iPhone Mirroring is one of the best new features introduced in macOS 15 Sequoia and iOS 18, offering a seamless way to control and interact with your iPhone directly from your Mac. Whether you’re looking to streamline your workflow or simply want to see your iPhone’s interface on a bigger screen, this feature provides a hassle-free experience. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about iPhone Mirroring, from setup to advanced features, and help you get the most out of it.
What is iPhone Mirroring and Why Should You Use It?
iPhone Mirroring allows you to mirror your iPhone’s screen onto your Mac, meaning you can view your iPhone apps and notifications directly from your computer. This is especially useful for multitasking, answering texts, accessing apps, and even transferring files without constantly switching between devices.
If you’re someone who spends a lot of time on your Mac and wants to minimize distractions, iPhone Mirroring is a game-changer. It’s like having your iPhone right there on your computer screen without needing to pick up your phone.
Requirements for iPhone Mirroring
Before you get started, here’s what you’ll need to make sure iPhone Mirroring works:
- Mac running macOS 15 Sequoia with either an Apple Silicon (M-series) chip or an Apple T2 security chip.
- iPhone running iOS 18.
- Both devices must be logged into the same Apple ID with two-factor authentication enabled.
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth must be turned on for both devices.
- Your iPhone must be locked or in StandBy mode, and it should be near your Mac for mirroring to work.
How to Set Up iPhone Mirroring
Now that you know the prerequisites, let’s walk through the steps to set up iPhone Mirroring on your Mac and iPhone.
- Ensure that you have the iPhone Mirroring app installed on your Mac. It should appear automatically after updating to macOS 15 Sequoia.If you don’t see it, open the Spotlight search on your Mac (Command + Space) and type “iPhone Mirroring.”
- Unlock your iPhone using your passcode. When prompted, unlock the iPhone Mirroring app on your Mac by entering your Mac’s password.
- Set up your notification preferences. You can choose whether to allow notifications from your iPhone on your Mac and whether you want automatic authentication for future sessions (more on that later).
- Once authenticated, iPhone Mirroring will launch and display your iPhone’s home screen on your Mac. You can now start using your iPhone from your Mac screen!
- To exit the mirroring session, you can either quit the iPhone Mirroring app or simply unlock your iPhone.
iPhone Mirroring Keyboard Shortcuts
Once iPhone Mirroring is set up, you can navigate it quickly using these keyboard shortcuts:
- Command-1: Go to the iPhone’s home screen.
- Command-2: Open the App Switcher.
- Command-3: Open Spotlight Search.
- Command-+ or Command– (minus): Resize the iPhone Mirroring window.
- Command-0: Reset the window to its original size.
These shortcuts are a huge time-saver, especially when you need to navigate between apps or adjust the window size quickly.
How to Use Your Mouse or Trackpad with iPhone Mirroring
You’re not limited to keyboard shortcuts—iPhone Mirroring also supports mouse and trackpad gestures. To navigate the iPhone interface using a mouse or trackpad:
- Move the cursor above the iPhone Mirroring window.
- You’ll see a border appear at the top of the window, and to the right of this border, there will be two buttons:
- Nine dots (left) – Opens the Home screen.
- App switcher (right) – Opens the app switcher to switch between apps.
This gives you the flexibility to navigate your iPhone just like you would on the device itself, but using your Mac’s mouse or trackpad.
Reducing Notification Overload with iPhone Mirroring
While iPhone Mirroring is an excellent tool for productivity, it can become distracting if all your iPhone notifications are mirrored onto your Mac. Here’s how you can manage notifications more effectively:
Option 1: Restrict Notifications from iPhone
- Unlock your iPhone and go to Settings > Notifications.
- Select the app you don’t want notifications from, and scroll down to disable the Show on Mac option. This will stop notifications for that app from appearing on your Mac, though they will still appear on your iPhone.
Option 2: Manage Notifications on Mac
- Open System Settings > Notifications on your Mac.
- Here, you can enable or disable notifications from specific apps and toggle the sound for iPhone notifications.
By customizing which notifications appear on your Mac, you can ensure that only the important ones show up while you’re working.
Automatically Authenticate iPhone Mirroring
By default, you’ll need to enter your Mac password and iPhone passcode each time you start iPhone Mirroring. However, if you’re in a trusted location, you can automatically authenticate your devices to save time.
To enable this feature:
- Open the iPhone Mirroring app on your Mac.
- Click the iPhone Mirroring menu in the top-left corner of your screen.
- Select Settings and enable the Automatically Authenticate option.
Now, iPhone Mirroring will launch without requiring you to manually enter passwords each time.
Transfer Files Between iPhone and Mac Using iPhone Mirroring
One of the most useful features of iPhone Mirroring is the ability to drag-and-drop files between your iPhone and Mac, bypassing the need for AirDrop or cables.
Here’s how to use the drag-and-drop feature:
- Open iPhone Mirroring on your Mac and locate the file you want to transfer (e.g., a photo, document, or video).
- Simply drag the file from your iPhone’s screen and drop it onto your Mac’s desktop or folder.
- You can also transfer files the other way around, moving files from your Mac to the iPhone.
This is a faster and more efficient way to transfer files compared to AirDrop.
Rearranging Your iPhone’s Home Screen from Your Mac
With iPhone Mirroring, you can even rearrange your iPhone’s home screen directly from your Mac.
- Click and hold an empty space on the iPhone’s home screen in the iPhone Mirroring app.
- You’ll see your apps and widgets start jiggling.
- Drag the apps and widgets around to rearrange them as you like. You can even click the Edit button to add new widgets or make further customizations.
This feature is perfect for making changes to your iPhone’s home screen layout without touching the device itself.
How to Stop iPhone Mirroring on Your Mac
If you want to stop using iPhone Mirroring with your Mac, follow these steps:
- On your iPhone, go to Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity > iPhone Mirroring.
- Tap Edit in the top-right corner and use the red minus icon next to the Mac you want to remove.
- Confirm by tapping Delete.
This will prevent your Mac from automatically accessing iPhone Mirroring in the future.
Conclusion
iPhone Mirroring is an incredibly powerful feature for anyone who wants to streamline their workflow and reduce distractions. Whether you’re looking to answer texts without reaching for your phone, transfer files more efficiently, or rearrange your iPhone’s home screen from the comfort of your Mac, this feature has got you covered. With just a few simple steps, you can start using iPhone Mirroring to boost your productivity and get more done without switching between devices.
Ready to give iPhone Mirroring a try? Let us know how it works for you in the comments below!
