How to mirror the screen of your iPhone and iPad

View your device screen on Mac or larger TV screen. You can play games, browse the web, update Facebook, and do everything your iPhone or iPad or even iPod Touch can do using your HDTV as a display. And it works with almost any app. Screen mirroring of your iPhone and iPad is also sometimes called display mirroring.

How your iPhone and iPad screen mirroring works

Perhaps the least expensive way to connect your device to your TV is to use Apple's Digital AV Adapter, which is an HDMI adapter for your iPhone or iPad. The other option is to use an Apple TV to connect the device to the TV without cables.

Apple TV offers many of the features to connect your iPhone or iPad to the TV without using your mobile device. For example, you can stream videos from Hulu, Netflix, and other sources using Apple TV. When you need to use an app on your iPhone or iPad and mirror the screen to your TV, Apple TV lets you do it wirelessly. On the flip side, it is slightly more expensive.

What does AirPlay have to do with mirroring the screen of your iPhone and iPad

AirPlay is Apple's method of sending audio and video wirelessly between devices. When you use Apple TV to cast your iPhone or iPad screen to your TV, the process involves AirPlay. You don't have to do anything special to set up AirPlay. It's a built-in feature in iOS, so it's already on your device and ready to use.

Use the Apple Digital AV Adapter or Apple TV for screen mirroring of your iPhone and iPad

When using a digital AV adapter, screen mirroring should start automatically. The only requirement is that the TV source is on the same HDMI input as the digital AV adapter.

The adapter accepts both an HDMI cable and a Lightning cable, which is the same cable that comes with your iPhone or iPad. This versatility allows you to keep the device plugged into a power source while plugging it into your TV.

With an Apple TV, launch AirPlay on the iPhone or iPad to send the screen to the TV. Swipe up from the bottom edge of the device to activate the iOS Control Center. AirPlay Mirroring switches from this control panel. When you tap the button, you will see a list of devices that support AirPlay. Apple TV will normally appear as "Apple TV" unless you have renamed it in the Apple TV settings.

Renaming your Apple TV can be a good idea if you've deployed several Apple TV devices in your household. Rename it by going to Settings, choosing AirPlay, then choosing Apple TV Name.

AirPlay works by sending audio and video over the Wi-Fi network, so your iPhone or iPad must connect to the same network as your Apple TV.

Because screen mirroring doesn't use the whole screen

The screen on the iPhone and iPad uses a different aspect ratio than an HDTV screen. Likewise, HDTV screens exhibit a different aspect ratio than older TVs that run on standard definition screens. The iPhone and iPad display appears in the center of the TV screen with darkened edges.

Apps that support video out feature take up the entire screen. These apps usually display at 1080p. Most importantly, you don't need to do anything to switch between modes. The device will do this by itself when it detects the app sending a video signal.

Use Screen Mirroring to play on your TV

One of the best reasons to mirror your iPhone and iPad screen is to play games on the big screen. This feature is perfect for racing games that use the device as a steering wheel or board games where the whole family can join in the fun.