Having trouble with screen mirroring or streaming media from your iPhone to your Mac via AirPlay? Many reasons, such as bugs, glitches, and connectivity issues often cause AirPlay not to work from iPhone to Mac.
If AirPlay cannot locate your Mac or is experiencing performance issues while playing content, this post will provide tips and solutions to restore functionality properly.
Check the compatibility of your Mac
You can only use AirPlay from an iPhone to a Mac running macOS 12 Monterey or later. Additionally, functionality is limited to Mac models of the following and later years:
- MacBook Pro 2018
- MacBook Air 2019
- iMac 2019
- iMac Pro 2017
- Mac Pro 2019
- Mac mini 2020
You can check both the operating system and the model name by opening the file Apple menu and selection About this Mac. If your Mac is compatible, but you still need to upgrade to macOS Monterey or later, choose Software update > Update now.
Note: If your Mac isn’t compatible or you don’t want to upgrade to macOS Monterey, you can still use AirPlay from an iPhone with a third-party workaround like AirServer.
Install system software updates on Mac
Despite running macOS Monterey or later, it’s still a good idea to install any pending system software updates for your Mac. This can help resolve any bugs and other known issues associated with AirPlay. To do this, open the Apple menu, choose System Preferencesand select Software update > Update now.
Update your iPhone system software
While it’s possible to AirPlay on a Mac using an iPhone running iOS 14, it’s still best to upgrade to iOS 15 or later. If you are using a newer version of iOS, be sure to install all incremental updates regardless.
Open the Settings app and go to General > Software update to update or update the iPhone system software.
Check the AirPlay compatibility of an app
Not all iPhone apps support AirPlay. For example, Netflix prevents you from streaming videos via AirPlay to all devices in general. So, if your problem is limited to a specific app, please check your support documentation or FAQs online for AirPlay compatibility information.
Check Bluetooth on Mac and iPhone
AirPlay requires Bluetooth for device discovery. If your Mac doesn’t show up as an AirPlay device, make sure Bluetooth is turned on on both devices.
Mac
Open the Control center (select the icon that looks like two cursors stacked on top of each other on the menu bar) and make sure the Bluetooth the icon is on. If not, select to turn it on.
i phone
Open the Settings app and tap Bluetooth. Then, make sure the switch next to Bluetooth is active. If not, turn it on.
Check Wi-Fi on Mac and iPhone
This goes without saying, but both your iPhone and Mac need to be connected to the same local network for AirPlay to work properly. Check the SSID of the Wi-Fi connection to determine if this is the case.
Mac
Select the Wifi icon on the menu bar to identify the active network. Make sure it matches your iPhone’s network.
i phone
Open the Settings app and tap Wifi. Make sure it matches your Mac’s network.
i phone
Open the Settings app and tap Apple ID. Your Apple ID should be listed at the top of the screen. Make sure it matches the ID on your Mac.
Restart your Mac and iPhone
If none of the above solutions help or apply, your next course of action should be to restart both devices.
Mac
Open the Apple menu and select Restart. Then, uncheck the box next to Reopen the windows when you log in again and choose Restart still.
i phone
Open the Settings app and go to General > Stop. Follow it by turning off the device. When the screen goes completely dark, press and hold the key Side button to restart it.
Reset network settings on Mac and iPhone
Corrupted Wi-Fi and Bluetooth configurations can also play a role. If AirPlay still doesn’t work, it’s time to reset network settings on iPhone and Mac.
Mac
Open Finder. Then, select to go > Go to the folder on the menu bar, visit the two directories below and move the following files to the Trash. Once done, restart your Mac.
/ Library / Preferences / System configuration
- com.apple.airport.preferences.plist
- com.apple.network.eapolclient / configuration.plist
- com.apple.wifi.message-tracer.plist
- NetworkInterfaces.plist
- preferences.plist
/ Library / Preferences
- com.apple.Bluetooth.plist
i phone
Open the Settings app and select General > Transfer or restore iPhone > Reset > Reset network settings.
Try using a wired connection
Do you have a Lightning cable handy? If so, try using AirPlay after physically connecting the iPhone to the Mac. A direct connection can rule out problems with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and also helps manage lag. If you are using a third party cable, make sure it is MFi certified.
Perform an NVRAM reset on Mac
The final solution involves resetting your Mac’s NVRAM (or non-volatile random access memory). To do this, restart your Mac and hold it down Command + Option + P. + R. keys immediately on startup. Keep holding until you hear the Mac sound twice or until you see the Apple logo for the second time.
Note: You can reset NVRAM only on Macs with Intel chipsets.
Fixed: Working AirPlay from iPhone to Mac
The above troubleshooting methods must have resolved any issues with using AirPlay from iPhone to Mac. However, remember to repeat some of the quicker solutions (such as restarting both devices or turning Bluetooth off / on) and Wi-Fi) if you later encounter similar problems. Also, keep the system software on iPhone and Mac up to date to maximize the chances of AirPlay working smoothly in the future.