iPhone Mirroring offers a seamless way to control your iPhone from your Mac, allowing you to respond to notifications, send messages, and navigate iOS apps without touching your phone. The feature is particularly useful for tasks that require extensive typing, such as composing long emails or editing documents on your iPhone. If you're experiencing issues with iPhone Mirroring, follow these steps to get it working again.

iPhone Mirroring Thumb 2

Check System Requirements

First, ensure your devices meet the minimum requirements for iPhone Mirroring:

  • Your Mac has an Apple silicon chip or T2 security chip
  • Your Mac is running macOS Sequoia or later
  • Your iPhone is running iOS 18 or later

Check Your Apple Account

ios 18 iphone 15 pro ipad pro two factor authentication
For iPhone Mirroring to work, both your Mac and iPhone must be signed in to the same Apple Account, and two-factor authentication needs to be enabled for the account.

Check Proximity and Connectivity

settings
Keep your iPhone close to your Mac, as iPhone Mirroring relies on Bluetooth. Make sure both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are turned on for both devices. If either is off, enable them in System Settings on your Mac and in Settings on your iPhone.

Additionally, make sure Personal Hotspot is not in use on your iPhone, and that your Mac is not sharing its internet connection or using AirPlay or Sidecar.

Restart Both Devices

A simple restart can often resolve connectivity issues. Power off both your Mac and iPhone, then turn them back on after a minute.

Check for Software Updates

settings
Ensure both your Mac and iPhone are running the latest software versions. On your Mac, go to System Settings ➝ General ➝ Software Update. On your iPhone, go to Settings ➝ General ➝ Software Update.

Disable VPN and Security Software

settings
Temporarily turn off any VPN services or third-party security software on both devices, as these can interfere with the connection.

Reset iPhone Mirroring

iphone mirroring reset settings
If issues persist, reset iPhone Mirroring settings. In the iPhone Mirroring app, go to iPhone Mirroring ➝ Settings, and click Reset iPhone Access. This will clear existing settings and allow you to set up the feature again from scratch.

Drag and Drop Won't Work?

finder
As of writing, Apple has not enabled file transfers for iPhone Mirroring, so you cannot currently transfer files, photos, and videos from your Mac to your ‌iPhone‌ and vice versa using drag and drop gestures. This capability will be enabled in Apple's forthcoming macOS Sequoia 15.1 update, which is expected to drop in late October 2024.

How Are Your Settings?

Depending on your issue, adjusting these iPhone Mirroring settings might help:

  1. Open the iPhone Mirroring app on your Mac.
  2. Go to iPhone Mirroring ➝ Settings in the menu bar.
  3. Choose between Ask Every Time or Authenticate Automatically for Mac login authentication.

settings

It's also worth noting that in System Settings ➝ Desktop & Dock, under the "Widgets" section, you'll find an option to select which iPhone to use if you have multiple devices.

No Luck?

If you've tried all these troubleshooting tips and iPhone Mirroring still isn't working, you may need to contact Apple Support for further assistance.

Popular Stories

iphone 16 pro colors 1

Is Now the Time to Upgrade Apple Devices Before Tariffs Lead to Price Increases?

Friday April 4, 2025 3:41 pm PDT by
If you have an older Apple device that you've been considering upgrading, you're probably wondering how the newly announced tariffs might impact prices going forward, and whether it's worth buying now before there's a price hike. Given analyst and economist responses to the tariffs, market panic, and Trump's stance on the current financial chaos, the answer is that making a purchase...
Alleged iOS 19 Icons Front Page Tech

iOS 19 Leak Reveals Alleged New Design With Rounder App Icons, Floating Tab Bar, and More

Monday April 7, 2025 3:13 pm PDT by
YouTube channel Front Page Tech is back today with another video that provides a closer look at iOS 19's alleged design changes. The video contains re-created renders of iOS 19, which are allegedly based on real footage of the software update, provided by sources within Apple. Overall, iOS 19 is expected to have a more glass-like, visionOS-inspired design, with added translucency for user...
2024 iPhone Boxes Feature

iPhones Could Cost Up to $2,300 in the U.S. Due to Tariffs, Analyst Says

Friday April 4, 2025 9:30 am PDT by
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that steep tariffs will be applied to imports from many countries, starting April 9. The tariffs could have a significant impact on Apple, as the company assembles the majority of iPhones in China, and products imported to the U.S. from China will be subject to a 54% tariff. iPhone prices could increase by up to 43% in the U.S. due to the...
iPhone 17 Pro 3 4ths Perspective Aluminum Camera Module 1

iPhone 17 Pro's New Rear Camera Bar 'Same Color As Rest of Device'

Monday April 7, 2025 2:09 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 Pro models will feature a redesigned rear camera panel that spans the width of the device, but it will be the same color as the iPhone itself, rather than being part of a two-tone design. That's according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, the reporter says the iPhone 17 Pro won't have a two-toned back, as some renders have...
iOS 19 Mock WWDC25 Feature

iOS 19 Expected to Run on These iPhones

Monday March 31, 2025 5:28 pm PDT by
iOS 19 will not be available on the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or the iPhone XS Max, according a private account on social media site X that has accurately provided information on device compatibility in the past. The iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max all have an A12 Bionic chip, so it looks like iOS 19 will discontinue support for that chip. All other iPhones that run iOS 18 are expected...
iphone x front back

Apple Planning 'Bold' New 20th Anniversary Design for 2027 iPhone Pro

Monday April 7, 2025 2:46 am PDT by
Apple is preparing a "major shake-up" for the iPhone's 20th anniversary in 2027, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. iPhone X released in 2017 for 10th anniversary Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman says that Apple plans to launch a foldable iPhone alongside a "bold" new iPhone Pro model that makes more extensive use of glass. Could this mean Apple plans to realize former...
top stories 2025 04 05

Top Stories: iOS 18.4 Released, New AirPods Max Features, and More

Saturday April 5, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
We're just two months away from WWDC where we'll get our first glimpses of iOS 19 and related updates, but this week saw the public release of iOS 18.4 with a number of changes and improvements including some audio improvements for the USB-C AirPods Max. This week also saw the first beta of iOS 18.5, a new rumor about iOS 19 compatibility, and Apple's work on haptic buttons that have yet to...
iOS 18

12 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18.4

Tuesday April 1, 2025 4:06 am PDT by
Apple has released iOS 18.4, bringing further refinements to Apple Intelligence features, a neat new capability to iPhone 15 Pro devices, new emoji, and more. While not quite as packed with new features as Apple's preceding iOS 18 point releases, iOS 18.4 still introduces enhancements that aim to make your iPhone smarter and more intuitive. Below, we've listed 12 new things your ‌iPhone‌ ...