Have you ever wanted to see your iPhone screen on a bigger screen? Whether it's to share photos or videos with friends and family, or to work on a presentation, there are many reasons why you might want to view your iPhone screen on Mac. Fortunately, there are several ways to do it, and in this article we will show you how.
For some years now, Apple has allowed iPhone and Mac users to easily share content between devices. One of the most interesting features is the ability to view the iPhone screen on a Mac. In this article, we will explain how to do it and why you should consider it.
Why is it useful to view the iPhone screen on a Mac?
There are several reasons why you should consider that it can be quite useful, including:
- Greater visual comfort: Viewing the iPhone screen on a Mac can be easier on the eyes, especially if you need to watch something for an extended period of time.
- Higher productivity: By viewing the iPhone screen on a Mac, you can multitask at the same time, which can increase your productivity.
- Share content: If you need to show something to a group of people, viewing the iPhone screen on a Mac can be an easy way to share content.
- View photos and videos on a bigger screen: If you have photos or videos on your iPhone that you would like to see on a larger screen, viewing the iPhone screen on a Mac can be a good showcase for showing off your most artistic and personal photos.
- Use iPhone apps on a Mac: If you need to use an iPhone app on your Mac, viewing the iPhone screen on a Mac is the easiest way to do it.
- Greater precision: If you need to perform a task that requires greater precision, viewing the iPhone screen on a Mac can be useful.
- Greater ease of use: When viewing the iPhone screen on a Mac, you can use the Mac's keyboard and mouse to interact with the iPhone, which may be easier than using the iPhone's touch screen.
- Greater readability: If you need to read something on your iPhone but the screen is too small, viewing the iPhone screen on a Mac enlarges the letters.
- Greater ease of writing: If you need to type something on your iPhone but the screen is too small, viewing the iPhone screen on a Mac can help you keep an eye on it.
- Easier editing: If you need to edit something on your iPhone but the screen is too small, it can be a good solution.
AirPlay technology and its future
AirPlay is a wireless streaming technology developed by Apple that allows users to share media content, such as music, photos, and videos, from their Apple devices to other AirPlay-enabled devices, just as it originally did with Apple TV. Then, like all things Apple touches with its magic wand, AirPlay became an industry standard and this mirroring technology was ported to speakers and Smart TVs.
The technology also enables screen mirroring, which means users can view their iPhone, iPad, or Mac screen on a larger screen, such as a TV or computer monitor.
AirPlay uses Wi-Fi to stream high-quality content wirelessly, which means you don't need a cable to connect your devices. Furthermore, AirPlay is compatible with a wide range of Apple devices, which means that users can share content between different Apple devices with ease.
AirPlay 2 is the latest version of AirPlay technology, offering a number of improvements and new features, such as the ability to stream audio to multiple devices at the same time and the ability to control audio playback in different rooms.
Methods to View iPhone Screen on Mac
There are three main methods to view iPhone screen on Mac: AirPlay, third-party apps, and USB cable.. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, and it is important to know them before deciding which one to use.
Using AirPlay
The inexplicable thing is that Apple has not allowed, with AirPlay being operational for a long time, to make this functionality operational natively until the appearance of macOS MontereySince you don't need a lot of hardware to mirror an iPhone screen on a Mac, but only the Macs, which I list below, that are capable of having macOS Monterey installed, They are the ones who can perform this native screen mirroring.
- MacBook Air (2018 or later)
- MacBook Pro (2018 or later)
- iMac (2019 or later)
- iMac Pro (2017 or later)
- Mac Mini (2020 or later)
- Mac Pro (2019 or later)
Having one of these devices, to duplicate the screen of the iPhone or iPad on the Mac, slide the Control Center, Click on the icon with two Screen Mirroring rectangles and select your Mac. To send a video, just click on the AirPlay icon and select your Mac. To stop mirroring, just follow the same steps, but in reverse.
How to set up AirPlay to view iPhone screen on Mac
To use AirPlay to view iPhone screen on Mac, follow these steps:
- Connect your iPhone and Mac to the same Wi-Fi network.
- On your iPhone, open Control Center and tap “Screen Mirroring.”
- Select your Mac from the list of available devices.
- Enter the AirPlay code that appears on your Mac screen.
Via a USB Cable
You can also use a USB cable to connect your iPhone to Mac and view the iPhone screen in a window. This method is more reliable than wireless methods, but it is also less convenient.
How to use a USB cable
To use a USB cable to view the iPhone screen on Mac, follow these steps:
- Connect your iPhone to Mac using a USB cable.
- Open the QuickTime Player app on your Mac.
- Select "New Video Recording" from the "File" menu.
- In the window that appears, click the drop-down menu next to the record button and select your iPhone.
Using third party applications
There are several third-party apps available on the App Store that allow you to cast iPhone screen to Mac wirelessly. We will have to go to this specific case if you do not have one of the Mac devices from the list that I have given you and the cable solution seems very cumbersome.
As usual, third-party apps can be free or paid. If they are free, they take something in exchange. By allowing your iPhone and Mac to connect, we are giving them some private data, which is why I cannot recommend them. If they are paid, it is already a matter of evaluating what is best for you, according to the price and the benefits they offer. Here I will mention Reflector 3, X-Mirage, AirServer and AirDroid Cast.
As with AirPlay, both devices must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Once connected, you can cast iPhone screen to Mac and view it in a window.
How to use third-party applications
To use third-party apps to view the iPhone screen on Mac, follow these steps:
- Download and install the application that you have found convenient on your iPhone and possibly its version for your Mac.
- Connect your iPhone and Mac to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open the application on your iPhone, configure the parameters that it asks for and look for the button to connect both devices.
- Open the app on your Mac and select your iPhone from the list of available devices that should appear.
Advantages and disadvantages of each method
Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. AirPlay and the different third-party applications are convenient because they do not require cables, but they depend a lot on the connectivity between the devices and the existing WiFi network, are less reliable than the wired method.
However, The cable method is less convenient, because it already involves having a cable in between and is not always comfortable depending on the length of the cable. It is important to consider your needs and preferences before deciding which method to use.
Common problems and solutions
When using any of these methods, you may encounter some problems or errors that may occur when viewing the iPhone screen on a Mac:
- iPhone screen not showing on Mac.
- The Wi-Fi connection between iPhone and Mac is unstable.
- Image quality is low or pixelated.
- The screen freezes or goes black.
- The iOS app or game doesn't fit correctly on the Mac screen.
- The iOS app or game quits unexpectedly.
- Audio does not play correctly on Mac.
- The Mac does not recognize the iPhone when trying to connect it.
- iPhone disconnects from Mac intermittently.
- A security code is required to sync and is not accessible.
It is important to note that many of these problems can be resolved by simply disconnecting and reconnecting the devices., or by restarting your iPhone or Mac. If the problem persists, you can read the magnificent article of our partner Roberto Cortina, which will surely solve your problem or search the official Apple Community pages.
Conclusion
In summary, there are three main methods to view iPhone screen on Mac: AirPlay, third-party applications and the pure USB cable. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, and it is important to know them before deciding which one to use.
If you value comfort and ease of use, AirPlay or third-party apps may be the best option, but you depend on having an updated Mac device or paying for an application that fills the gap. If you value reliability and quality of the connection, the wired method may be the best option although it will depend on the length of the cable. Everything will depend on your need and budget.
Feel free to try if you have the right devices or just a USB cable, and Discover the possibilities offered by viewing the iPhone screen on your Mac!