Having trouble screen mirroring or casting media from iPhone to Mac via AirPlay? AirPlay often doesn’t work from iPhone to Mac for many reasons, including bugs, glitches, and connectivity issues.
If AirPlay can’t find your Mac or you run into performance issues while playing content, this post will provide suggestions and solutions to get the function right again.
Table of Contents
Check Mac compatibility
AirPlay can only be run from an iPhone to a Mac running macOS 12 Monterey or later. Also, functionality is limited to Mac models from the following year onwards.
- MacBook Pro 2018
- MacBook Air 2019
- iMac 2019
- iMac Pro 2017
- Mac Pro 2019
- Mac mini 2020
If you open both the operating system and the model name, Apple Menus and selections About this Mac.. If your Mac is compatible, but you haven’t upgraded to macOS Monterey or later, Software update >> >> Upgrade Now..

Note: If your Mac isn’t compatible, or you don’t want to upgrade to macOS Monterey, you can still run AirPlay from your iPhone using a third-party workaround such as AirServer.
Install system software updates on your Mac
Even if you are running macOS Monterey or later, we recommend that you install the pending system software updates on your Mac. This will help you resolve bugs and other known issues related to AirPlay. To do this Apple Menu, selection System Preferences,Choose Software update >> >> Update now..

Update iPhone system software
It’s possible to AirPlay to a Mac using an iPhone running iOS 14, but it’s still best to upgrade to iOS 15 or later. If you are running a newer version of iOS, be sure to install the incremental update.
Open setting Go to the app Universal >> >> Software update Upgrade or update your iPhone system software.

Then check if your Mac is set up to receive content via AirPlay. Otherwise, it will not appear on your iPhone.
To do this System Preferences App and selection share..Then be sure to check the checkbox next to it AirPlay receiver..

Check AirPlay compatibility for your app
Not all apps for iPhone support AirPlay. For example, Netflix generally limits sending video to all devices via AirPlay. So if the issue is limited to a particular app, check its support documentation or online FAQ for information on AirPlay compatibility.
Check Bluetooth on Mac and iPhone
AirPlay requires Bluetooth for device detection. If your Mac doesn’t show up as an AirPlay device, make sure Bluetooth is active on both devices.
Mac
Open Control center (Select the icon in the menu bar that makes the two sliders look like they’re stacked) bluetooth The icon lights up. If not, choose to activate it.

iPhone
Open setting App and tap bluetooth..Then check the switch next to it bluetooth Active. If not, turn it on.

Check Wi-Fi on Mac and iPhone
Not to mention this, both iPhone and Mac must be connected to the same local network for AirPlay to work properly. Check the SSID of your Wi-Fi connection to determine if that is the case.
Mac
choose Wifi The icon on the menu bar identifies the active network. Make sure it matches your iPhone’s network.

iPhone
Open setting App and tap Wifi.. Make sure it matches your Mac’s network.

The following fixes include resetting the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi radios on both devices. This often resolves random connection failures that prevent AirPlay from working smoothly.
Mac
Open Control center Expand Wifi When bluetooth.. Then switch off both categories. Wait at least 10 seconds before turning them back on.
iPhone
Open setting App and tap Wifi When bluetooth.. Then switch off both categories. Wait at least 10 seconds before turning them back on.
Use the same Apple ID on Mac and iPhone
You can run AirPlay from your iPhone to your Mac only if both devices use the same Apple ID. Therefore, if Apple has multiple accounts, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re casting content to the correct Mac.
Mac
Open System Preferences App and selection Apple ID.. The Apple ID is displayed on the left side of the screen.

iPhone
Open setting App and tap Apple ID.. Your Apple ID will be displayed at the top of the screen. Make sure it matches your Mac ID.

Restart your Mac and iPhone
If none of the above fixes help or apply, the next action is to restart both devices.
Mac
Open Apple Select a menu to select Reboot..Then clear the check box next to it Reopen window when logging in again And select Reboot Also.

iPhone
Open setting Go to the app Universal >> >> shut down.. Then shut down the device. When the screen is completely dark ~ side Press the button to restart.

Reset network settings on Mac and iPhone
Corrupted Wi-Fi and Bluetooth configurations can also be a factor. If AirPlay still doesn’t work, you’ll need to reset your iPhone and Mac network settings.
Mac
Open Finder. next, go >> >> Move to folder In the menu bar, access the following two directories and move the following files to the Trash. After that, 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

iPhone
Open setting App and selection Universal >> >> Transfer or reset iPhone >> >> reset >> >> Reset network settings..

Try using a wired connection
Do you have a lightning cable at hand? In that case, try physically connecting your iPhone to your Mac before using AirPlay. Direct connections also help eliminate Bluetooth and Wi-Fi issues and deal with lag. If you use a third-party cable, make sure it is MFi certified.
Perform NVRAM reset on Mac
The final fix includes resetting the Mac’s NVRAM (or non-volatile random access memory). To do this, restart your Mac and Instructions + option + P + R Key immediately after startup. Press and hold until you hear the Mac chime twice, or until you see the Apple logo a second time.

Note: NVRAM can only be reset on Macs running Intel chipsets.
Fixed: AirPlay behavior from iPhone to Mac
The above troubleshooting method should solve the problem of using AirPlay from iPhone to Mac. However, if you encounter similar issues later, don’t forget to repeat the quicker fixes (rebooting both devices, turning Bluetooth and Wi-Fi off / off, etc.). It also keeps your iPhone and Mac system software up-to-date, maximizing the chances of AirPlay working smoothly.