Screen mirroring your iPhone on a Mac is a straightforward process, but on a Windows PC, you may need to invest in a third-party app for this functionality.
Although Apple’s AirPlay enables content playback from an iPhone to a TV, mirroring your iPhone screen to a computer requires a different approach. If you aim to view your phone screen on a Mac, the process is relatively straightforward, provided you know where to find the necessary settings. However, connecting to a Windows PC can be more challenging, often requiring a third-party app, which may involve a purchase. Here’s a guide to help you set it up.
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How to Mirror Your iPhone Screen to a Mac
Apple iOS users have the option to utilize the screen-mirroring feature on their iPhone, allowing them to cast the phone’s screen to a laptop through a Wi-Fi connection. Additionally, the built-in QuickTime Player app offers a similar capability, although it requires a cable connection.
Mirror Your iPhone Screen With AirPlay
Mac users have a straightforward solution as Apple’s AirPlay functionality is seamlessly integrated into their systems. To configure this feature, your devices should be running iOS 14 or later and macOS Monterey or later. However, it’s important to note that only specific iPhone, iPad, and Mac models can serve as AirPlay Receivers.
To configure this, navigate to System Settings > General > AirDrop & Handoff on your Mac and ensure that the AirPlay Receiver option is activated. If both devices share the same Apple ID, you can keep ‘Allow AirPlay for‘ set to ‘Current User.’ Alternatively, for simplicity, you may choose to set it to ‘Anyone on the Same Network‘ or ‘Everyone.
On your iPhone, access the Control Center and tap the Screen Mirroring icon (depicted by two rectangles). Subsequently, choose the designated Mac for the mirroring process. A notification for AirPlay will appear on the Mac screen; proceed by selecting ‘Accept.’ If an AirPlay code is displayed, enter it on your iPhone as prompted.
After establishing the connection, your iPhone screen will be mirrored onto the Mac screen, enabling seamless interaction with the phone visible on the computer. To conclude the session, navigate to the Screen Mirroring menu on your iPhone, and tap ‘Stop Mirroring’ to disconnect.
Mirror Your iPhone Screen With QuickTimes Player
As a workaround, connect your iPhone to your Mac using a cable. If it’s been a while since you did this, you might need to tap the ‘Trust‘ prompt that appears on your iPhone before proceeding. After the connection, open Launchpad and choose QuickTime Player.
Once the app is open, go to File > New Movie Recording. A new window will appear. Click the downward arrow next to the Record button in the movie window, and you should see your iPhone listed in the drop-down under Camera. If it doesn’t appear, try disconnecting and reconnecting the iPhone—it should show up after.
Choose the phone from the list, and its screen will be visible on your Mac. Utilize this for demonstrations, or press the Record button to capture a video of the iPhone screen. This method may be preferable to the AirPlay solution as it allows you to perform other tasks on your computer while screen mirroring.
