Get iPhone Mirroring working on your Mac

Why it happens

iPhone Mirroring uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to find your iPhone and check it's really yours. It only connects when the iPhone is locked, close by and on the same Apple Account as the Mac. It also can't run while your Mac is busy with AirPlay, Sidecar or Internet Sharing, and Apple doesn't offer it in the European Union.

How to fix it

1. Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on your Mac. You'll find both in Control Center in the menu bar. Do the same on your iPhone.

2. Check that both use the same Apple Account. On the Mac, your name is at the top of System Settings. On the iPhone, it's at the top of the Settings app.

3. Stop anything that's using the Mac's screen or connection: end AirPlay or Screen Mirroring, disconnect a Sidecar iPad, and turn off Internet Sharing if it's on.

4. Lock your iPhone and keep it near the Mac. It can be charging. Mirroring won't connect while you're using the iPhone.

5. Open iPhone Mirroring from the Dock or the Applications folder and follow the prompts. The first time, you'll be asked to unlock the iPhone and confirm on it.

   iPhone Mirroring

Still not fixed?

1. If it says your iPhone is in use, lock the iPhone with the side button and try again.

2. Turn off Personal Hotspot on the iPhone while you mirror, and make sure your Mac is on Wi-Fi rather than sharing your iPhone's connection.

3. Check Handoff is on in AirDrop & Continuity on the Mac. On the iPhone it's under Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity (AirPlay & Handoff on older iOS).

   General›AirDrop & Continuity

4. Check you meet the basics: an iPhone with iOS 18 or later, and a Mac with Apple silicon or an Intel Mac with the Apple T2 Security Chip. If your Apple Account region is in the European Union, the app says it isn't available, and no setting changes that.

5. Restart both the iPhone and the Mac, then open iPhone Mirroring again.

6. If it still won't connect with everything above in place, contact Apple Support. This is almost always a settings or account issue, not a hardware fault.