Why isn't iPhone mirroring work?

Question

Why isn't iPhone mirroring work?

After updating both my Macbook Air 2022 (the one with the M1 chip) to Version 15.0.1 and my iPhone 14 to iOS 18.0.1, I can't use the new iPhone mirroring app on my laptop. It keeps giving me the "Unable to Connect to iPhone" message. I checked for everything, made sure that they were connected to the same internet, turned on bluetooth for both, both signed in to the same iCloud account, basically everything that it told me to do. Yet it still failed. Also, I saw on a few youtube videos discussing this that on their phones, they have an option in Settings > General > Airplay and Continuity that allowed them to see which macs they can mirror to, called "iPhone Mirroring". This setting doesn't show up on my iPhone. Why is this?

Any help is welcome, thanks in advance

iPhone 14, iOS 18

Posted on Oct 7, 2024 4:16 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

tanawitsuteewong Author

Level 1

12 points

Oct 8, 2024 4:39 AM in response to rom.ph

Yea I checked for everything on the list, still doesn't work. I tried turning bluetooth and wifi off and then back on on both devices, restarted both of them, basically the whole list. Still doesn't work.

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Answer 2

Oct 14, 2024 10:56 AM in response to tanawitsuteewong

I had the same issue once I updated the IOS on my macbook and then I restarted the iphone and then it worked.

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Answer 3

Nov 10, 2024 1:48 AM in response to sassy monkey

Yeah this is also the same for me. I tried everything the websites told me but it still doesn't work :(

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Answer 4

Oct 30, 2024 10:57 AM in response to sassy monkey

Also tried logging out of Apple ID on both iPhone and Mac without success. There was also some commands in Terminal used to restart something related and remove a ~/Library .plist file. Didn't help.

Couple odd things I notice that both devices have no entries for each other in their mirroring Settings:

Example is iOS Settings -> General -> AirPlay & Continuity -> iPhone Mirroring. There is no iPhone Mirroring there let alone a reference to my Mac.

Similarly, there's no reference to my iPhone in my Mac Settings -> Desktop & Dock -> Widgets -> iPhone.

See steps 7 / 8 on this webpage.

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Answer 5

Nov 7, 2024 10:12 AM in response to sassy monkey

I've been searching the web everyday for any help and still no luck.

I found the most comprehensive iPhone Mirroring help page that will hopefully help others.

_____

iPHONE / MAC BLUETOOTH PAIRING

One thing that still confuses me is the fact that my iPhone won't connect via Bluetooth to either of my Macbook Pros (13" 2017 Intel and 14" M3 2024). Specifically, the MacBooks never sees the iPhone in Mac OS Bluetooth Settings panel. But my iPhone WILL see both of my MacBooks in the Other Devices section of its Bluetooth Settings. However, I always get an error when selecting my MacBook: Pairing Unsuccessful.

This has been the case over at least a few years across multiple devices so I doubt it's an issue. Also, according to various forum posts from "Apple engineers" there is no need for direct Bluetooth Pairing between iPhones / Macs since Big Sur OS. Nowadays it's lower level access and many system services connect via Bluetooth without having to manually pair them.

Ok but it's odd that I can see my MacBooks in my iPhone Bluetooth Other Devices at all then. If there's no need to pair them, I don't see why Apple engineers would allow my MacBook to show up on the iPhone only to fail permanently. Ugh.

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Answer 6

rom.ph

Level 4

1,965 points

Oct 7, 2024 4:56 PM in response to tanawitsuteewong

This might not be new to you, but have there is a support document about iPhone mirroring here - iPhone Mirroring: Use your iPhone from your Mac - Apple Support - includes settings you need on both devices.

Good luck.

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Answer 7

Oct 29, 2024 11:33 AM in response to tanawitsuteewong

I'm using M3 Macbook Pro / OS 15.1 and iPhone 13 Pro / iOS 18.1 and cannot get a connection.

I live in the U.S. and I've followed all troubleshooters on the official iPhone Mirroring help doc without success.

Also tried these 7 steps.

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Answer 8

Evanc116

Level 1

7 points

Nov 14, 2024 2:06 AM in response to tanawitsuteewong

I can also confirm that as of macOS 15.1 and iOS 18.1, it still does not work. This is with iPhone 13 Pro and Macbook Air M3. I am also in the US and meet all the requirements, and I completed all troubleshooting steps on the support document including rebooting.

When I launch the iPhone Mirroring app, for a split second it will say Unlock iPhone and then promptly display unable to connect. The app gives the impression that it is not even trying.

I will just file this under broken/buggy new feature that will probably be fixed in the next year or so.

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