In today’s interconnected world, Apple’s latest updates have brought a transformative feature to life—iPhone mirroring on Mac. With iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia, Apple users can mirror their iPhone screen on their Mac seamlessly, creating a more unified and productive ecosystem experience.
This new feature allows you to display and control and your iPhone’s screen directly on your Mac. When using the latest versions of macOS and iOS, you can interact with your iPhone’s content – including apps and notifications – right from your Mac, and can even use the mouse, keyboard, and trackpad. This seamless connection expands upon Apple’s existing device synchronization capabilities, making it easier to work across devices without physically switching between them.
What is iPhone Mirroring?
iPhone mirroring allows users to control their iPhone from a Mac, opening up new ways to interact with mobile content directly from a desktop. Whether it’s checking notifications, replying to messages, or accessing apps without reaching for your phone, this feature is a game-changer for users within the Apple ecosystem.
The innovative iPhone Mirroring feature essentially transforms your iPhone into a virtual app on your Mac, displaying a phone-shaped window that provides full iPhone functionality directly on your Mac’s screen. While the functionality is technically present in both iOS and macOS, accessing it if you are in EU region requires additional steps compared to other regions.
Requirements for iPhone Mirroring
iPhone Mirroring can be used with only one Mac and one iPhone at a time. Your devices must meet these requirements:
Device Compatibility:
- Mac: Must be equipped with either Apple silicon or the T2 Security Chip
- Mac Operating System: macOS Sequoia 15 or newer
- iPhone Operating System: iOS 18 or newer
- Limited to one Mac and one iPhone pairing at a time
Setup Requirements:
- Both devices must be logged into the same Apple ID
- Two-factor authentication must be enabled
- Both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi must be active on both devices
- iPhone must be locked and in close proximity to the Mac
- Can be in charging mode or using StandBy feature
Connectivity Restrictions:
- iPhone’s Personal Hotspot must be disabled
- Mac must not be:
- Sharing its internet connection
- Using AirPlay
- Running Sidecar
Getting Started
Ensure your Mac and iPhone are compatible, signed into the same Apple ID, with your iPhone nearby and locked. Follow the below steps to use your iPhone on your Mac wirelessly:
- Go to the iPhone Mirroring app
on your Mac.
- Click “Continue” when prompted to continue with configuration.
- Your Mac will ask you to unlock your iPhone, use your iPhone to enter your iPhone passcode.
- Next, on your Mac select whether to allow notifications from your iPhone, click Allow or Don’t Allow. You can change this later in Notifications settings on your Mac.
- You may be prompted whether to require Mac login to access your iPhone, choose whether to be asked every time or to authenticate automatically. You can change this later in iPhone Mirroring settings on your Mac.
- You are all set. Click “Get Started” and you can now interact with your iPhone from the iPhone Mirroring window.
- Use your Touch ID on the Mac to securely authenticate or you may choose to manually enter your password.
When configuring iPhone Mirroring for the first time, you’ll be presented with two authentication options:
- Per-Session Authentication:
- Requires verification each time you connect
- Uses Touch ID or password authentication
- Provides additional security layer
- Automatic Connection:
- Allows immediate connection without authentication
- Works whenever your Mac is unlocked
- Streamlines the connection process
You can select the security level that best matches your preferences and usage needs. This setting determines how you’ll access the feature during future sessions.
Navigating iPhone Mirroring on Mac
Once you’ve successfully mirrored your iPhone’s display to your Mac, interacting with your device becomes remarkably intuitive. Your Mac’s trackpad or mouse transforms into a virtual finger, allowing you to navigate your iPhone’s interface wirelessly with familiar gestures. Moving around your iPhone’s Home Screen is as simple as swiping left or right on your Mac’s trackpad. Apple has also integrated convenient navigation shortcuts to enhance the experience. To quickly access your iPhone’s Home Screen, you can either click on the mirrored display and hover your Mac’s pointer upward to click the “apps” icon, or use the Command + 1 keyboard shortcut.
Similarly, accessing the App Switcher is just as straightforward – either click the dedicated “app switcher” icon in the top-right corner or press Command + 2. These thoughtful controls make managing your iPhone from your Mac feel natural and efficient.
Accessing your iPhone’s Spotlight search through iPhone Mirroring is just as seamless as using it on your device directly. You have multiple ways to initiate a search: click the Search button located at the bottom of the Home Screen, perform a downward swipe using your Mac’s trackpad, or simply use the convenient keyboard shortcut Command + 3. This integration ensures you can quickly find apps, messages, documents, and other content on your iPhone without breaking your workflow on the Mac.
One of the most practical advantages of iPhone Mirroring is the seamless keyboard integration between devices. Gone are the days of switching between your iPhone and Mac for typing – now you can use your Mac’s full-sized keyboard to compose emails, respond to messages, or write documents directly on your iPhone apps. The experience feels natural and efficient, especially for longer typing sessions. Adding to this convenience, your iPhone notifications appear directly on your Mac’s screen, allowing you to stay informed and respond to important updates without reaching for your phone. This integration creates a more unified and productive workflow between your Apple devices.
iPhone Mirroring takes notification management to the next level by seamlessly integrating your iPhone alerts into your Mac’s Notification Center. Each iPhone notification is clearly distinguishable thanks to a small phone icon, making it easy to identify its source at a glance. The integration goes beyond mere display – clicking any notification instantly opens the corresponding app in your mirrored iPhone interface, allowing for immediate interaction and response. The feature also handles multimedia content intelligently. While you can’t manually force landscape orientation, iPhone Mirroring automatically adjusts when you open apps that typically display in landscape mode, such as video players. This smart adaptation means you can enjoy full-screen YouTube videos and other landscape-optimized content without any manual adjustments, making the viewing experience feel natural and immersive.
One of the most exciting additions to iPhone Mirroring is the ability to seamlessly drag and drop files between devices. This cool feature allows you to transfer photos, videos, and documents between your iPhone and Mac with simple drag-and-drop gestures, even when the iPhone is locked and charging. The functionality works both ways – you can drag photos from your Mac’s Photos app or Finder directly into your iPhone’s Photos app, and vice versa. Similarly, documents like PDFs can be moved by simply dragging them from your Mac and dropping them into the iPhone’s Files app. The process works just as intuitively in reverse, letting you drag content from your iPhone to any compatible location on your Mac.
Stop mirroring your iPhone
Ending an iPhone Mirroring session is straightforward and can happen in two ways. The most direct method is to click on “iPhone Mirroring” in your Mac’s top Menu bar and select “Quit iPhone Mirroring.”
Alternatively, the mirroring will automatically disconnect when you unlock your iPhone – a security feature that ensures your iPhone’s content isn’t simultaneously accessible from two locations.
If you need to resume mirroring after unlocking your iPhone, your Mac will display a helpful prompt indicating that the iPhone is in use, along with instructions to lock your iPhone and click “Try Again” to re-establish the mirroring connection. This automatic disconnect feature adds an extra layer of security while maintaining the flexibility to quickly resume mirroring when needed.
How to switch iPhone for iPhone Mirroring
If you want, you can use another iPhone signed in with the same Apple ID. On your Mac, open System Settings -> Desktop & Dock and scroll down to the Widgets section. You’ll see a drop-down box for iPhone. You can use it to configure the iPhone you wish to use with iPhone Mirroring.
You can also use another Mac to broadcast your iPhone’s content using iPhone Mirroring. On your iPhone, go to Settings -> General -> AirPlay & Continuity -> iPhone Mirroring and choose a Mac running macOS Sequoia.
Conclusion
iPhone Mirroring represents a significant leap forward in Apple’s ecosystem integration, offering a seamless bridge between Mac and iPhone functionality. This feature transforms how we interact with our devices, enabling everything from efficient notification management to intuitive drag-and-drop file transfers. The ability to type with your Mac’s keyboard, interact with apps using your trackpad or mouse, and maintain productivity without constantly switching between devices makes it an invaluable tool for anyone deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem. While the feature’s availability may be initially limited in certain regions like the EU, the functionality it brings to the table showcases Apple’s commitment to creating a more unified computing experience. Whether you’re responding to messages, managing files, or watching content, iPhone Mirroring eliminates the traditional boundaries between mobile and desktop computing, setting a new standard for device interaction in our increasingly connected world.
