How to AirPlay from Mac to TV (Mirror, Extend or Stream Video)

You want to see your Mac’s screen, a movie or a presentation on the big TV, without hunting for an HDMI cable. AirPlay does that wirelessly, and it’s built into every modern Mac. This guide shows how to AirPlay from Mac to TV, whether you want to mirror your whole screen, use the TV as a second display, or stream a single video.

What you need

Before you start, check these:

• An AirPlay receiver. Either an Apple TV box (such as Apple TV HD or Apple TV 4K) or a smart TV with AirPlay 2 built in.
• The same network. Your Mac and the TV (or Apple TV) must be on the same Wi-Fi network. Guest networks and some office networks keep devices apart, which blocks AirPlay.
• AirPlay turned on on the TV. It’s usually on by default, but some TVs ship with it off.
• Up-to-date software. A recent version of macOS on the Mac and the latest firmware or tvOS on the TV avoids most connection problems.

Which TVs support AirPlay?

Apple TV works with every Mac. Beyond that, many recent smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony and Vizio include AirPlay 2, as do some TVs running Roku and other platforms. Support varies by model and year, so the quickest check is to look in the TV’s settings menu for an AirPlay or Apple AirPlay section, or look for “Works with Apple AirPlay” on the box or product page.

If your TV doesn’t support AirPlay, you can add an Apple TV box to any TV with an HDMI port, or connect your Mac directly with an HDMI cable or adapter.

How to AirPlay from Mac to TV (screen mirroring)

Screen mirroring shows your Mac’s screen on the TV. This works for anything: slideshows, websites, apps, video calls.

1. Turn on your TV and make sure it’s on the same Wi-Fi network as your Mac.
2. On your Mac, click Control Center in the menu bar (the icon with two toggle switches, near the clock).
3. Click Screen Mirroring.
4. Choose your Apple TV or smart TV from the list.
5. If a four-digit code appears on the TV, type it on your Mac.

Your Mac’s screen now appears on the TV. On the newest macOS versions, you may also be asked whether to share a single window or your entire screen.

To stop, open Control Center › Screen Mirroring again and click the connected TV to disconnect (or click Stop, if your macOS version shows that button).

Tip: If you AirPlay often, add the Screen Mirroring icon to your menu bar for one-click access. Go to System Settings › Control Center, find Screen Mirroring and choose to always show it in the menu bar.

Note: On macOS Monterey and earlier, display options are in System Preferences rather than System Settings, and on macOS Catalina and earlier the AirPlay icon sits directly in the menu bar instead of in Control Center.

Mirror vs. extend: use your TV as a second display

Depending on your macOS version and settings, the TV may start out mirroring your Mac (showing exactly what’s on your screen) or acting as a separate display. You can switch between the two at any time. A separate display is handy when you want to show a presentation or video on the TV while keeping notes or other apps private on your laptop.

1. Connect to the TV with Screen Mirroring as above.
2. Open System Settings and click Displays.
3. Select the TV in the row of displays at the top.
4. Open the Use as pop-up menu and choose:
   • Mirror for Built-in Display to show the same content on both screens.
   • Extended display to use the TV as a separate screen you can drag windows onto.
   • Main display to make the TV your primary screen, with the menu bar and Dock.

Choose Arrange in Displays settings to tell macOS where the TV sits relative to your Mac, so your pointer moves between screens naturally.

If text or icons look too big or too small on the TV, select it in Displays and pick a different resolution. Our guide on how to zoom out on a MacBook explains how display scaling works.

AirPlay a video from an app

If you only want to watch a video on the TV, you don’t need to mirror your whole screen. Many apps can send just the video, which usually looks better and lets you keep using your Mac.

1. Start playing the video.
2. Click the AirPlay button in the playback controls (a rectangle with a triangle at the bottom).
3. Choose your Apple TV or smart TV.

This works in the Apple TV app, QuickTime Player, Photos, Music and many videos in Safari. To stop, click the AirPlay button again and choose your Mac from the list.

Note: Chrome and Firefox don’t offer an AirPlay button for web videos. Play the video in Safari instead, or use Screen Mirroring.

AirPlay audio only

You can also send just sound to a TV, Apple TV, HomePod or other AirPlay speaker while the picture stays on your Mac.

1. Click Control Center in the menu bar.
2. In the Sound section, click the button next to the volume slider to show the available outputs.
3. Choose the TV or speaker from the list.

You can also pick an AirPlay device in System Settings › Sound › Output, or use the AirPlay audio button in the Music app to play songs on one or more speakers at once.

If you’re mirroring and want sound to stay on your Mac (for example, to record it), choose your Mac’s speakers here. Our guide to recording your screen with audio on Mac covers capturing system sound.

AirPlay not working? How to fix it

If your TV doesn’t appear in the Screen Mirroring list or the connection keeps dropping, work through these fixes in order.

1. Check the network

Make sure the Mac and TV are on the same Wi-Fi network. If your router broadcasts more than one network name (for example, a guest network or separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz names), connect both devices to the same one. Turn off any VPN on your Mac temporarily, since some VPNs hide local devices.

2. Turn on AirPlay on the TV

• Apple TV: Open Settings › AirPlay and HomeKit and make sure AirPlay is on. Check the Allow Access setting too. If it’s limited to people sharing your home, other Macs won’t see it.
• Smart TVs: Look in the TV’s settings for an AirPlay or Apple AirPlay section (often under connection or general settings) and make sure AirPlay is turned on. The exact location varies by brand and model.

3. Check your Mac’s firewall

The macOS firewall’s strictest setting can stop AirPlay from connecting.

1. Open System Settings › Network › Firewall.
2. Click Options.
3. Turn off Block all incoming connections.
4. Click OK.

You can leave the firewall itself on. Only the “block all” option interferes.

4. Update everything

Install the latest macOS in System Settings › General › Software Update, update tvOS on your Apple TV, and check your smart TV for a firmware update. AirPlay bugs are often fixed in updates on either side.

5. Restart both devices

Restart your Mac, turn the TV fully off and on (unplug it for a minute if it only goes to standby), and restart your router if other devices are also struggling.

Tip: Trying to AirPlay to your Mac from an iPhone instead? That uses a different setting: System Settings › General › AirDrop & Handoff › AirPlay Receiver.

AirPlay vs. an HDMI cable

AirPlay is convenient, but it isn’t always the best choice:

	AirPlay	HDMI cable
Setup	Wireless, a few clicks	Needs a cable and maybe an adapter
Lag	Noticeable for games and typing	Near zero
Picture quality	Depends on your Wi-Fi	Consistent
Best for	Movies, photos, presentations	Gaming, long work sessions

For movies and slideshows, AirPlay is hard to beat. For anything where a split-second delay matters, plug in a cable.

Once you’re set up, a few shortcuts make presenting smoother. Our Mac keyboard shortcuts cheat sheet has the full list. For more detail from Apple, see its guide to streaming video and audio with AirPlay on Mac.