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

To share your screen on Apple TV, you use AirPlay, which lets you send what's on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac directly to your TV. The process takes about 30 seconds once everything is set up, and both devices need to be on the same Wi-Fi network. Your Apple TV must be running tvOS 12.1 or later, and your phone or tablet should be running iOS 12.1 or later (or macOS 10.14.1 or later for a Mac).

The basic steps are the same across all Apple devices: open Control Center, tap AirPlay Mirroring, select your Apple TV from the list, and your screen appears on the television. You can then use your device normally—everything you do shows up on the big screen in real time.

Key Takeaways

  • Both your Apple device and Apple TV must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network before you can share your screen.
  • On iPhone and iPad, swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center, then tap AirPlay Mirroring and select your TV.
  • On Mac, click the AirPlay icon in the menu bar at the top of the screen, then choose your Apple TV from the dropdown.
  • Your screen will mirror exactly what appears on your device, including notifications, so lock sensitive apps before you start.
  • If your Apple TV doesn't appear in the AirPlay list, restart both devices and check that they're on the same network.

Screen sharing from iPhone or iPad

On an iPhone or iPad, open Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen (or swiping up from the bottom if you have an older model). You'll see a grid of quick-access buttons. Look for AirPlay Mirroring—it shows a rectangle with a triangle at the bottom. Tap it.

A menu will pop up showing all available Apple TVs on your network. Select the one you want to use. If you see a passcode prompt on your TV screen, enter it on your device to confirm the connection. Your iPhone or iPad screen will now appear on the television. Everything you do—opening apps, scrolling, typing—shows up on the TV in real time.

To stop sharing, open Control Center again, tap AirPlay Mirroring, and select Turn Off AirPlay. Your TV will return to whatever it was showing before you started.

Screen sharing from a Mac

On a Mac, look at the menu bar at the very top of your screen. You should see an AirPlay icon that looks like a rectangle with a triangle—it's usually near the Wi-Fi and battery icons on the right side. Click it.

A dropdown menu will show all available Apple TVs. Select the one you want to use. If your Mac asks for a passcode, look at your TV screen—the code will appear there. Enter it on your Mac to confirm. Your Mac screen will now mirror to the television.

To stop mirroring, click the AirPlay icon again and select Turn Off AirPlay. If you don't see the AirPlay icon in your menu bar, go to System Preferences (or System Settings on newer Macs), click Displays, and make sure AirPlay is turned on.

What to do if your Apple TV doesn't appear in the AirPlay list

The most common reason your Apple TV won't show up is that it's on a different Wi-Fi network than your phone, tablet, or Mac. Check that all devices are connected to the same network—look at your Wi-Fi settings on each device and confirm the network name matches.

If the networks match, restart both your Apple TV and your phone or tablet. Unplug the Apple TV for 10 seconds, then plug it back in. On your phone or tablet, go to Settings, turn Wi-Fi off, wait 5 seconds, and turn it back on. Then try opening Control Center and looking for AirPlay Mirroring again.

If your Apple TV still doesn't appear, check that it's running a current version of tvOS. On your TV, go to Settings, then System, then Software Updates. If an update is available, install it and try again. You can also try restarting your Wi-Fi router by unplugging it for 30 seconds.

Common mistakes that stop screen sharing from working

The biggest mistake is forgetting to check your Wi-Fi connection. If your phone is on your home network but your Apple TV is on a guest network (or vice versa), they won't see each other. Look at your router settings or ask whoever set up your Wi-Fi which network your TV is using.

Another common problem is having Bluetooth turned off. While AirPlay uses Wi-Fi, your device needs Bluetooth enabled to discover and connect to your Apple TV. If you've turned off Bluetooth to save battery, turn it back on before trying to share your screen.

A third issue is outdated software. If your Apple TV is running an old version of tvOS or your iPhone hasn't been updated in months, they may not be compatible. Check for updates on both devices before troubleshooting further.

Controlling what shows on your TV while screen sharing

When you're mirroring your screen, everything that appears on your device appears on the TV—including notifications, incoming calls, and text messages. If you're sharing sensitive information, lock apps before you start. On iPhone and iPad, you can also turn on Do Not Disturb to prevent notifications from popping up during your presentation.

If you want to show only a specific app instead of your entire screen, you can use AirPlay for individual apps on some streaming services like YouTube, Netflix, and Apple TV+. Open the app, start playing video, and look for an AirPlay icon within the app itself. Tap it and select your Apple TV. This way, only the video plays on your TV—your home screen, notifications, and other apps stay private on your device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an Apple TV 4K to use screen sharing?

No. Any Apple TV model from 2015 or later supports AirPlay screen sharing. Older models (Apple TV 3rd generation and earlier) do not support it. Check your Apple TV's settings to see which model you have and what version of tvOS is installed.

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

No. AirPlay only works with Apple devices—iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Android phones and tablets cannot use AirPlay to share their screens with Apple TV. You would need to use a different casting method or connect your Android device to your TV using an HDMI cable.

Why is my screen sharing laggy or freezing?

Lag usually means your Wi-Fi signal is weak or your network is congested. Move your device closer to your Wi-Fi router, or move the router closer to your Apple TV. If other devices are using a lot of bandwidth (streaming video, downloading files), pause those activities. Restarting both devices often helps too.

Can I use screen sharing while my Apple TV is playing something else?

When you start screen sharing, whatever was playing on your Apple TV will stop and your screen will take over. If you want to go back to what was playing before, stop the screen share and your TV will return to that content.

Does screen sharing work over cellular or a mobile hotspot?

No. AirPlay requires both devices to be on the same Wi-Fi network. It will not work if your phone is using cellular data or if your Apple TV is connected to a different network than your device, even if that network has internet access.