Can I connect apple tv directly to mac over wifi?

Welcome to the Apple Community.

You should be able to set up an ad hoc network and have limited use of the Apple TV, but ideally you'd be better with a permanent network.

I assume you are using someone else's network to connect to this community.

From the wifi icon in the menu bar select the option to create a network.

Choose a name and a channel and select OK.

Mmmm, just done the same thing myself, all other iOS devices see my Ad Hoc network and indeed my Apple TV 1's do to, but my Apple Tv 2 didn't. I'll keep investigating.

Thinking a little more about this, I'm fairly sure I've tested this before and had the Apple TV connect to the network, I'm wondering if recent software updates have changed this.

I don't know "ad hoc" from shinola. However, I do have an ATV2 with the latest software and it DOES stream all my iTunes files via my home network router (wifi) from my MBP (also with the latest software). In setup, I assume you can "see" your home network.

Once you can see your network, I "think" there is a waiting period before being able to actually stream data or so it seemed to me. I'm wondering if there was some "indexing" going on? Pure speculation base on it taking a while before my MPB showed up under "Computers".

I also have "home sharing" turned on in iTunes.

This used to work fine before for me, but I am now unable to get it to work.

It must be either a recent Apple TV update or upgrade to Lion that has stopped it working.

It's a shame as it was handy for when travelling with no wifi access.

I am attempting the exact same thing. Connect ATV2 to macbook directly via a Wi-Fi "computer-to-computer" network (OSX Lion). ATV2 does not see the network; my iMac does see the network, but I think it was listed as a "Device".

Any chance of an update to this thread??? Did you get it working?

I did get it to work last night. On my macbook running OSX-Lion, .....

• Create your network on the macbook.
• Go to "System Preferences->Sharing". Or, you can open "Internet Sharing" from WiFi icon after creating network.
• Select "Internet Sharing" (e.g. but, don't enable yet).
• Set "Share your connection from:" to "Ethernet Adaptor (en4)".
• Set "To computers using:" to "Wi-Fi".
• Enable Internet Sharing by checking the checkbox.

Then go to ATV2 and you should see your network; select it and it should come up with a screen telling you that the Internet Connection Failed; but it gives you the option to "Continue Without Internet". Select that and you should be connected. Go back to ATV2 main menu and you should see your iTunes library listed under Computers.

Thing is it doesn't seem to honor security settings specified when creating network. At least, ATV2 didn't prompt me for a password, but it still connected.

Plus, I can't seem to play movies that were purchased via iTunes store. It says "Authorization is required". I can play movies that I have ripped.

I've tried the above steps outlined by "BBucy".

Did this work for anyone?

I work on a cruise ship teaching people how to use Apple products and it would be awesome to use wireless Video Mirroring. However, I don't have constant access to a wireless network.

I would like to create my own ad-hoc network using my MacBook to connect with my ATV2 as well.

I tried it with a laptop running Snow Leopard and it worked perfectly.

But I really need it to work on a Mac running OSX Lion.

I've tried the above steps outlined by "BBucy" but ATV2 still does not see the network.

Please let me know if anyone else has any other suggestions.

WorldWideWarren wrote:

Please let me know if anyone else has any other suggestions.

FYI, I got those steps to work when I was doing my initial research into my setup. I've since added additional requirements (e.g. ability to listen to music via airplay at home and on-the-road). I went ahead and purchased a refurbished airport express for $69. This allows me to stream music to a remote pair of speakers and the creation of a wireless network which both ATV and laptop can connect to.

I did try this setup in a remote location (e.g. no internet). Airplay worked flawlessly streaming music. I was also able to play most movies via itunes on my macbook (e.g. sending output to ATV via airplay). There was a couple of movies purchased from itunes that would not play due to "Authorization" issues. I'm thinking the movies that did not play, probably had never been played on my macbook when it was connected to the internet, I had copied those movies from my imac. Note, all ripped movies play without issue.

I really recommend the airport express route, cheap and that little wireless router can be used in so many ways (e.g. better than duck-tape).

Hi WorldWideWarren

Have you found the solution? I am having the same issue. When I run OSX 10.6, I could use "internet sharing" to connect my music player to my macbook via wifi without actually connect my mac to the Internet. However with OSX 10.7 Lion, "internet sharing" requires actual connection to the Internet. All I need is to stream the music files in my Mac via wifi to my music player (Logitech Squeeze Box 3), and I don't always have access to the Internet. Of course an Airport Express or any router would solve the problem, but that means one more device.

I tried what bbucysuggested, i.e. create a network on my macbook, then turn on "internet sharing". My music player (and other mac) can't see the network defined by the "internet sharing" (I give it a different name from my macbook in "Wi-Fi Option"). They see the name of my macbook, but cannot connect to it.