Sharing (mirroring) Mac screen but using the Mac at the same time to do other things

Is it possible to mirror my screen to my smart TV using the mirror feature built in MacOS, but use my Mac at the same time to do completely different things, but the shared screen (video), still keeps playing on my TV?


I know how to mirror my screen to my TV, but then I can't figure out how to keep it playing while I exit the app/tab to use my Mac.


My Mac is Macbook Air 2017 Monterey 12.7.3

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 12.7

Posted on Mar 23, 2024 2:20 AM

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Posted on Mar 23, 2024 11:18 AM

Mirroring won't accomplish what you want to do, but Extended Desktop might. That "extends" your destop to cover both screens as if they were a single, large screen.


Enable Extended Desktop, then open the video you want to watch & move (drag) it to the Extended Desktop (aka your TV). You should then be able to continue other work on your main display while the video plays on the TV. Just remember that in this mode the two screens are actually a single desktop.


As for audio, the 2017 MBAir has a Thunderbolt2 port that is compatible with miniDisplayPort & HDMI video; but I do not believe it carries audio along with the video connection. You may need to connect your MBAir's headphone out to your TV's analog audio-in to get audio through your TV.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 23, 2024 11:18 AM in response to eloooo

Mirroring won't accomplish what you want to do, but Extended Desktop might. That "extends" your destop to cover both screens as if they were a single, large screen.


Enable Extended Desktop, then open the video you want to watch & move (drag) it to the Extended Desktop (aka your TV). You should then be able to continue other work on your main display while the video plays on the TV. Just remember that in this mode the two screens are actually a single desktop.


As for audio, the 2017 MBAir has a Thunderbolt2 port that is compatible with miniDisplayPort & HDMI video; but I do not believe it carries audio along with the video connection. You may need to connect your MBAir's headphone out to your TV's analog audio-in to get audio through your TV.

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Sharing (mirroring) Mac screen but using the Mac at the same time to do other things

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