Screen Mirroring Guide – How to AirPlay on Mac

Ever wished you could easily show your Mac’s screen on a bigger display without all the cables and hassles? Well, that’s where screen mirroring and AirPlay come to the rescue! AirPlay lets you wirelessly stream audio and video and even mirror your Mac’s screen to compatible devices. It’s like magic! Just a few taps and your content appears on the big screen!

So, are you excited to learn how to AirPlay on Mac? In this article, we’ll show you several ways to make the most out of AirPlay. From sharing your iPhone or Android screen to Mac to enjoying movies on your Apple TV, we’ve got you covered!

What Is AirPlay?

AirPlay is a wireless streaming technology by Apple that allows you to share audio, video, and photos from your Apple device to other AirPlay-compatible devices, like Apple TVs, AirPlay-enabled speakers, and smart TVs.

It operates over Wi-Fi and enables a smooth, high-quality streaming experience. This makes it a popular choice for Apple users to enjoy their favorite content on larger screens without the hassle of cables.

AirPlay Supported Devices

• iOS 4.2 or later
• macOS 10.7 Lion or later
• iPhone 4S or later
• iPad 2 or later
• iPad Touch 5th Generation onwards
• Apple TV 2nd Generation onwards
• AirPlay-enabled speakers
• Certain Smart TVs that support AirPlay

Now that you know what AirPlay is and which devices it is compatible with, let us tell you how to use AirPlay on Mac.

AirPlay from Mac to Apple TV

Before we get into the details of how to AirPlay from Mac to Apple TV, let us answer a common question…

Can you AirPlay from your Mac computer to the Apple TV?

Absolutely! With AirPlay, Apple has made it super simple to wirelessly connect your Mac to your Apple TV and enjoy your favorite content on the big screen. Whether it’s watching videos, playing games, or sharing presentations, AirPlay lets you do it all without the hassle of cables.

Here are the easy steps on how to AirPlay from Mac to Apple TV:

Step 1. Connect your Mac and Apple TV to the same Wi-Fi network.

Step 2. Open the Control Center on your Mac, and click on the “Screen Mirroring” icon.

Step 3. Select your Apple TV from the list of available devices.

And that’s all you need to do to AirPlay from Mac to TV.

But what if you want to use your MacBook as the bigger display? You can simply AirPlay your iPhone to Mac.

How to AirPlay iPhone on Mac

Before diving into the steps mirror iPhone on your Mac, let’s remember that this method requires AirPlay-supported iPhones and Macs. So, make sure your iPhone and Mac are running compatible software versions to enjoy this fantastic feature.

Your iPhone needs to be 4.2 or later, and your MacBook must be updated to macOS 10.7 Lion or later.

To AirPlay iPhone on Mac, all you have to do is:

Step 1. Open the Control Center on your iPhone, and tap the “Screen Mirroring” icon with two boxes.

Step 2. Select your MacBook from the list of available devices.

And ta-da! Your iPhone screen will start mirroring on your MacBook!

In this section, we discussed mirroring Mac to Apple TV and iPhone to Mac. However, what to do if you want to mirror your Android phone to Mac?

Is it even possible? Are both devices compatible? Read on to find out!

How to AirPlay Android to Mac?

We all know that Apple and Android devices have compatibility issues; therefore, it’s no wonder you cannot AirPlay Android on Mac.

AirPlay is a technology by Apple and is only supported by Apple devices. And as Android devices do not have a built-in AirPlay receiver, unlike AirPlay for Windows, they cannot be mirrored to a Mac computer using AirPlay.

However, if you must screen mirror your Android phone to Mac, you can do it with the help of a third-party screen mirroring app, like AnyMiro. Using this tool, you can easily mirror Android to a MacBook, or mirror iPhone to a Windows PC.

Here are the simple and easy steps to screen mirror Android to Mac with AnyMiro:

*With this method you need to download both the AnyMiro software and the mobile app.

Step 1. Download and install AnyMiro on your MacBook, and select “Android” from the interface.

Step 2. Now connect your Android device to your MacBook using a USB cable, and click on “USB” from the options on the left.

Step 3. You will get a notification on your device asking to “Allow USB Debugging?” Tap “Allow” to continue.

Step 4. Tap the USB connection on the AnyMiro app on your Android, and wait for a few seconds to let your Android screen mirrored to the Mac.

Why Recommend AnyMiro?

Because AnyMiro is a versatile screen mirroring software that supports both iOS and Android devices, allowing you to mirror your phone’s screen to your computer effortlessly.

But that’s just one reason to go for AnyMiro!

Here are some more:

• Compatible with USB 3.0 & AirPlay Protocol: AnyMiro supports USB 3.0 connection as well as AirPlay protocol to wirelessly connect your iPad and iPhone to your PC for a smooth and stable screen-mirroring experience.
• Quick Mirroring Experience with WiFi Connection: With AnyMiro’s ability to connect devices using a WiFi connection, you can get screen mirroring in no time! Just connect both devices to the same WiFi network, and you’re good to go.
• Clear, Stable, and Smooth: The best part about AnyMiro is that it offers a clear, stable, and smooth mirroring experience without any interruption or disconnection.
• Auto Sync of Visual and Background Sound: AnyMiro’s audio-video sync feature keeps the background sound and visuals in line and synced.

We’re sure you’re wondering why we are emphasizing using a third-party app when you can easily connect your devices to your Mac using AirPlay.

Well, we can’t deny the fact that AirPlay is nothing but convenient; however, it does come with its share of loopholes.

Common Issues of AirPlay

AirPlay is a great way to share content from your Apple devices to other devices, but it can sometimes be problematic. Here are some of the most common AirPlay issues with their solutions:

1. How to turn on and turn off AirPlay on Mac?

It may sound weird, but many users have a hard time turning AirPlay on and off on Mac, especially if they are new to this feature. However, here are the brief instructions for it:

Turn AirPlay On/Off from Menu Bar

• Click on the menu bar at the top-right of your screen and select/deselect the AirPlay option. It is usually indicated by a rectangle with an upward-pointing arrow.

Turn AirPlay On/Off from System Preferences

You can also turn on or off AirPlay from the System Preferences. To do this:

• Open System Preferences > Displays > AirPlay Display, and check or uncheck the AirPlay Receiver checkbox.

Turn AirPlay On/Off from General Settings

If you want to turn on/off AirPlay for all devices, here’s what to do:

• Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General and check/uncheck the “Allow AirPlay” checkbox.

2. Why is AirPlay not showing up on my Mac?

If AirPlay is not showing up on your Mac, it is probably because:

• Your MacBook is not AirPlay-Compatible

To resolve this issue, make sure that your Mac is updated to the latest software.

• AirPlay Settings are Not Configured Correctly

Reset your AirPlay settings and restart your Mac to see if it works.

3. How to change the AirPlay display on Mac?

If you want to change the AirPlay display on Mac, here are the steps for it:

How to AirPlay on Mac by Changing AirPlay Display from Control Center

• Open Control Center on your Mac, and click the Screen Mirroring icon.
• Select the “Mirror Built-In Retina Display” option to cast your Mac’s screen to another device.

How to AirPlay on Mac by Changing Display from System Preferences

You can also change the AirPlay display from the System Preferences:

• Open System Preferences > Displays > AirPlay Display.
• Now select the device you want to use as your AirPlay display.

The Bottom Line

If you’re looking for easy ways how to AirPlay on Mac, you’ll find all you need to know in this article. We have covered everything from how to use AirPlay on Mac to cast to Apple TV, AirPlay iPhone to Mac, and screen mirror an Android device to Mac. So, if you ever want to screen mirror your Mac to other Apple devices or vice versa, you know where to look!