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macOS⏱ 4 min

How to Share Your Screen / Cast Display on macOS

Mirror or extend your screen to a TV, monitor, or video call.

Last verified: February 21, 2026

macOS uses AirPlay for wireless display sharing and is deeply integrated with Apple's hardware ecosystem, offering the smoothest experience when connecting to an Apple TV or an AirPlay 2 compatible smart TV. The Screen Mirroring option in Control Center lists all compatible receivers on the same network and typically connects within 2–3 seconds. macOS also supports using AirPlay as a second display (Sidecar mode for iPad), and newer Macs can receive AirPlay streams from iPhone and iPad as well as broadcast them.

Quick Steps

Follow in order for the fastest result.

  1. 1Click Control Center in the menu bar, select Screen Mirroring, and choose your AirPlay-enabled TV or Apple TV.
  2. 2Wait 5–10 seconds for the connection to establish and the display to mirror.
  3. 3Adjust display mode (Mirror vs Extend) in Display Settings after connecting if available.

Still Not Working?

Try these if the steps above didn't help.

Verify the Fix

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cast my macOS screen to a TV?
Click Control Center in the menu bar and select Screen Mirroring. Choose your AirPlay-compatible TV or Apple TV from the list.
Why can't I see my TV in the cast list on macOS?
The most common cause is that the two devices are on different networks — for example, your device is on a 5 GHz band and the TV is on 2.4 GHz, or one is on a Guest network. Ensure both are on the exact same Wi-Fi network. Also restart both the casting device and the receiver.
Can I share only one app instead of the whole screen on macOS?
Yes. In AirPlay settings, you can choose to mirror the full display or use the TV as an extended second display.
Does screen casting drain battery faster on macOS?
Yes — wireless casting keeps the display on, Wi-Fi active, and the GPU encoding continuously, which increases battery drain noticeably. For extended sessions, keep the device plugged in.

Same task, different device

Windows 11Windows 10iPhone (iOS)iPad (iPadOS)Samsung GalaxyGoogle PixelChromebook

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