AirPlay lets you throw your Mac's screen onto a big TV wirelessly — no cables, no dongles — as long as you have an Apple TV or an AirPlay 2–compatible smart TV (most 2019+ Samsung, LG, Sony, and Vizio sets). Here is exactly how to set it up, plus the three settings most people miss.
What you need first
- A Mac from roughly 2018 or later running a modern macOS (Big Sur or newer works best).
- An Apple TV, or a smart TV that lists "AirPlay 2" in its specs.
- Both devices on the same Wi‑Fi network. This is the single most common thing people get wrong — a Mac on the 5 GHz band and a TV on the 2.4 GHz band of the same router usually still works, but a guest network or a work VLAN will block it.
How to mirror your Mac to a TV (step by step)
- Turn on your Apple TV or smart TV and make sure it is awake (not in standby).
- On your Mac, click Control Center in the top‑right menu bar — the icon that looks like two toggle sliders.
- Click Screen Mirroring.
- Pick your TV or Apple TV from the list.
- If a 4‑digit code appears on the TV, type it on your Mac and press Return. Your Mac screen now appears on the TV.
To stop, open Control Center > Screen Mirroring again and click your TV to disconnect.
Mirror vs. use the TV as a separate display
Once you are connected, click Screen Mirroring in Control Center again and you will see two options for the TV:
- Mirror Built‑in Retina Display — the TV shows an exact copy of your Mac screen. Best for showing photos, a slideshow, or a video to the room.
- Use As Separate Display — the TV becomes a second desktop you can drag windows onto, so you can keep working on the Mac while a video plays full‑screen on the TV. Best for presentations and multitasking.
If mirroring looks stretched or has black bars, the TV and your Mac have different aspect ratios. Under System Settings > Displays, pick the TV and choose a resolution that matches it (usually 1080p or 4K), or switch to "Use As Separate Display" so each screen keeps its own resolution.
Audio‑only AirPlay (music without the screen)
You do not have to mirror your whole screen just to send sound to a TV, an Apple TV, or a HomePod. To route only the audio:
- Open Control Center and click the Sound control (the speaker icon).
- Under "Output," pick your Apple TV, AirPlay speaker, or HomePod.
Now the music or video audio plays through that device while your Mac screen stays private. This is handy for playing background music through the living‑room TV without putting your desktop up on it.
The Screen Mirroring icon is missing — what to check
If you do not see a Screen Mirroring option, or your TV never shows up in the list, work through these in order:
- Same network? Confirm the Mac and TV are on the same Wi‑Fi name — not one on Wi‑Fi and one on a guest network.
- Is the TV actually AirPlay 2? Older smart TVs and all Roku/Fire sets before AirPlay support will never appear. Check the TV's settings for an "AirPlay" or "Apple AirPlay & HomeKit" menu and make sure it is turned on.
- Wake the TV. A TV in deep standby or on the wrong input often will not broadcast itself. Switch it on and to any HDMI input first.
- Restart both. Reboot the Mac and power‑cycle the Apple TV / smart TV. This clears the majority of "it just stopped showing up" cases.
- Firewall. Under System Settings > Network > Firewall, make sure it is not set to block all incoming connections.
Still nothing after all of that? The problem is often the Mac's Wi‑Fi module itself, not your settings. Our step‑by‑step MacBook AirPlay not working guide walks through the hardware‑failure test.
Prefer a cable? A note on HDMI
If your Mac has an HDMI port (many 14" and 16" MacBook Pros do) or you have a USB‑C‑to‑HDMI adapter, a wired connection is rock‑solid and has zero lag — great for gaming or long movies. AirPlay is the winner when you want to stay on the couch with no cables. Want a dedicated streaming box instead? See Is the Apple TV 4K worth it?
Want a second screen, not a TV?
If your real goal is more desktop space rather than showing the room a movie, an iPad makes a better wireless second monitor than a TV. See how to use an iPad as a second display with Sidecar.
Mac feeling too old to AirPlay smoothly?
AirPlay 2 mirroring is smoothest on Apple‑silicon Macs. If your Intel Mac stutters or drops the connection, a refurbished M1 MacBook Air handles wireless mirroring effortlessly and starts at $569.99 — see the M1 Air or browse Apple clearance for the current lowest prices. Every Mac ships free and is covered by our one‑year warranty. Upgrading? You can trade in your old Mac — even a broken one — for store credit.
Frequently asked questions
Why won't my TV show up when I click Screen Mirroring?
Almost always one of two things: the TV is not AirPlay 2‑compatible, or the Mac and TV are on different Wi‑Fi networks (including one being on a guest network). Confirm both are on the same network name and that "AirPlay" is turned on in the TV's settings.
Can I AirPlay from my Mac to any smart TV?
Only to TVs that support AirPlay 2 — most 2019 and newer Samsung, LG, Sony, and Vizio models — or to any TV connected to an Apple TV box. Older smart TVs and Roku/Fire TVs without AirPlay will not appear in the list.
How do I AirPlay just the sound and not my screen?
Open Control Center, click the Sound control, and choose your Apple TV, HomePod, or AirPlay speaker under Output. Your screen stays on the Mac while the audio plays through that device.
What is the difference between "Mirror" and "Use As Separate Display"?
Mirror shows an exact copy of your Mac screen on the TV. "Use As Separate Display" turns the TV into a second desktop so you can drag different windows to it and keep working on the Mac at the same time.
Why is there a code on my TV screen?
That 4‑digit AirPlay code is a security check so a neighbor can't cast to your TV. Type it on your Mac the first time you connect; after that your Mac usually remembers the TV.