Screen mirroring sends everything on your iPhone screen to a TV or other device

Screen mirroring is the feature that lets you show your iPhone's display on a television, projector, or another screen in real time. When you turn it on, whatever you do on your phone — open an app, play a video, show photos — appears on the bigger screen at the same moment. The audio comes through the TV's speakers unless you've set it to play elsewhere.

The iPhone calls this feature AirPlay, and it works wirelessly over your home network. You don't need cables or adapters. Your iPhone and the TV (or other device) just need to be on the same Wi-Fi network and within reasonable range of each other.

Key Takeaways

  • Screen mirroring on iPhone is called AirPlay and works only when your iPhone and TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
  • You start mirroring by swiping down from the top-right corner to open Control Center, then tapping Screen Mirroring and selecting your TV.
  • Your TV must support AirPlay, or you need a separate device like an Apple TV box to receive the signal.
  • Once mirroring is on, your iPhone screen appears on the TV, but you still control everything from your phone.
  • You can stop mirroring by opening Control Center again, tapping Screen Mirroring, and selecting Stop Mirroring.

Check that your TV or device supports AirPlay

Not every TV can receive an AirPlay signal directly. Newer Apple TVs, Samsung TVs, LG TVs, and some others have AirPlay built in, but older models do not. The easiest way to find out is to look in your TV's settings menu for an AirPlay option, or check the TV's manual or manufacturer website.

If your TV doesn't have AirPlay, you can use an Apple TV box (a small device that connects to your TV's HDMI port) to receive the signal instead. An Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD will work. Some people also use AirPlay-compatible devices like certain smart speakers or streaming boxes, but an Apple TV is the most reliable option.

Make sure both your iPhone and your TV (or Apple TV) are plugged in and turned on, and that they're both connected to the same Wi-Fi network. If they're on different networks, mirroring won't work.

Open Control Center and tap Screen Mirroring

On an iPhone with Face ID (iPhone X and newer), swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen. On an iPhone with a home button (iPhone 8 and earlier), swipe up from the bottom of the screen. Either way, you'll see the Control Center — a panel with quick-access buttons.

Look for the button labeled Screen Mirroring. It looks like a rectangle with a triangle at the bottom. Tap it once. A list of available devices will appear — you should see your TV or Apple TV listed by name.

If you don't see your TV listed, make sure it's on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone. Wait a few seconds and try again. Sometimes it takes a moment for devices to find each other on the network.

Select your TV from the list

Tap the name of your TV or Apple TV in the Screen Mirroring menu. Your iPhone will try to connect. This usually takes a few seconds.

Some TVs or Apple TV boxes ask for a code to confirm the connection. If you see a four-digit code on your TV screen, enter it on your iPhone when prompted. This is a security step to make sure you're connecting to the right device.

Once the connection is made, your iPhone screen will appear on the TV. You'll see a blue bar at the top of your iPhone screen with the TV's name and a Screen Mirroring icon, showing that mirroring is active.

Control what appears on the TV from your iPhone

After mirroring is on, your iPhone is still the remote control. Everything you do on your phone shows up on the TV — opening apps, scrolling, typing, playing videos. The TV displays exactly what your iPhone displays, at the same size and orientation.

If you rotate your iPhone from portrait to landscape, the TV display rotates too. If you open a photo app and swipe through images, the TV shows each one. If you play a video, it plays on both screens simultaneously.

The audio normally plays through your TV's speakers, but you can change this in your iPhone's settings if you want sound to come from your phone instead. Open Settings, go to AirPlay and HomeKit, and look for audio output options.

Stop mirroring when you're done

To turn off screen mirroring, open Control Center again the same way you did to turn it on. Tap Screen Mirroring, then tap Stop Mirroring. Your iPhone screen will no longer appear on the TV, and the blue bar at the top of your phone will disappear.

If you walk out of range of your Wi-Fi network or turn off the TV, mirroring will stop automatically. Your iPhone will remember which device you last mirrored to, so the next time you open Screen Mirroring, that device will appear at the top of the list.

Troubleshooting common mirroring problems

If your TV doesn't appear in the Screen Mirroring list, the most common cause is that your iPhone and TV are on different Wi-Fi networks. Check your iPhone's Wi-Fi settings and make sure it's connected to the same network as your TV. Restart both devices if they still won't find each other.

If the connection keeps dropping, move your iPhone closer to the TV or router. Thick walls or interference from other devices can weaken the Wi-Fi signal. If mirroring works for a few seconds and then stops, try restarting your TV and iPhone.

If you see a code prompt on your TV but can't enter it on your iPhone, make sure you're tapping the right button. Some older Apple TV models use a different pairing process — check your Apple TV's manual if the standard method doesn't work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does screen mirroring use a lot of battery?

Yes, mirroring drains your battery faster than normal use because your iPhone is constantly sending video and audio over Wi-Fi. If you're mirroring for more than an hour or two, plug your iPhone into power. Mirroring to an Apple TV uses less battery than mirroring to some other devices.

Can I use my iPhone while it's mirroring?

Yes. Everything you do on your iPhone appears on the TV, so you can open apps, take photos, or browse the web while mirroring. The TV shows exactly what your phone shows. If you want to do something on your phone without showing it on the TV, you'll need to stop mirroring first.

What if my TV is too old to support AirPlay?

Buy an Apple TV box and connect it to your TV's HDMI port. The Apple TV receives the AirPlay signal from your iPhone and sends it to the TV. You don't need to replace your TV — the Apple TV acts as a bridge between your iPhone and any TV with an HDMI input.

Can I mirror to multiple TVs at the same time?

No. An iPhone can only mirror to one device at a time. If you want to show your screen on a different TV, stop mirroring to the first one and then select the second TV from the Screen Mirroring menu.

Why does my TV show a black screen when I try to mirror?

Make sure your TV's HDMI input is set to the port where your Apple TV is connected. If you're using an Apple TV, check that it's turned on and connected to power. Restart both your iPhone and Apple TV, then try mirroring again.