TL;DR
Use Screen Mirroring to mirror or extend a compatible Mac display; use an app’s AirPlay control to stream its video.
- Select the TV in Control Center and enter its code if asked.
- For standard setup, Wi-Fi should be on and both devices on the same local network.
- Available choices depend on the Mac, TV, app, and macOS.
Sources: Apple’s current AirPlay instructions
These instructions follow Apple’s macOS 27 documentation. Menu labels and available sharing choices vary by macOS version, Mac, app, TV model, and receiver settings.
The legacy screenshots below are from the article’s earlier interface and are illustrative only.
AirPlay lets you send supported video or audio from a Mac to an Apple TV 4K or a smart TV that supports AirPlay. You can also mirror or extend the Mac display on compatible setups.
What You Need to AirPlay From a Mac to a TV
- A compatible receiver: an Apple TV 4K or a smart TV whose manufacturer documents AirPlay support. The exact TV model and firmware matter; check the maker’s compatibility page.
- A Mac with Wi-Fi enabled: available controls and sharing modes depend on the Mac and macOS version.
- A local network: for the standard setup, turn on Wi-Fi on both devices and connect them to the same network. Guest networks or client isolation can block device discovery.
- The receiver ready: turn on the TV or Apple TV and make sure its AirPlay feature is allowed. An Apple TV box also needs the correct TV input.
You do not need to enable AirPlay Receiver on the Mac to send its display to a TV. That setting is for receiving streams on the Mac, as Apple explains in its AirPlay guide.
How to Mirror or Extend a Mac Display to a TV
On macOS 27, use Screen Mirroring in Control Center. After you select a receiver, follow the choices shown on your Mac.
Apple’s current AirPlay guide documents sharing a window, mirroring the full screen, or extending the display on supported setups. Apple’s Displays settings guide covers display arrangement and options.
Do not assume every choice appears for every Mac and TV.
- Open Control Center from the menu bar.
- Choose Screen Mirroring.
- Select the name of your Apple TV or AirPlay-compatible TV.
- If a code appears on the TV, enter it on your Mac.
- Choose whether to share a window, mirror the display, or extend the desktop if prompted.
To stop sharing, reopen Control Center → Screen Mirroring and choose the stop/disconnect option shown for your connection. Apple’s current guide also describes changing or stopping the selected display from the Screen Mirroring controls.
The exact label can vary by release.
Stream a Video From an App Instead of Mirroring
To stream a video without sharing the whole desktop, open it in an app that supports AirPlay, select its AirPlay control and choose an Apple TV 4K or compatible smart TV. To stop, use that control to return playback to the Mac. Available receivers and playback choices depend on the app and service.
Some content may have different playback options.
Screen Mirroring sends the Mac desktop. An app’s AirPlay button sends that app’s supported playback. If you only need the video, try the app control first.
AirPlay From Older macOS Versions
The current steps above are for macOS 27. Older releases use different controls. On macOS Big Sur and later, Screen Mirroring is generally available from Control Center, but the labels and choices change across releases.
On Catalina or Mojave, use the AirPlay menu in the menu bar when available, or open System Preferences → Displays and look for the mirroring option.
The exact option may only appear when a compatible receiver is discoverable. These older paths are based on Apple’s version-specific guidance and have not been checked on older hardware for this refresh.
If the Mac does not show an AirPlay menu or receiver, check the Mac’s macOS version and Apple’s support documentation for that release.
Do not use a current macOS screenshot as a step-by-step guide for Catalina or Mojave.
AirPlay Compatibility: Check the Receiver, Not Just the Brand
For Mac-to-TV mirroring, Apple’s current Mac guide describes Apple TV 4K and compatible smart TVs as receivers. A device that supports AirPlay audio or can send video may not support receiving a Mac display.
Check the exact television model, firmware and manufacturer’s AirPlay instructions. Audio-only support or the ability to send video does not establish that a device can receive a Mac display.
For a broader starting point, see our AirPlay-compatible TV guide, then confirm the model with its manufacturer. Learn more about what AirPlay does.
Troubleshoot When the TV Does Not Appear
1. Check the direction and receiver setting
For Mac-to-TV output, open Screen Mirroring on the Mac and check AirPlay settings on the TV or Apple TV.
System Settings → General → AirDrop & Continuity → AirPlay Receiver controls whether another device can send content to the Mac. It does not make the Mac send its screen to a TV.
2. Check Wi-Fi and network restrictions
Turn Wi-Fi on for both devices and put them on the same local network for the standard setup.
If they still cannot see each other, check whether either is on guest Wi-Fi or whether the router separates wireless devices. A work, school, or hotel network may block device discovery.
Do not disable network security broadly as a troubleshooting shortcut.
3. Check the TV’s AirPlay setting and model support
Confirm AirPlay is enabled in the receiver’s settings, the TV is awake, and the exact model supports receiving AirPlay from a Mac. Manufacturer menus differ.
If you use Apple TV, confirm it is connected and signed in as appropriate for its own setup; a matching Apple Account is not a universal requirement for Mac-to-TV mirroring.
4. Reconnect and update only if needed
Stop the current Screen Mirroring session and select the TV again. If the issue persists, check Apple’s and the TV maker’s troubleshooting steps, then consider restarting the affected devices. Install relevant software updates when available.
AirPlay to Mac Is the Opposite Direction
A Mac can also act as an AirPlay receiver on supported models and macOS releases. That lets an iPhone, iPad, or another supported device send content to the Mac.
The setting is System Settings → General → AirDrop & Continuity → AirPlay Receiver. It is not needed for sending a Mac display to a TV. Apple’s AirPlay guide covers both directions.
Its separate AirPlay-to-Mac requirements do not define which TVs can receive Mac output.
Can You AirPlay From a Mac to Fire TV?
Apple’s native AirPlay instructions do not establish Fire TV as a built-in receiver. Some models or receiver apps may offer a third-party workaround, but compatibility, permissions, quality and reliability depend on the exact model, app and software version.
We have not verified a Fire TV model or app, so this guide does not recommend a specific workaround or claim that it works on Toshiba or Insignia Fire TVs.
Check the TV maker and app developer’s current documentation before installing an app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I AirPlay from a Mac to a non-Apple TV?
Yes, if the exact smart TV model supports receiving AirPlay. Check the manufacturer’s compatibility information and receiver settings. A non-Apple streaming device is not automatically an AirPlay receiver.
Do my Mac and TV need to use the same Apple Account?
Apple’s standard Mac-to-TV setup calls for Wi-Fi to be on and both devices to be on the same network. A shared Apple Account is not stated as a universal requirement for mirroring to a TV.
Receiver privacy settings can still affect who is allowed to connect.
Why does my Mac show AirPlay Receiver?
AirPlay Receiver lets supported devices send content to your Mac. To send your Mac’s display to a TV, use Control Center → Screen Mirroring and choose the TV.
Can I AirPlay from a Mac to a Fire TV?
Not through the native Mac-to-TV support documented in Apple’s current guide. Some Fire TV configurations may use a third-party receiver app, but we have not verified a model or app.
Check current vendor documentation for your exact setup.
Can I stream only a movie instead of mirroring my whole Mac screen?
Often, yes. If the playback app offers an AirPlay control, select the TV there. App and content support vary. Screen Mirroring is the separate option for sharing a window or display.
Why is my TV missing from Screen Mirroring?
Check Wi-Fi, local-network isolation, the TV’s AirPlay setting, and exact model support. If those look right, reconnect and follow Apple’s or the TV maker’s troubleshooting for your setup.
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