User profile for user: bugmenow
bugmenow Author
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How Do I Connect Apple TV on Mac to stream photos onto Sony Smart TV?

Years ago I had an Apple TV box and was able to stream home videos, photos, etc onto our TV from the Mac. I've been trying for weeks to do a variety of things to interface but to no avail. And I'm up to my ears in googled Apple Support...none of which seems to apply.

I have Apple TV on the Mac as well as on the 2018 Sony Smart TV. But I can't get the Apple TV app on the Sony to display "Library" so I can select something from my computer to watch. It also doesn't help that Sony is an android platform with Chromecast which doesn't interface with iPhone. And I'm pretty sure I don't have AirPlay on this TV. I've signed into both with Apple ID...but I'm about to just buy the Apple Box again and plug it in... as that seems the only way to make this happen. Help!

iMac (2017 – 2020)

Posted on Jun 12, 2024 3:30 PM

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User profile for user: Urquhart1244
Urquhart1244
User level: Level 10
146,232 points

Posted on Jun 12, 2024 11:14 PM

The Apple TV app on third party devices is not for streaming home videos or photos. Despite the name similarity, the Apple TV app on your TV is quite different from the Apple TV app on your Mac. The Apple TV app on third party devices only covers the commercial aspect (buy/rent/subscribe content) of the Apple TV app on the Apple TV box. The Apple TV box offers much more.

The Apple TV box is very beneficial (imho) for all kinds of reasons, far surpassing Apple TV app on smart TVs.

For sharing the Mac’s Apple TV App Library, you will need the Apple Home Sharing function of the Apple TV box.


Relatively modern smart TVs may support the Apple TV app and some may support AirPlay as well, but these are separate functions. A third party device can support one without the other. It is about what the manufacturer chooses to support per model. (For Sony 2018 TV models, I think it is only the A9F and Z9F that support AirPlay.) As you may know, the Apple TV box can help bring that AirPlay receiving functionality. Use AirPlay to stream what’s on your Mac to a (supported) HDTV or Apple TV box - Apple Support

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User profile for user: Urquhart1244
Urquhart1244
User level: Level 10
146,232 points

Jun 12, 2024 11:14 PM in response to bugmenow

The Apple TV app on third party devices is not for streaming home videos or photos. Despite the name similarity, the Apple TV app on your TV is quite different from the Apple TV app on your Mac. The Apple TV app on third party devices only covers the commercial aspect (buy/rent/subscribe content) of the Apple TV app on the Apple TV box. The Apple TV box offers much more.

The Apple TV box is very beneficial (imho) for all kinds of reasons, far surpassing Apple TV app on smart TVs.

For sharing the Mac’s Apple TV App Library, you will need the Apple Home Sharing function of the Apple TV box.


Relatively modern smart TVs may support the Apple TV app and some may support AirPlay as well, but these are separate functions. A third party device can support one without the other. It is about what the manufacturer chooses to support per model. (For Sony 2018 TV models, I think it is only the A9F and Z9F that support AirPlay.) As you may know, the Apple TV box can help bring that AirPlay receiving functionality. Use AirPlay to stream what’s on your Mac to a (supported) HDTV or Apple TV box - Apple Support

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How Do I Connect Apple TV on Mac to stream photos onto Sony Smart TV?

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