This wikiHow teaches you how to play content visible on a Mac screen on your TV using an Apple TV and the AirPlay feature. The latter is supported by all Macs produced from 2011 onwards using the Mountain Lion operating system (OS X 10.8) or later and by all Apple TVs from the second generation onwards connected to a television. If your Mac can't connect to Apple TV via AirPlay, you'll need to make a wired connection using an HDMI cable.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Using the AirPlay Feature
Step 1. Turn on the Apple TV
If this is your first time using it, you will need to install and configure it before you can proceed any further.
Step 2. Make sure the Mac and Apple TV are connected to the same LAN
In this case, you may need to change the Mac's network connection in order for it to connect to the Apple TV. To check the current active network connection, follow these instructions:
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Mac - click the "Wi-Fi" network connection icon
Macwifi located in the upper right corner of the screen, then locate the network name with a small check mark.
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Apple TV - access the menu Settings clicking the icon
Iphonesettingsappicon choose the option Net and locate the network name that appears to the right of the "Connection" item.
Step 3. Access the Mac's "Apple" menu by clicking the icon
It features the Apple logo and is located in the upper left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 4. Choose the System Preferences… item
It is one of the options present in the drop-down menu that appeared. The "System Preferences" dialog box will appear.
Step 5. Select the Monitor icon
It features a small computer monitor and is visible on the left side of the "System Preferences" dialog.
Step 6. Go to the Monitor tab of the new window that appeared
It is located in the upper part of the latter.
Step 7. Access the "AirPlay Monitor" drop-down menu
It is located in the lower left corner of the window. A list of options will be displayed.
Step 8. Choose the Apple TV item
It is one of the options in the menu that appeared. This will cause the Mac operating system to attempt to duplicate the content on the screen and stream it to the Apple TV.
Step 9. Wait for the Mac screen to appear on the TV that the Apple TV is connected to
When that happens you will have completed the job.
- You can select the "Show duplicate options in menu bar when available" check button at the bottom of the "Monitor" window to make the "AirPlay" icon appear in the upper right corner of the screen. It is characterized by a rectangle with a small upward-facing triangle inside. Clicking it will display a drop-down menu with which you can manage the connection options with the Apple TV.
- If you need to play a video's audio track through your TV speakers, you'll need to change your Mac's settings.
Part 2 of 2: Configure the Audio Connection
Step 1. Press the "Back" button
It is characterized by the icon ⋮⋮⋮⋮ and is located in the upper left corner of the "Monitor" window. This will redirect you to the "System Preferences" dialog.
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If you have already closed the "System Preferences" window, you will need to access the Mac "Apple" menu again by clicking the icon
Macapple1 and choose the option System Preferences ….
Step 2. Click the Sound icon
It features a stylized acoustic diffuser and is visible in the "System Preferences" window.
Step 3. Go to the Output tab
It is located at the top of the "Sound" window.
Step 4. Select the Apple TV option
It should be visible within the "Choose a device for audio output" list.
If the item Apple TV is not visible in the list indicated (or cannot be selected), try to restart both the Mac and the Apple TV, then repeat the steps described so far.
Step 5. Check if the audio signal is being routed correctly to the TV
Play a video or music to verify that the Apple TV can successfully send it to the TV speakers. If so, the audio configuration is correct and the work is finished.
If the audio continues to play from your Mac's speakers, try restarting your computer and Apple TV, then repeat the setup process by following the steps in this section of the article
Advice
- The AirPlay feature is only supported on Macs manufactured from 2011 onwards.
- If your Mac's AirPlay icon isn't visible, make sure your Mac and Apple TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- If the content playback is not satisfactory, try connecting the Apple TV and Mac to the network router with an Ethernet cable. In this case, if you have a Mac manufactured from 2017 onwards, you will need to purchase an Ethernet to USB-C (Thunderbolt) adapter.
Warnings
- The "Mirror Screen" feature of AirPlay is not supported by the first generation of Apple TV and Macs manufactured before 2011. In addition, OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion) or later is required.
- When playing multiple videos in "Mirror Screen" mode, there may be a delay due to data transfer from the Mac to the Apple TV. To prevent this from happening, try closing some windows or playing only one video at a time.
