How to Connect a Mac to a TV Wirelessly via Wi-Fi: A Complete Guide (2026)

Wireless screen sharing with MacBook or iMac Wi-Fi to your TV opens up new possibilities for presentations, watching movies, or playing games on the big screen. However, many users encounter problems: AirPlay The device isn't found, the picture is slow, or the sound is lost. In this article, we'll cover all current connection methods—from standard protocols to workarounds for older TV models.

The main advantage of a wireless connection is the freedom to move and the lack of tangled cables. But for everything to work reliably, you need to set it up correctly. MacOS, and TV, and home network. We tested all methods on the latest versions macOS Sonoma And tvOS 17, as well as on popular TV brands: Samsung, LG, Sony And XiaomiIf your TV was released before 2018, some features may require additional devices—we'll cover that too.

Important: the speed and quality of the broadcast depend on the power of your Wi-Fi routerTo transfer video to 4K To avoid delays, we recommend using dual-band routers (5 GHz) or Wi-Fi 6If you have an old router, it's better to connect via cable or upgrade your hardware.

1. Connect via AirPlay (for Apple TV and compatible Smart TVs)

AirPlay - brand protocol from Apple, which allows you to broadcast your screen Mac on TV with Apple TV or compatible Smart TV (For example, LG With webOS 4.0+, Samsung With Tizen 2018+). This is the most reliable method, but it only works in an ecosystem Apple.

To turn on broadcasting:

• 📱 Make sure that Mac and the TV are connected to one Wi-Fi network (guest networks are not suitable).
• 🖥️ On Mac open System Preferences → Displays.
• 🔄 In the section AirPlay Select your TV from the list.
• 🔒 When you connect for the first time, a code will appear on the TV screen - enter it Mac.

If your TV does not appear in the list:

• ⚙️ Check if it is enabled AirPlay in the TV settings (usually in the section Network → Apple AirPlay).
• 🔄 Reboot your router—sometimes the DHCP server doesn't assign IP addresses correctly.
• 🛡️ Turn it off VPN on Mac - It can block local discovery of devices.

Mac and TV are on the same Wi-Fi network | AirPlay is enabled in the TV settings | VPN is disabled on the Mac | The router supports multicast (IGMP)

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Important: AirPlay 2 supports streaming in 4K HDR, but only if both the Mac and the TV are connected to the router via 5 GHz or via an Ethernet adapter. 2.4 GHz maximum resolution - 1080p with possible lags.

⚠️ Attention: On TVs Samsung 2019-2020 models may require a manual firmware update to support AirPlay 2Check the software version in the menu Support → Software Update.

2. Using Miracast (for Windows-compatible TVs)

Miracast — a universal wireless broadcasting standard supported by most Smart TV on Android TV And Windows. Unfortunately, MacOS has no built-in support Miracast, but it can be added using third-party utilities.

The most reliable solution is a program AirParrot 3 or ReflectorThey emulate Miracast-server on Mac, allowing you to connect to TVs Sony Bravia, Xiaomi Mi TV and others. Instructions:

1. Download and install AirParrot 3 (there is a free trial version).
2. Run the program and select from the menu Miracast Receiver.
3. Activate the function on your TV Screen Mirroring (usually in the settings Network → Wireless Projection).
4. Choose yours Mac from the list of available devices.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Works on TVs without AirPlay.
• ✅ Supports audio and video in Full HD.
• ✅ You can broadcast individual windows instead of the entire screen.

Flaws:

• ❌ Paid software (from $15 per license).
• ❌ There may be delays when viewing videos (up to 1–2 seconds).
• ❌ Not all models Mac support hardware encoding Miracast.

3. Broadcast via DLNA/UPnP (for media files)

If you don't need to duplicate your screen, but just transfer movies, music, or photos, the protocol will do DLNAIt works on most Smart TV and allows you to stream files from Mac without additional devices.

To configure:

1. Install on Mac media server, for example, Plex, Kodi or Serviio.
2. Add folders containing media files to the server library.
3. On your TV, open the app Media player, SmartShare (at LG) or AllShare (at Samsung).
4. Choose yours Mac from the list of DLNA devices.

Peculiarities DLNA:

• 🎬 Supports almost all video formats (.mp4, .mkv, .avi).
• 🔊 Transmits sound in original quality (including Dolby Digital).
• 📂 You can create playlists and sort files into folders.

⚠️ Attention: Some televisions (eg. Samsung series J And K) do not support DLNA for files with higher resolution 1080pCheck your model's limitations in the user manual.

4. Streaming apps (YouTube, Netflix, IPTV)

If you need to stream content from specific services (YouTube, Netflix, Twitch), the easiest way is to use their official apps on Smart TVMost platforms support synchronization between devices:

Examples:

• 🎥 YouTube: Click the icon Broadcast in the player on Mac and select TV.
• 🍿 Netflix: Turn on the function Netflix Party (browser extension required).
• 📺 IPTV: Use apps like SS IPTV or Lazy IPTV with playlists.

For Apple TV+ And Disney+ There are also built-in broadcasting functions. The main condition is Mac, and the TV must be authorized in the same account.

If the TV app doesn't find your Mac:

• 🔄 Reconnect to Wi-Fi on both devices.
• 🛡️ Enable it in your router settings Multicast (usually in the section LAN → IGMP Snooping).
• 🔄 Update the app on your TV to the latest version.

Why isn't casting working with Safari?

Safari blocks autoplaying videos with sound to save resources. To stream videos from websites, open them in Google Chrome or Firefox, where this function works more stably.

5. Alternative solutions: Chromecast and adapters

If your TV does not support AirPlay or Miracast, you can use external devices:

• 📺 Google Chromecast (from $30): Connects to the HDMI port and allows you to stream your screen through Google Chrome on Mac.
• 🔄 Miracast adapters (For example, Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter): Convert the signal for old TVs.
• 🍎 Apple TV 4K (from $130): The best solution for the ecosystem Apple, supports 4K HDR And Dolby Atmos.

To connect via Chromecast:

1. Connect the device to the TV and set it up via the app Google Home.
2. On Mac open Google Chrome and select Broadcast → Broadcast Tab.
3. Choose yours Chromecast from the list.

Restrictions:

• ❌ Audio/video delay of up to 2–3 seconds (critical for games).
• ❌ Broadcasting browser tabs consumes a lot of resources Mac.

6. Configuring your router for stable streaming

The quality of wireless broadcasting directly depends on your settings Wi-Fi routerIf the image is slow or choppy, check the following settings:

• 📶 Wi-Fi range: Use 5 GHz For 4K-content (less interference, higher speed).
• 🔄 Channel: Manually select the least loaded channel (for example, 36 or 149) in the router settings.
• 🛡️ QoS: Turn on Quality of Service and set priority for devices Mac And Apple TV.
• 🔌 Nutrition: Connect your router to an uninterruptible power supply - power surges can interrupt the broadcast.

Recommended settings for popular router brands:

⚠️ Attention: If you have a dual-band router, disable the feature. Smart Connect (automatic switching between 2.4 GHz And 5 GHz). It can cause connection breaks during broadcasting.

7. Troubleshooting common problems

Even with proper setup, errors can still occur. Here are the most common ones and how to fix them:

Problem 1: The TV is not showing up in the list. AirPlay.

• 🔄 Reboot Mac and TV.
• 🛡️ Enable it in your router settings Multicast And Bonjour.
• 🔌 Connect Mac to the router with a cable and check if the TV appears in the list.

Problem 2: The video is slow or choppy.

• 📶 Switch to range 5 GHz.
• 🔄 Close background apps on Mac (especially Zoom, Slack, torrents).
• 🖥️ Reduce the broadcast resolution to 1080p in the settings AirPlay.

Problem 3: There is no sound during broadcast.

• 🔊 Check if the sound on your TV or in MacOS (System Preferences → Sound).
• 🔄 Reconnect to AirPlay.
• 🛠️ Update your TV firmware.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to connect a Mac to a TV without a Smart TV?

Yes, but you will need an additional device:

• 📺 Apple TV (For AirPlay).
• 🔄 Chromecast or Miracast adapter (for broadcasting via browser).
• 🖥️ HDMI adapter with support Wi-Fi Direct (For example, ScreenBeam).

For TVs without HDMI (old models) will have to be used AV receiver or signal converter.

Why is there no sound in some apps when streaming via AirPlay?

Some programs (eg Zoom, Discord, browser games) block the transmission of sound through AirPlay due to copyright protection (DRM). Solutions:

• 🔊 Use DLNA for media files.
• 🖥️ Connect your headphones to your TV via Bluetooth.
• 🛠️ Turn on the mode Stereo in the sound settings Mac (System Preferences → Sound → Output).

How to cast your Mac screen to Android TV?

There are three ways:

1. AirPlay: If the TV supports (for example, Sony Bravia 2020+), enable the function in the settings Network → Apple AirPlay.
2. Miracast: Install on Mac AirParrot 3 and activate Screen Mirroring on TV.
3. Chromecast: Connect your device to your TV and stream via Google Chrome.

For Xiaomi Mi TV the app is also suitable Mi Home with function Screen Mirroring.

Is it possible to play games from a Mac to a TV using Wi-Fi?

Technically yes, but with some caveats:

• ✅ AirPlay (With Apple TV 4K): Latency ~50–100 ms (acceptable for strategies).
• ❌ Miracast/Chromecast: Latency ~200–300 ms (not suitable for shooters).
• 🎮 For serious gaming it is better to use wired connection (Thunderbolt → HDMI) or Steam Link.

If you play through Cloud Gaming (GeForce NOW, Xbox Cloud), broadcast directly from the server to TV - this will reduce lag.

How to improve 4K streaming quality over Wi-Fi?

Checklist for stability 4K:

• 📶 Use a router with Wi-Fi 6 (For example, ASUS RT-AX88U).
• 🔌 Connect Apple TV or TV to the router via cable (if possible).
• 🛡️ Disable it in your router settings Band Steering and manually select the channel 5 GHz (for example, 157).
• 🖥️ On Mac Close all programs except the content being streamed.
• 🔄 Reduce the bitrate in the settings AirPlay (if lags remain).

If the router does not support 5 GHz, maximum quality - 1080p.