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Olga Weis
Jun 6, 2023
There are multiple reasons why you might want to mirror your MacBook on a much larger screen, for example, it can be presentation sharing in a meeting, videos or games streaming, etc. In this article, you will learn what screen mirroring is and how it works, as well as find out how to mirror Mac to Smart TV wirelessly or using a cable. We've compiled the best solutions along with their pros and cons to help you make the right choice.
This lightweight stream and mirror Mac application tops our list of third-party apps. It enables you to mirror Mac to Chromecast, Smart TVs which support AirPlay, AirPlay 2, or DLNA protocols without conversion, complex setup, or additional hardware. Once you have added your files to the app, it automatically picks the available devices on the network.
JustStream is capable of mirroring a wide range of files, including videos, audio, images, and software. It also supports many TV brands, including Samsung, Roku, Panasonic, LG, Sony among others.
User review:
“JustStream is a lightweight, easy to use menu bar app for wirelessly mirroring a Mac or streaming a wide variety of video files to a television, Chromecast, or Apple TV without conversion, additional hardware, or complicated setup.”— By J.R. Bookwalter, Macworld
Pros:
Cons:
Get started in JustStream with these easy steps!
Push the AirPlay icon and select the receiver. This could be a TV or a Wi-Fi dongle.
Push "Start Streaming". If you want to stop the stream, push "Stop Streaming".
By default, the sound from your Mac won’t be broadcasted. Follow the instructions here to enable it.
By default, the first available device will be selected for mirroring.
If you cannot see the receiving device on the list, make sure that it is turned on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Mac. Then try refreshing the device list.
The screen mirroring settings are accessible through Preferences > Mirroring.
Unlike the previous method, this requires additional hardware to mirror MacBook to TV, that is an HDMI. HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) is a cable that enables you to share HD audio and video between devices. It supports many audio-visual devices such as projectors, Xbox, digital televisions, DVD players, PlayStation, etc. Below you’ll find a step-by-step guide on how to mirror MacBook to TV with HDMI.
Most recent iMac computers have an oval port, also known as USB-C or Thunderbolt. If your Mac has a Thunderbolt 3 port, you need a USB-C to HDMI cable.
On most older Mac computers, you find a squared-off port, known as Thunderbolt 2. If your laptop has it, you will need a Thunderbolt 2 to HDMI cable (or a Thunderbolt 2 to HDMI adapter and an HDMI cable).
AirPlay protocol is normally pre-installed in most MacBook devices. This makes it the most reliable and commonly used method of mirroring macOS screens to bigger TVs and other AirPlay-enabled Smart TVs. And it does so without additional hardware or software. This proprietary protocol suite is ideal for education, media, and enterprise. All you need to do is open AirPlay, choose the target device and watch.
However, you need to make sure all the devices you use are compatible before using AirPlay to mirror your content. Here is a list of devices you need when using AirPlay 2 to screen mirror Mac display:
And:
If you don’t own an Apple TV to mirror MacBook to Apple TV, you can simply use any other compatible TV screen with preinstalled AirPlay 2. The good thing is that the market is full of compatible TV screens, including Samsung, Sony, and LG TV screens.
If you are still wondering "How do I mirror my MacBook to my TV", here is a list of the alternative third-party apps for you to try.
AirBeamTV offers you a variety of apps. You can either buy software specifically designed for your TV or obtain a smart TV mirroring package with apps for various TV brands.
These apps usually have a latency period of up to 3 seconds, which makes it impossible for you to mirror real-time gaming. They work best when mirroring movies, presentations, photos, browsing, etc. Whether you are using macOS or iOS devices, the AirBeamTV app enables you to screen mirror Mac to Chromecast, Amazon FireTV, or Roku. What’s more, you do not need cables or other additional equipment to share your MacBook screen. It makes the mirroring process simple and quick.
Pros:
Cons:
Another great alternative to the aforementioned methods on how to screen mirror MacBook to TV is AirParrot 3. This app lets you share media content from a variety of devices wirelessly. No cables and complex setups are required.
The app is capable of mirroring either the whole screen or just a specific program. Furthermore, there are no distractions when adjusting display settings. Once it’s installed, this app searches for and displays the available receivers on your network automatically.
Pros:
Cons:
AirDroid Cast is yet another app you can use to mirror Mac to Smart TV. It is a cross-platform solution that works with iOS, Android, macOS and Windows. You can easily cast from phone/computer to phone, computer or browser. Moreover, the app allows sharing up to five devices at the same time, which is a handy feature for multiplayer games.
AirDroid Cast can be used for free to cast devices on the local network, while remote casting and AirPlay service are included with AirDroid Cast Premium. You will also need to upgrade to the premium version to be able to connect devices with a USB cable and manage devices remotely.
Often referred to as screen sharing, screen mirroring is the process of duplicating a different display. This functionality is commonly used in conferences, classroom presentations, and video calls.
Screen mirroring on Mac can be done in two ways. You can use a cable to connect your device to the TV screen or install an app. Each method has upsides and downsides - for example, wires have limited length and get in the way, while Wi-Fi has a delay and requires a consistent connection.
Wired Mirroring. HDMI cables are used to connect devices to an external display. If you are using a device that has an HDMI port, then you only need to connect one end of the cable to the device and the other one to the display. Older devices may not have HDMI ports; VGA was common, and it requires an adapter to connect to HDMI. USB to HDMI also exists, but it’s much better to have a dedicated graphics port.
Wireless Mirroring. If you mirror Mac to TV wirelessly, you’ll get similar results to wired mirroring. It’s pretty easy to work with, since most devices come equipped with built-in wireless capabilities nowadays. Not having to deal with tangling cables is another plus.
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Application
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VideoDuke
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JustStream
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AirBeamTV
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AirParrot 3
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AirDroid Cast
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|
Platforms
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Platforms
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Mac
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Mac, iOS
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Mac, Windows
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Android, iOS, Win, Maс
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|
Screen Mirroring
|
Screen Mirroring
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
|
|
Media Streaming
|
Media Streaming
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Yes
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Yes
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No
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Yes
|
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Mirroring Quality
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Mirroring Quality
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High
|
High
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High
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High
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|
Audio Streaming
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Audio Streaming
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
|
|
Video Formats
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Video Formats
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All common
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All common
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Limited
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Limited
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|
Supported Devices
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Supported Devices
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Apple TV, Chromecast, Smart TVs, Roku, DLNA
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Apple TV, Chromecast, Smart TVs, Roku, DLNA
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Apple TV, Chromecast, Smart TVs, AirPlay-enabled devices
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Smart TVs, AirPlay-enabled devices
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Additional Features
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Additional Features
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Subtitles, Live Streaming, Custom Video Quality
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Subtitles, Photo Slideshow, Audio & Video Recording, Fullscreen Mode
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Extend Desktop, Background Audio, Password Protection, Specific Application Mirroring
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Remote Control, File Transfer, AirMirror (Control Android from PC)
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Frequently Asked Questions:
