How to AirPlay to Mac from an iPhone/iPad, mirror screen, and stream content

AirPlay from iPhone to Mac macOS 12 Monterey

You could always cast your iPhone or iPad’s screen to an Apple TV to stream photos, videos, and music using AirPlay. What’s new? Using AirPlay, now you can also share content to your Mac from these devices.

Prior to a couple of weeks, AirPlay on Mac worked only as a transmitter of content. You could instantly stream photos and videos, mirror your Mac’s screen over to an Apple TV and use an iPad as a second display for your Mac.

However, with the introduction of macOS Monterey—Mac’s latest operating system—Apple updated AirPlay to also work as a receiver. This means you can now confidently stream content and screens from your other Apple devices to your Mac.

Let’s take a look at how to stream photos, videos, presentations, and documents from your iPhone or iPad to your Mac. We’ll also learn how to mirror an iPhone or iPad’s screen to your Mac.



Before we begin, though…

What is AirPlay 2 and how does it work?

In simple terms, AirPlay is Apple’s wireless communication protocol using which users can stream content stored locally from one device to another. It’s a proprietary system developed by the Cupertino tech giant itself.

However, Apple does license it to third-party manufacturers so that they can implement the protocol into their devices. As such, a multitude of third-party devices including smart TVs and speakers now support AirPlay.

AirPlay was originally called AirTunes when it launched alongside iOS 4.2 back over a decade ago. Eventually, it was renamed AirPlay and now, its latest version is numbered AirPlay 2, similar to the nomenclature of other Apple products.

The original version of AirPlay was already revered. However, AirPlay 2 brought along notable improvements including streaming audio to stereo speakers, audio streaming to multiple devices, the ability to manage AirPlay from the Control Center, the Home app, as well as via Siri; and buffering.

AirPlay works over Wi-Fi and both the transmitter and recipient device must be connected to the same network. It also works over a USB connection which, in turn, has a major advantage—reduced latency.

As for its capabilities, it lets you do three things:

  • Watch videos, photos, and presentations.
  • Listen to music.
  • Share (mirror) your iPhone, iPad, or Mac’s screen.

Here’s everything you can stream using AirPlay:

  • Movies
  • TV Shows
  • Photos
  • Videos (Even from the YouTube app)
  • An Apple device’s screen.
  • Music

AirPlay competes with other similar protocols such as Google Cast and Miracast. However, it’s confined to Apple’s ecosystem with a few third-party manufacturers supporting it.

How to AirPlay content from iPhone or iPad to Mac on macOS 12 Monterey

Now that you have an initial idea of what AirPlay is, what it can do, and how it works, let’s take a look at how to leverage the wireless protocol’s new ability to work as a recipient on a Mac; which wasn’t previously possible.

Apple says, “your Mac works with any Apple device, and it’s even easier to connect if the devices share the same Apple ID.”

How to set up your Mac to receive AirPlay content

  1. Head over to macOS System Preferences by clicking the Apple logo situated on the Menu Bar.
macOS System Preferences Button
  1. Click on Sharing.
macOS 12 Sharing Preferences.
  1. Under the service section, tick the AirPlay Receiver option. (A blue tick should appear)
iPhone to Mac AirPlay 2 Settings on macOS 12 Monterey

How to stream a photo or video to your Mac from your iPhone or iPad using AirPlay 2

You can stream a photo or video to your Mac from your iPhone or iPad using the Photos app on these devices. It’s quite useful at a time when you need the prowess of a bigger display to show off photos of your recent kayaking adventure.

  1. On your iPhone, head over to the Photos app and choose a photo or video that you want to display on your Mac’s screen.
  2. Tap the Share Sheet icon. (Looks like a vertical arrow jutting out of a square)
iOS 15 Photos app share sheet.
  1. Scroll down a bit and tap AirPlay.
AirPlay Button within iOS 15 Share Sheet
  1. Then choose the MacBook that you want to display the content to from the list of available AirPlay devices.
AirPlay to Mac from iPhone or iPad.

How to stream a movie or TV Show from the Apple TV app on iPhone or iPad to Mac using AirPlay 2

  1. Head over to the Apple TV app on your iPhone or iPad and choose a movie or TV show of your choice.
  2. Play the content.
Apple TV app content iOS 15.
  1. Tap the AirPlay icon located beside video controls. (It signifies a triangle pointing towards a rectangle)
AirPlay button on iOS 15 video player within the Apple TV app.
  1. Then choose the MacBook that you want to stream the content to from the list of available AirPlay devices.
AirPlay movies or TV shows to Mac from iPhone or iPad.

How to stream music from the Music app on iPhone or iPad to Mac using AirPlay 2

  1. Head over to the Music app on iPhone or iPad and begin playing a track of your choice.
  2. Tap the AirPlay icon located right beneath the volume slider in the Music app.
  1. Then choose the MacBook that you want to stream the content to from the list of available AirPlay devices.
AirPlay Music from iPhone or iPad to Mac.

How to stream YouTube videos on iPhone or iPad to Mac using AirPlay 2

Despite the fact that multiple media exist letting you watch YouTube videos on your Mac, should need to AirPlay a YouTube video from your iPhone to your Mac arise, you can now do so. Here’s how.

  1. Head over to the YouTube app on your iPhone or iPad and play a video.
  2. While the video is still playing, (on iPhones with Face ID) swipe down from the top right corner of the screen, and (on iPhones with Touch ID) swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access Control Center. On iPad, swipe down from the top right corner of the screen irrespective of the orientation.
  3. There, tap the AirPlay icon located on the media palate.
iOS 15 Control Center AirPlay Button
  1. Finally, choose the MacBook that you want to stream the content to from the list of available AirPlay devices.
iOS 15 Control Center AirPlay to MacBook button

How to mirror your iPhones or iPad’s screen to Mac using AirPlay 2

AirPlay Mirroring is a splendid functionality the feature incorporates. It lets you simply mirror your iPhone or iPad’s screen onto your Mac’s display. This is useful at times when you need to demo an app or showcase a functionality.

A particular aspect of screen mirroring via AirPlay that is worth noting is that while mirroring your device’s screen when you play videos or watch photos, they appear as if they are being streamed regularly via AirPlay and do not behave like an iPhone or iPad’s screen.

For instance, tilting a photo on an iPhone within the Photos app won’t tilt it on your Mac while mirroring your device’s screen.

That said, here’s how to mirror an iPhone or iPad’s screen to your Mac via AirPlay on macOS 12 Monterey:

  1. (on iPhones with Face ID) Swipe down from the top right corner of the screen, and (on iPhones with Touch ID) swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access Control Center. On iPad, swipe down from the top right corner of the screen irrespective of the orientation.
  2. Tap the screen mirroring option. (Icon signifies two rectangles stacked together distinctly)
iOS 15 Screen Mirroring Button in the control center
  1. Finally, choose the MacBook that you want to stream the content to from the list of available AirPlay devices.
Mirror iPhone or iPad screen to Mac using AirPlay on macOS 12 Monterey

Final Thoughts

Now that you can use AirPlay to showcase your photos, videos, movies, TV shows, and even YouTube videos on the bigger screen of your Mac on macOS Monterey, only time can tell how valuable of an addition it is.

In order to stop an AirPlay stream, simply tap the AirPlay button again in whatever app you are streaming from or in the Control Center and tap on iPhone or iPad again, depending on which device you’re streaming from.

Currently, macOS 12 Monterey is only available in beta capacity. There’s a chance Apple refines and improves this feature before it finally ships alongside the official version by the end of the year.

Other macOS Monterey Guides you should check out: