Table of contents(13)+
- 01The 30-second test
- 02Method 1: Screen Mirroring from Control Center
- 03Method 2: Plug in a USB-C or HDMI cable
- 04Method 3: Cast one app or tab, not the whole desktop
- 05Method 4: Open AirPlay or HDMI on a Hisense with HiRemote
- 06Frequently Asked Questions
- 07How do I use screen mirroring on a Mac?
- 08How do I screen mirror a MacBook to a TV?
- 09Why is Screen Mirroring not showing my TV?
- 10Can I screen mirror a Mac without Wi-Fi?
- 11Does screen mirroring on Mac work with Hisense?
- 12Do I need an app for screen mirroring on a Mac?
- 13Related guides
Screen mirroring on a Mac sends your whole desktop to a TV over AirPlay or an HDMI cable. Open Control Center, click Screen Mirroring, and pick the TV. The Mac and the TV must share one Wi-Fi name. If the name never appears, use a USB-C HDMI cable. Fire TV has no AirPlay.
I last did this on a MacBook Pro 14 and a Hisense U8 on Google TV. The TV name showed up in two clicks. A MacBook Air next to a Hisense R6 Roku stayed empty until I opened Apple AirPlay and HomeKit. A Fire TV Stick 4K never appeared, so I used a USB-C HDMI cable.
The 30-second test
Do this before you hunt a hidden TV app. The test tells you which path below is real.
- Put the Mac and the TV on the same Wi-Fi. Skip guest networks.
- Wake the TV so the home screen is up. Sleep mode hides AirPlay.
- Click Control Center in the menu bar. It is the two-toggle icon at the top right.
- Click Screen Mirroring. Wait a few seconds for names to load.
If your TV name appears, use Method 1. If you only see Apple TVs and speakers, the set is not an AirPlay receiver. Use Method 2 or Method 3. A free HDMI port means a cable will work on any TV.
Lost the Hisense remote and need to tap Allow or open AirPlay? Download HiRemote on an iPhone. The App Store lists it as Remote for Hisense Smart TV (4.4 from 1,600+ ratings). The app pairs over home Wi-Fi in about 30 seconds. HiRemote does not send the Mac screen. On a Hisense Roku TV, the Roku remote online can open Settings from this Mac.
Method 1: Screen Mirroring from Control Center
Screen Mirroring is the free built-in path. Apple sends the whole desktop over AirPlay. The TV must sit on the same Wi-Fi and have AirPlay turned on.
Turn AirPlay on if the TV has that menu. On a Hisense VIDAA set, go to Settings > System > Apple AirPlay & HomeKit > On. On Hisense Google TV, open the Apple AirPlay app from the home row. On a Hisense Roku TV, update first, then go to Settings > Apple AirPlay and HomeKit > AirPlay > On. Roku OS 9.4 or newer is required.
- Put the Mac and the TV on the same Wi-Fi. Skip guest.
- Click Control Center in the menu bar.
- Click Screen Mirroring, then pick the TV.
- Enter the 4-digit code on the TV if asked.
- Stop later from the same Screen Mirroring tile.
Apple lists the rules in its AirPlay guide. Guest Wi-Fi, a work VPN, or a 5 GHz / 2.4 GHz split can hide the set. Fire TV has no AirPlay. Many budget sets never licensed it. Same-network failures on a Hisense often start with Wi-Fi. See how to connect a Hisense TV to Wi-Fi.
When it will not work: the TV is asleep, AirPlay is off, or the set never had an AirPlay receiver. A blank list is the tell. Do not keep refreshing. Move to a cable. AirPlay is not Bluetooth. See whether Bluetooth screen mirroring works if that is the path you were sold.
Method 2: Plug in a USB-C or HDMI cable
A cable is the official path for any TV with HDMI. The adapter shows the whole desktop. AirPlay and Wi-Fi are not required.
Most MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models use USB-C or Thunderbolt. Use a USB-C to HDMI cable or Apple's USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter. Older Macs with an HDMI port take a plain HDMI cable.
- Plug the HDMI cable into a free HDMI port on the TV.
- Plug the other end into the Mac or the adapter.
- Switch the TV input to that HDMI port.
- Wake the Mac. The desktop should appear on the TV.
Apple documents the wireless path in that same AirPlay guide. Cheap no-name adapters often show no signal. Apps that block HDCP can fail on knockoffs. Keep the Mac awake. A sleeping Mac can sit on a black frame. If a stick uses your only HDMI port, unplug it or add a switch.
When it will not work: you lack the right adapter, or you never change the input. A locked or sleeping Mac can also drop the picture. For a no-network walkthrough, see can you screen mirror without Wi-Fi.
You are holding an HDMI cable and the Hisense is stuck on the wrong input. Open HiRemote on an iPhone on the same Wi-Fi, then tap Source. The app is free (4.4 from 1,600+ ratings). On a Hisense Roku TV you can also use the browser remote: type the TV IP from Settings > Network > About. HiRemote will not screen mirror the Mac.
Method 3: Cast one app or tab, not the whole desktop
You often do not need a full screen mirror. YouTube and many streaming apps can send one video to the TV app. The Mac desktop stays on the Mac. One video on the TV is still what most people want.
- Put the Mac and the TV on the same Wi-Fi. Not guest.
- Open the same app on the TV, or leave the TV on the home screen.
- Open the app on the Mac.
- Tap the Cast, AirPlay, or TV icon. Pick the TV.
- Play the video on the Mac. It should start on the TV.
There is no system-wide Cast on a Mac. Each app decides. Browser pages and the desktop will not appear this way unless you use Method 1 or Method 2. Photos and Finder windows usually need HDMI or AirPlay instead. Fire TV has no AirPlay, so this one-app cast or a cable is the real path.
When it will not work: the app has no TV target. You signed into different accounts. The TV is offline. Guest Wi-Fi hides the set. Do not treat Safari or Chrome as a TV remote. They can send one video. They cannot press Source or volume on a Hisense.
Method 4: Open AirPlay or HDMI on a Hisense with HiRemote
HiRemote does not screen mirror the Mac. It is a Hisense TV remote. The app still matters when you lost the clicker and need Settings, Source, or an Allow prompt.
- Put an iPhone and the Hisense on the same Wi-Fi.
- On many VIDAA sets: Home > Settings > Network > Mobile Phone Remote Control > On.
- Download HiRemote (listed as Remote for Hisense Smart TV) and pick your Hisense model.
- Follow the pairing steps. The app talks to the TV over local Wi-Fi.
- Use the D-pad to open Settings, switch HDMI, or launch Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, or Disney+.
- Use the keyboard when an app asks for a password.
On a Hisense Roku TV, the Roku remote online can open Settings from this Mac. Use it if you would rather not install an app first. Then go back to Method 1 and click Screen Mirroring. Roku documents AirPlay in its Apple AirPlay and HomeKit article.
When it will not work: HiRemote is not a screen mirror tool. The app is for iPhone and iPad, not a Mac. It focuses on Hisense TVs, not a Samsung or LG. TV and phone must share the same LAN. Guest Wi-Fi will fail. Very old VIDAA builds (VIDAA 3.0 or earlier) do not expose the network control API. Bluetooth game controllers still pair to the TV, not through the app.
Here is a quick map of the four paths.
| Path | Full Mac screen? | Needs Wi-Fi | When it fails |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirPlay (Method 1) | Yes | Yes | No AirPlay on the TV, guest Wi-Fi |
| HDMI cable (Method 2) | Yes | No | No spare HDMI, cheap adapter, sleeping Mac |
| One-app cast (Method 3) | No | Yes | No Cast icon, guest Wi-Fi, different accounts |
| HiRemote on a Hisense (Method 4) | No — it is a remote | Yes | Not a Hisense, or you need the picture sent |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I use screen mirroring on a Mac?
You use screen mirroring on a Mac from Control Center. Click Screen Mirroring, then pick the TV. The Mac and TV must share one Wi-Fi name. Enter the AirPlay code if the set shows one. If the list stays empty, use a USB-C HDMI cable. Fire TV will not appear in that list. Hisense VIDAA, Google TV, and many Roku sets from 2020 on do.
How do I screen mirror a MacBook to a TV?
You screen mirror a MacBook to a TV the same way you do on any Mac. Open Control Center, click Screen Mirroring, and pick the TV. A MacBook Air and a MacBook Pro use the same AirPlay path. If the TV name never shows, plug a USB-C HDMI cable into a free HDMI port. Switch the TV input. Fire TV still needs that cable.
Why is Screen Mirroring not showing my TV?
Screen Mirroring hides a TV when the set has no AirPlay or sits on a different network. Put the Mac and TV on the same Wi-Fi, not guest. Wake the TV so the home screen is up. On a Hisense Roku TV, turn on Settings > Apple AirPlay and HomeKit. If the name still never appears, use the HDMI cable. A work VPN can hide the set too.
Can I screen mirror a Mac without Wi-Fi?
Yes, you can screen mirror a Mac without Wi-Fi if you use an HDMI cable. Use a USB-C to HDMI cable or Apple's USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter. Plug the cable into a free HDMI port and switch the TV input. AirPlay always needs Wi-Fi. The cable does not. Some streaming apps still block HDMI and show a black frame.
Does screen mirroring on Mac work with Hisense?
Yes, screen mirroring on a Mac works with many Hisense TVs from 2020 on that have AirPlay. Turn AirPlay on in Settings, then use Control Center. Hisense Fire TV has no AirPlay, so use HDMI. A Hisense Roku TV needs Settings > Apple AirPlay and HomeKit first. For phone-only paths, see how to mirror your iPhone to a Hisense TV.
Do I need an app for screen mirroring on a Mac?
No, you do not need an app for screen mirroring on a Mac if the TV has AirPlay. Screen Mirroring is built into macOS. You only need a TV-side app on sets with no AirPlay, such as Fire TV. A remote app like HiRemote is separate. HiRemote controls a Hisense TV from an iPhone. It does not screen mirror your Mac.
