Skip to main content

AirPlay will work between multiple Macs for wireless screen sharing

AirPlay for Mac was one of the big features announced for MacOS Monterey, but now we have some additional clarification on how you can use AirPlay between multiple Macs.

As confirmed by MacRumors, we now know for sure that AirPlaying content to a Mac from another Mac is possible both wirelessly and via a USB cable. While the latter will tether you to a wire, it ensures a stutter-free connection with zero latency. It is also particularly useful for situations with no internet access.

MacOS Monterey and iPadOS 15 at Apple's WWDC 2021 show
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The recently released key feature allows users to extend or duplicate their display on a Mac to another Mac. MacRumors has tested the feature and can verify the company’s claim. A Mac can wirelessly, or via a wired connection, connect to another Mac and use it as an external display. This means Apple has almost gone back to its Target Display Mode feature, through which Mac users could use iMacs as another Mac’s display. We saw this feature in Apple’s 2009 to 2014 iMac models, which allowed AirPlaying from other Macs both wirelessly and with a USB cable, just like MacOS Monterey’s new feature.

Recommended Videos

However, it is important to note that there are also significant differences between the two. The new mirroring feature isn’t completely identical to the Target Display Mode feature in terms of compression and latency. Theories suggest that the new feature compresses videos, and you might still experience some delay despite the company’s claims of zero latency.

Apart from AirPlaying visual content from Apple devices to Macs, the new feature also allows the supported Mac to act as a speaker source. Users can now stream the audio of their choice from their Apple devices to a Mac. They can also use the Mac as an extra speaker for multi-room audio.

MacOS’ latest feature also boasts flexible compatibility. It works with a 2018 or later MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, a 2019 or later iMac or Mac Pro, and the 2020 Mac mini. It is currently available in beta exclusively for developers and will be available for the public in July. Somewhere between September and November, a software update will be released for all compatible Macs.

Dua Rashid
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Dua is a media studies graduate student at The New School. She has been hooked on technology since she was a kid and used to…
I’d never use a Mac without first changing these 8 security settings
Security and Privacy settings open on a MacBook.

If you’ve got one of the best MacBooks or Macs, the chances are good that you do an awful lot of sensitive stuff on your computer. Think about all the passwords you enter, the emails you send and receive, and the documents you create -- all of those can provide a treasure trove of data to any sticky-fingered ne’er-do-wells who manage to gain access to your device.

To prevent the worst from happening, it’s a good idea to beef up your Mac security. The good news is that doing so is far easier than you might think, and there are a handful of macOS settings you can change right now to keep your Mac -- and all the information it holds about you -- safe from prying eyes.

Read more
I finally tried Apple Intelligence in macOS Sequoia to see if it lived up to the hype
The redeisgned Siri user interface in macOS Sequoia.

For the last few years, Apple’s macOS releases have been interesting, if not particularly exciting. But that’s all set to change this year with the launch of macOS Sequoia, and it’s all thanks to one feature: Apple Intelligence.

Apple’s artificial intelligence (AI) platform has the potential to completely change how you use your Mac on a daily basis. From generating images, rewriting emails, and summarizing your audio recordings to revamping Siri into a much more capable virtual assistant, Apple Intelligence could be the most significant new macOS feature in years.

Read more
You can finally try out Apple Intelligence on your Mac. Here’s how
macOS Sequoia being introduced by Apple's Craig Federighi at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024.

The second developer beta of macOS Sequoia is open for business and it includes Apple Intelligence features. It looks like anyone can try it out as long as you're not in China. That includes people in the EU -- even though the AI features might not launch there right away. The features available for testing include Writing Tools, Siri, Safari and Mail summaries, Smart Replies, Memory Movies, transcription features, Reduce Interruptions Focus Mode, and a few more. If you want to have a look yourself, here's everything you need to do to download the beta and activate Apple Intelligence.

Before you start, make sure you've backed up your Mac with Time Machine so you can restore the previous version if anything goes wrong. You can also use a secondary device if you have another Apple silicon Mac lying around because beta versions can go wrong and you have to download them at your own risk.

Read more