Screen sharing on Apple TV works through AirPlay, Apple's built-in wireless casting system

Screen sharing sends everything on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac display to your Apple TV and the connected television. You don't need cables, apps, or special setup beyond having both devices on the same Wi-Fi network. The process takes seconds once you know where to look.

Your Apple TV must be a second-generation model or newer (released 2010 or later). If you have an older first-generation Apple TV, screen sharing is not available. You can check your model in Settings > About on the Apple TV itself.

Key Takeaways

  • Both your Apple TV and the device you're sharing from must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network for AirPlay to work.
  • On iPhone and iPad, swipe up from the bottom to open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, and select your Apple TV from the list.
  • On Mac, click the Control Center icon in the top-right corner, select Screen Mirroring, and choose your Apple TV.
  • Your Apple TV will display a four-digit code on the television screen the first time you connect from a new device — enter this code on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to confirm the connection.
  • If your device doesn't see the Apple TV, restart both devices and check that they're on the same Wi-Fi network, not a guest network.

Screen sharing from iPhone or iPad

On iPhone or iPad, open Control Center by swiping up from the bottom of the screen (or swiping down from the top-right on newer models with Face ID). Look for the Screen Mirroring icon — it looks like a rectangle with a triangle at the bottom.

Tap Screen Mirroring and wait a moment for the list to populate. Your Apple TV will appear by its name (the default is usually "Living Room" or similar, but you may have renamed it). Tap your Apple TV's name to begin sharing.

On first connection, your Apple TV will display a four-digit code on the television. Enter this code on your iPhone or iPad when prompted. After you've done this once, future connections from the same device will not ask for the code again.

Screen sharing from a Mac

On Mac, click the Control Center icon in the top-right corner of the menu bar (it looks like a grid of dots). Select Screen Mirroring from the dropdown menu.

Your Apple TV will appear in the list. Click it to start sharing. Like on iPhone and iPad, you'll see a four-digit code on your television the first time you connect — enter it on your Mac when prompted.

If you don't see Control Center in your menu bar, go to System Settings > Control Center and make sure Screen Mirroring is toggled on.

What to do when your device doesn't find the Apple TV

The most common reason a device can't find your Apple TV is that they're not on the same Wi-Fi network. Check that both are connected to the same network name — not a guest network, which Apple TV often cannot see. Look at Settings on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac and confirm the network name matches what you see on your Apple TV in Settings > Network.

Restart both devices if they're on the same network but still not connecting. Unplug your Apple TV for 10 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for it to fully boot (about 30 seconds). Then try screen sharing again.

If you've restarted and they're on the same network and it still doesn't work, forget the Wi-Fi network on your Apple TV and reconnect. Go to Settings > Network > Wi-Fi, select your network, and choose Forget. Then reconnect by selecting the network again and entering the password.

Stopping screen sharing and returning to normal Apple TV use

To stop screen sharing, open Control Center on the device you're sharing from and tap Screen Mirroring again. Select Stop Mirroring from the menu.

Alternatively, you can press the Menu button on your Apple TV remote to exit screen sharing and return to the Apple TV home screen. The connection will end when ready.

Troubleshooting audio and video lag

If your screen share is choppy or the audio is delayed, move closer to your Wi-Fi router or reduce the distance between your device and Apple TV. Walls and other obstacles weaken the signal. If other devices are using a lot of bandwidth (streaming video, downloading files), pause those activities — screen sharing works best when Wi-Fi is not congested.

Older Apple TV models (third generation and earlier) may experience more lag than newer ones. If lag is severe and consistent, restarting both devices often improves performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I screen share from an Android phone to Apple TV?

No. AirPlay is Apple's proprietary system and only works with Apple devices. Android phones cannot screen share to Apple TV. If you need to display content from an Android device, you would need a different type of streaming device that supports Android casting.

Do I need to enter the four-digit code every time I screen share?

No. The first time you connect from a device, you enter the code. After that, your device is remembered and you can connect without entering the code again. If you reset your Apple TV or remove the device from its trusted list, you'll need to enter the code once more.

Can multiple people screen share to the same Apple TV at the same time?

No. Only one device can screen share to an Apple TV at a time. If someone else tries to connect while you're already sharing, they'll see a message that the Apple TV is in use. You must stop your screen share first.

What if my Apple TV is on a different Wi-Fi band (2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz)?

Your device and Apple TV should both connect to the same network name, even if your router broadcasts both bands. Most modern routers combine both bands under one network name. If your router has separate network names for each band, connect both devices to the same one — typically the 5 GHz band offers better performance for screen sharing.

Can I screen share while using other apps on my device?

Yes. Once screen sharing starts, you can use your iPhone, iPad, or Mac normally. Whatever appears on your device's screen will appear on the television. You can open apps, browse the web, or view photos — all of it will display on your TV in real time.