Table of contents(13)+
- 01The 30-second test
- 02Method 1: AirPlay from Control Center
- 03Method 2: HDMI cable, no Wi-Fi
- 04Method 3: Turn on AirPlay on a Hisense TV
- 05Method 4: Use HiRemote while you mirror
- 06Frequently Asked Questions
- 07How do I screen mirror a MacBook to a TV?
- 08Can you screen mirror a MacBook to a TV without Wi-Fi?
- 09Why won't my MacBook screen mirror to my Hisense TV?
- 10Does screen mirroring work from a MacBook to a Roku TV?
- 11Do I need an app to screen mirror a MacBook to a TV?
- 12Can I screen mirror a MacBook to a TV with HDMI?
- 13Related guides
To screen mirror a MacBook to a TV, open Control Center, click Screen Mirroring, and choose your TV. Your Mac and TV must share the same Wi-Fi, and the TV needs AirPlay. No AirPlay? Use a USB-C-to-HDMI cable and switch the TV input. A remote app only changes inputs; it does not send the Mac picture.
I do this on a 2022 MacBook Air M2 and a 14-inch MacBook Pro. The Hisense sets in the house are a U7K on VIDAA and an R6 Roku TV. I start in Control Center. If the TV is missing, I plug HDMI into the R6 and move on.
The 30-second test
Decide the path before you hunt settings. Open Control Center on the Mac. Then look at the TV.
- Your TV is in the Screen Mirroring list: use Method 1. That is AirPlay.
- The list is empty: use Method 2. HDMI does not need AirPlay.
- The Mac is sending, but the TV still shows Netflix: you are on the wrong input. Jump to Method 3.
- You lost the Hisense remote: Method 4 gets you into Source and Settings from your phone.
If the Mac is ready and the Hisense is stuck on an app, you need Source, not another Mac toggle. HiRemote (listed as Remote for Hisense Smart TV) is a free iPhone remote — 4.4 from 1,600+ ratings. It pairs over the same Wi-Fi in about 30 seconds. On a Hisense Roku TV, the browser remote can change inputs with no app install.
Method 1: AirPlay from Control Center
This is the built-in wireless path. It is the one people mean by screen mirroring a MacBook to a TV. Apple documents it in Use AirPlay to stream content.
Do this:
- Put the Mac and the TV on the same home Wi-Fi. Guest networks often hide the TV. If the Hisense is offline, use our Wi-Fi setup guide first.
- On the Mac, click Control Center in the menu bar. It looks like two small toggles.
- Click Screen Mirroring.
- Click your TV name.
- Type the AirPlay code if the TV shows one.
Older macOS builds show an AirPlay icon in the menu bar instead. Same idea. Pick the TV there.
Want the same picture on both screens? Open System Settings > Displays after it connects. Choose Mirror if the Mac treated the TV as a second desktop.
When it will not work: the TV has no AirPlay. You are on guest Wi-Fi. A VPN is on. The TV is asleep. On Fire TV Edition sets I have set up, I used HDMI.
Method 2: HDMI cable, no Wi-Fi
This is the path I trust. It works on every TV with an HDMI port. It does not care about AirPlay, apps, or a smart OS.
- If your Mac has no HDMI port, get a USB-C-to-HDMI adapter. MacBook Air M1, M2, and M3 need one. Many 14-inch MacBook Pro models already have HDMI.
- Run an HDMI cable from the adapter (or the Mac) to a free HDMI port on the TV.
- On the TV, press Source or Input and pick that HDMI.
- On the Mac, open System Settings > Displays. Choose Mirror if you want one picture, not an extra desktop.
No Wi-Fi is required. That is why this wins in hotels and on older sets.
When it will not work: the TV is on HDMI 2 and you used HDMI 1. The adapter is loose. A closed-lid MacBook needs a charger. Try another HDMI port before you blame the Mac.
| Path | Needs Wi-Fi | Carries the Mac screen | When I pick it |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirPlay (Method 1) | Yes | Yes | TV lists AirPlay and I want no cable |
| HDMI (Method 2) | No | Yes | Long movie, old TV, or empty AirPlay list |
| HiRemote / browser remote | Phone and TV on Wi-Fi | No | Change Source or open Settings |
Method 3: Turn on AirPlay on a Hisense TV
The Mac can only list a TV that already offers AirPlay. Hisense ships four platforms, so the row is not in one place. I look under Settings for AirPlay, Apple AirPlay, or Screen Mirroring.
Rough map:
- VIDAA (U-series, many A-series): open Settings and search those labels. The row moves by year. I will not pretend every VIDAA build has it.
- Roku TV (R6, R7, R8, R9): open Settings > Apple AirPlay and HomeKit if that row exists. Roku "Screen Mirroring" is a Windows/Android path. It is not how a Mac connects.
- Google TV: check Settings for AirPlay. If you only see Cast, that is not a full Mac desktop mirror.
- Fire TV Edition: if AirPlay is missing, use HDMI.
Phone-to-Hisense steps live in our Hisense screen-mirror guide. That job is a phone, not a MacBook. Do not mix the two.
When it will not work: the set never had AirPlay. The TV is on a different SSID than the Mac. HDMI is then the honest fix, not another app.
Need to open Settings and the plastic remote is gone? Use HiRemote on the same Wi-Fi: pick your Hisense model, pair, then use Settings and the D-pad. For a Hisense Roku TV, type the TV IP into the browser remote (Settings > Network > About) and tap Home.
Method 4: Use HiRemote while you mirror
HiRemote does not send the Mac desktop. Say that out loud. It replaces the Hisense remote so you can hit Source, volume, and Settings while AirPlay or HDMI does the picture.
On iPhone:
- Download HiRemote (App Store name: Remote for Hisense Smart TV). It is free to install. Put the iPhone and the TV on the same Wi-Fi.
- Open the app and select your Hisense model from the list.
- Follow the pairing steps.
- Tap Source to land on the HDMI you plugged in, or open Settings to hunt for AirPlay. Use the D-pad the same way you use the original remote.
Hisense Roku TV and no iPhone app? Use the in-browser Roku remote. Type the IP from Settings > Network > About. That page talks to the TV on your LAN. It does not work that way for VIDAA, Google TV, or Fire TV.
When it will not work: the phone is on cellular. The TV is on guest Wi-Fi. Very old VIDAA (About says 3.0 or earlier) has no network control API. Then you need the physical remote or the buttons on the set.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I screen mirror a MacBook to a TV?
Open Control Center on the Mac, click Screen Mirroring, and pick the TV. That is AirPlay, and it is built into macOS. The Mac and TV must share one Wi-Fi network, and the TV must support AirPlay. If the TV never appears, use a USB-C-to-HDMI cable and change the TV input. You do not need a Mac mirroring app for either path.
Can you screen mirror a MacBook to a TV without Wi-Fi?
Yes. Use an HDMI cable and a USB-C adapter if your Mac has no HDMI port. AirPlay needs Wi-Fi. HDMI does not. This is the path I use on hotel TVs and on older Hisense sets with no AirPlay row. Switch the TV to that HDMI input after you plug in. The Mac picture should appear in a few seconds.
Why won't my MacBook screen mirror to my Hisense TV?
The usual cause is no AirPlay on that Hisense, or the Mac and TV sit on different Wi-Fi names. Guest networks and VPNs also hide the set. Open Control Center and see if the TV is listed. If it is not, plug in HDMI and press Source. Bluetooth will not carry the Mac screen.
Does screen mirroring work from a MacBook to a Roku TV?
Only if that Roku TV offers AirPlay. If Settings has no AirPlay row, use HDMI. Roku's own "Screen Mirroring" menu is for Windows and Android, not a Mac. The cable path works on every Roku TV with an HDMI port. Change Source after you plug in.
Do I need an app to screen mirror a MacBook to a TV?
No. AirPlay and HDMI are built in. A phone remote does not replace those paths. HiRemote is useful after the cable or AirPlay is ready, because you still have to change inputs and volume on a Hisense. It will not throw the Mac desktop onto the TV by itself.
Can I screen mirror a MacBook to a TV with HDMI?
Yes. HDMI is a full desktop mirror, and it is usually sharper than AirPlay. Plug USB-C-to-HDMI into the Mac, then pick that HDMI input on the TV. Open System Settings > Displays if the Mac extends instead of mirrors. This works when the TV has no smart features at all.
