AirPlay lets you stream the contents of a Mac ’s display to a compatible gadget , like an Apple TV , a third - party telly set with AirPlay supporting , orSquirrel ’s Reflector software , which turn lots of devices into AirPlay ( and Google Cast ) destinations .
It ’s a walkover to apply : start the Displays predilection pane in macOS and prefer the target from the AirPlay Display or Add Display pop - up menu . That tot the AirPlay address as an additional monitor to your Mac .
But what if you want that showing to mirror your silver screen ( or primary display ) instead of extend the background ? The process is n’t immediately apparent — partly because of the order in which you have to set up mirroring and partly because Apple now has three “ eras ” of how extending or mirroring the background . Apple made changes in 10.15 Catalina that remained in 11 bighearted Sur , and is about to unveil a totally different — and higher-ranking — process in macOS 12 Monterey , which is currently in beta testing .
rent ’s go through the three different macOS approaches across these set of spillage so you may regain the option appropriate for your Mac .
Mirror over AirPlay in Mojave and earlier
In Mojave and earlier releases , if there ’s an useable AirPlay screen goal and you learn “ Show mirroring alternative in the menu bar when available ” in the Displays predilection pane , macOS puts an Apple TV icon in the menu saloon . you may also choose a destination from the AirPlay Display menu .
Only after you pick an AirPlay destination and communion starts can you then pick out whether to mirror or not . From the Apple TV fare , you may then choose from beneath a grayed - out point noting “ AirPlay : Destination Name ” to mirror from your internal or any other displays ( as “ Mirrordisplay name ” ) or chooseUse As freestanding Displayto extend your desktop .
To end AirPlay streaming , chooseTurn AirPlay Offfrom the Apple television menu or chooseOfffrom the Displays preference pane ’s AirPlay Display bug out - up menu .
Mirror over AirPlay in Catalina and Big Sur
With the addition of the Control Center in Catalina , AirPlay streaming shifted there , though vestiges remain in the Displays system penchant
To start AirPlay cyclosis , get across the Control Center ikon in the menu prevention , clickScreen Mirroringand then take the AirPlay goal .
Then and only then can you opt to choose a mirroring choice . In Catalina and Big Sur , a Mirroring item appears in the menu bar if you have “ Show mirroring option in the computer menu bar when available ” checked in the Displays orientation pane . you could also fetch up this card from the Screen Mirroring item in Control Center .
That menu let you select “ Mirrordisplay name ” or Use As Separate presentation . To terminate AirPlay cyclosis , dawn the take AirPlay icon in the menu , reversed out in blue , or opt Off from the AirPlay Displays pop up - up fare in the Displays preference pane .
Mirror over AirPlay in Monterey (public beta)
Apple has rethought AirPlay well in Monterey — at least as far as the late public beta , which look probable to be tight to the release version . The Displays preference pane has an Add Display menu from which you’re able to still select a display , but there ’s no longer a show - carte du jour checkbox , and the Add Display carte disappear once you choose an AirPlay name and address .
In the Control Center , clickScreen Mirroringand select your AirPlay destination . AirPlay cyclosis start . instead , select the terminus from theAdd Displaymenu in the Displays penchant pane . )
Now in the Displays predilection pane ( if you ’re not already there ) , there ’s a young visualization , which shows an proportionately sized outline of the display part of or connected to your twist and that of the AirPlay destination . They either appear side - by - side for an extended desktop or overlapping for a mirrored one , as demonstrate in the figures below . In either suit , you could click a showing name and take an option to shift continue or mirror .
These choice are a little dissimilar from previous edition of macOS , too . Here ’s how they work :
Monterey also adds a Display configurations button that reveals a list containing each immediately connect or AirPlay streaming video display to manage those configurations . If you ’re looking for where to tweak scaling and other option for the mirrored or extended desktop , that ’s where to find them .
To hold back AirPlay streaming , either selectDisconnectfrom any display ’s pop - up menu ; or , in Control Center , clickScreen Mirroringand then click the reversed - out blue icon of the selected AirPlay terminus .
This Mac 911 article is in response to a question submitted by Macworld reader Brenna .
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