkmark next to it. Click it again to disconnect. Your Mac's screen will no longer appear on the TV.

You can also stop mirroring by unplugging your Apple TV or turning it off, though disconnecting properly through Control Center is cleaner.

Troubleshooting when mirroring won't start

Apple TV not showing in the list: Restart both your Mac and Apple TV. Turn off your Apple TV completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. On your Mac, restart it or straightforward disconnect from Wi-Fi and reconnect. Then try Control Center again.

Connection keeps dropping: Move your Mac closer to your Apple TV or your Wi-Fi router. Walls and distance can weaken the signal. If you have a 5 GHz Wi-Fi network available, try connecting both devices to that instead of the 2.4 GHz band—it's faster and more stable for mirroring.

Audio not working on the TV: Check that your Apple TV's volume isn't muted. On your Mac, open System Settings > Sound and make sure the output device is set to your Apple TV, not your Mac's speakers. You may need to adjust this after mirroring starts.

Screen looks stretched or cut off: This usually means your Mac's resolution doesn't match your TV's aspect ratio perfectly. Open System Settings > Displays on your Mac and try adjusting the resolution or scaling options. Some TVs also have picture settings that can help—look for options like "Fit to Screen" or "Zoom" in your TV's menu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I mirror my Mac to Apple TV while using it for something else?

Yes. Your Mac continues to work normally while mirroring. You can open new windows, switch between apps, and work on documents while everything displays on your TV. The mirroring happens in real time, so the TV shows whatever you're doing.

Do I need to be signed into iCloud to mirror?

No. Mirroring works over your local Wi-Fi network and doesn't require an iCloud account or Apple ID sign-in. You just need both devices on the same network.

What if I want to show only one app on the TV, not my whole screen?

Mirroring always sends your entire Mac screen. If you want to show only one app, you can minimize or close other windows before mirroring starts, but the TV will still show your full desktop. Some apps have their own AirPlay options built in—check the app's menu to see if it offers direct AirPlay streaming.

Can I mirror from my iPhone or iPad to Apple TV the same way?

The process is similar but slightly different. On iPhone or iPad, swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, and select your Apple TV. The steps are the same, but the location of Control Center is different.

Will mirroring slow down my Mac or Wi-Fi?

Mirroring uses some Wi-Fi bandwidth, but not enough to noticeably slow down normal internet use on your Mac. If you're streaming video or downloading large files while mirroring, you might notice a slight slowdown, but basic web browsing and document work won't be affected.