I’ve been trying to mirror my Mac screen to my smart TV and it’s not working. I followed some online guides, but the AirPlay icon isn’t showing up. Am I missing a step, or is there another method I should try? Would appreciate any tips or instructions.
Let me tell you, AirPlay on Macs can be a wild rollercoaster. One day the icon’s there, next day it’s like it went into witness protection. First things first—double-check that both your Mac and your smart TV are on the exact same Wi-Fi network. Not “similar,” not “sort of the same,” but literally the same one. I had a neighbor’s network confusing things once, so not kidding, just check.
If you still don’t see the AirPlay icon (a little rectangle with a triangle), go to your Mac’s System Settings > Displays and see if there’s an option to “Show mirroring options in the menu bar.” Sometimes Apple just likes to have you check a little box instead of, you know, actually making things work automatically. Tick that.
Some older Macs or TVs don’t play nice with AirPlay. Check if your TV even supports AirPlay 2—if it’s a semi-smart TV from like 2017, it’s probably out to lunch. If it does have AirPlay support, look around in the TV settings and make sure it’s turned ON. Samsung, LG, Sony—they all hide this in weird places. Oh, and super basic—but both devices should have their software/firmware updated. Vintage bugs are real.
Still nothing? Try restarting both your Mac and TV (the whole turn-it-off-and-back-on trick actually solves a ton of invisible handshake issues). Also, Bluetooth can interfere—killing Bluetooth sometimes lets Wi-Fi work better for AirPlay.
If your AirPlay options are still MIA, try a third-party app like JustStream or AirParrot. They cost a little money but sometimes just, y’know, actually work (unlike Apple’s sometimes-mysterious built-in features). You can also run an HDMI cable from your Mac to your TV if all else fails. Not wireless, but at least it’s tech from the last century, which is probably more reliable.
So: same Wi-Fi, mirroring enabled in display settings, TV AirPlay 2 support ON, updates installed, maybe restart both, then third-party apps or HDMI as backups. Misery loves company with Apple’s occasional shenanigans, so if you’re stuck, at least you’re not alone.
OK, so you’ve tried the Mac AirPlay circus and, shocker, it didn’t show up. I actually had a stint last year where my stupid MacBook flat-out refused to display the icon even with all the supposed “fixes” everyone recommends (yeah, looking at you, @codecrafter, with your firmware updates and “same Wi-Fi” reminders, though you are 100% right about that neighbor Wi-Fi trap).
Honestly, I wouldn’t waste hours falling deeper into Apple’s troubleshooting labyrinth. Wanna try something wild? Go for Google Chromecast. Download “Chrome Browser” (assuming you don’t already have it for memes and procrastination), and click the three-dot menu → “Cast.” Make sure your TV supports Chromecast or get a cheap dongle. Super quick, works for browser tabs and desktop, and doesn’t care about Apple weirdness.
Another method—kind of a hack—is if your TV lets you plug in a USB stick and run a Miracast receiver app, but that’s a huge pain, might not work on all TVs, and honestly? HDMI cable is king if you want reliability and don’t care about wires cluttering your aesthetic.
For the ultra-dedicated: create a local network between your Mac and TV. Open System Preferences > Sharing > Internet Sharing, and build your own little digital island. Lame, but occasionally cracks through weird bugs.
Oh—and not to pour water on AirParrot/JustStream hype, but in my experience (and this is where I slightly disagree with @codecrafter), they can get laggy, especially with Netflix or anything protected by DRM. So if you’re trying to stream video, there’s a decent chance subtitles will desync and your audio might be out of whack.
TL;DR:
- Chromecast (browser or desktop, minimal fuss)
- HDMI for sanity
- Local network hackery if you’re desperate
- Third-party apps = hit or miss (YMMV)
- Don’t expect miracles from “firmware updates” if your gear is ancient
This is why I sometimes think Apple built AirPlay just to troll us.
Pros and cons list incoming, because sometimes you just need the facts lined up and spelled out. Everyone’s dunked on AirPlay’s quirks already (honestly, can’t blame them), but here’s what’s actually worth trying if the standard routes are dead ends:
PROS if you use an alternative like Google Chromecast:
- Works even if your AirPlay icon vanishes into the ether
- Cross-platform: doesn’t care if you’re on Mac, Windows, or something cursed like ChromeOS
- Pretty easy to set up, browser casting just works
- Reliable for web videos, presentations, YouTube, memes, etc.
CONS:
- Full desktop mirroring with Chromecast isn’t as smooth as native AirPlay; you might see slight lag
- Requires buying a dongle if your TV doesn’t have it built-in
- Sound can sometimes play through your Mac instead of TV without tinkering
- DRM stuff (Netflix, Prime, etc.) may block casting the browser tab
- Colors occasionally go wonky if your TV does weird processing
If you still want to slug it out with AirPlay (especially after reading what others tried), you can also go the Ethernet route. Hardwiring both your Mac and the TV via Ethernet (using adapters if necessary) sometimes lets AirPlay handshake without Wi-Fi interference. Not as elegant, but ethernet is often immune to most wireless drama.
Other wild card:
- Apple TV device (not your TV’s AirPlay) is basically AirPlay’s final boss form. If you REALLY want mirroring buttery smooth—and don’t mind buying another Apple box—this gets you 99% reliable results and unlocks extra stuff like games, screen extension, etc. Downside: not cheap and an extra remote to lose in the couch.
Competitor methods (as mentioned above by others) like AirParrot and JustStream can work, but I’ll echo the honest takes: they’re often laggy, especially if you want to watch large HD videos or anything that’s not a static presentation. Try before you buy.
TL;DR:
- Try Chromecast if you don’t mind Google gear, especially for browser use
- HDMI cable = ancient but dependable
- Apple TV box is the most “it just works” option (should rename it “Less Headaches TV”)
- Third-party apps are a dice roll
- Ethernet may sort out wireless jank
None of these are 100% magic, but mixing and matching should get you something that works—just don’t expect the Apple fairy to do it for you. Choose whichever pain level (and cable clutter) fits your setup best.