“iPhone Mirroring” is a noteworthy addition to macOS Sequoia and iOS 18. What makes it a real deal is the ability to let you use your iPhone on your Mac. No more running around to pick up your iPhone in order to keep yourself abrest of alerts even when staying in front of the Mac’s screen is critical for your workflow! Whether you wish to use any app, keep track of notifications, or drag and drop files seamlessly between devices, it’s got you fully covered. Follow along to learn how to set up and use iPhone Mirroring on your Mac.
Enable and Use iPhone Mirroring in iOS 18 and macOS 15 Sequoia
Before moving ahead, it would be apt to discuss the importance of iPhone Mirroring and why it can be a well-timed addition to your workflow.
What Exactly is iPhone Mirroring and Why It Can Be a Big Deal for You?
Designed to be a Continuity feature, “iPhone Mirroring” aims to help you reduce distractions by ensuring your iPhone is readily available and accessible to you right on the desktop. For times when you are deeply engrossed in a project, designing a poster or editing a video or writing a detailed article, it will make sure your eyes don’t have to look around too often just to keep track of the icoming alerts or the productivity doesn’t suffer due to the sluggish transfer of files between devices.
Instead of rushing to pick up your device to figure out what it’s up to or whether or not you have missed a specific message, you can keep your iPhone’s screen handy and dive into the relevant apps without putting your ongoing work on the back burner. While it might not be a big deal for some, folks who have to spend hours in front of their Mac may find it a productivity defining feature.
What are the Requirements for iPhone Mirroring?
Do not fail to check off all the key iPhone Mirroring requirements so that an unexpected hurdle doesn’t come your way:
Ensure That Your Mac and iPhone Are Connected to the Same Apple ID
As “iPhone Mirroring” is a Continuity feature, it requires you to use the same Apple ID on your Mac and iPhone.
- On your iPhone, go to the Settings app -> Apple ID banner to check the Apple ID you have used to sign in. If it’s a different one, sign out and then sign in with the one you are using on your macOS device.
- On Mac, head into the System Settings app -> Apple ID banner -> Take a look at the Apple ID that you are using.
Make Sure Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Are Enabled on Your Mac and iPhone
- On your Mac, hit the Control Center icon at the top right corner of the screen to check if Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are enabled.
- On your iPhone, swipe down from the top right corner of the screen to access the Control Center and have a look at the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth icons to find out whether or not they are enabled.
Ensure That a Two-Factor Authenticator is Enabled Everywhere
For iPhone Mirroring to work, the Two-Factor Authenticator must be turned on.
- On your iOS device, dive into the Settings app -> Apple ID banner -> Sign In & Security -> Two-Factor Authentication to check if it’s turned on.
- On your Mac; launch the System Settings app -> -> Apple ID banner -> Sign & Security -> Two-Factor Authentication.
Make Sure Sidecar is Disabled on Your Mac
If you are using Sidecar on your Mac, ensure that it’s disabled. Otherwise, iPhone mirroring won’t work.
- On iPad, hit the Disconnect icon at the bottom of the sidebar.
- On Mac, hit the Control Center in the upper-right corner of the screen -> Display -> deselect your iPad.
Turn OFF AirPlay
Just like Sidecar, AirPlay also prevents iPhone Mirroring from functioning properly.
- On Mac: Launch the System Settings app -> General -> AirDrop & Handoff.
- On iPhone: Navigate to the Settings app -> General -> AirPlay & Continuity.
- If you are AirPlaying content to your Mac, hit the AirPlay icon and deselect your Mac in the menu.
Make Sure Your Mac and iPhone are Loaded with the Supported OS
- On top of all, note that your iPhone must be running iOS 18 beta 2 or later and your Mac must be equipped with macOS Sequoia beta 2 or later.
Be Sure Your Devices are Compatible
As has been the story with most big ticket features, iPhone Mirroring has been locked for Macs with Apple Silicon and T2 Security chip. Therefore, do not forget to tick off this pivotal hardware requirement. Talking about the support for iPhone models, it works with all iOS 18 compatible devices.
Activate iPhone Mirroring on Your Mac
- Once you have taken care of all the important requirements, lock your iPhone and place it near your Mac.
- After that, click on the “iPhone” icon in your Mac dock and authenticate.
- When prompted, make sure to verify by entering the passcode on your iPhone.
- Once that’s done, you are all set! Now, go ahead and use your iPhone on your Mac. As I have just said, you can take advantage of this brand-new feature open up and use apps, and even take control of notifications.
To find out more about this new add-on, check out this video:
Disable iPhone Mirroring on Your Mac
Later, if you want to disable iPhone mirroring, just right-click on the iPhone icon in the dock and choose Quit in the menu.
Permanently Stop Your Mac from Mirroring Your iPhone
For whatever reason, if you ever don’t want to allow your Mac to mirror your iPhone, you can altogether revoke the permission.
- On your iOS device, open the Settings app -> General -> AirPlay & Continuity -> iPhone Mirroring.
- Hit the Edit button at the upper-right corner of the screen.
- Now, tap on the red minus button to the left of the device where you no longer want to mirror your iPhone and hit the Delete button.
- Now, do not forget to hit the Done button at the top-right corner of the screen to finish.
My Thoughts…
While I’m pleased with the sole purpose behind iPhone Mirroring, I find it akin to a half-baked sandwich in its current stage. My biggest pain points with this mirroring feature is the rather confusing navigation. Things like quitting an app, bringing up the App Switcher or launching a specific app have been a bit painful affair for me. If that’s not enough, the iPhone’s screen feels a tad sluggish, seems to get stuck mid-way once in a while and even fail to launch apps at once.
Since iPhone Mirroring is still a work in progress and set to go through the grind before being rolled out later this year, I won’t highlight the drawbacks as the dealbreakers. Nor do I think anyone of you may want to view it from that lens either. But the sooner the quirks go away, the better it would be.
Read more: How to Enable and Customize Music Haptics in iOS 18 on iPhone
