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Mirroring won't work on my new macbook/apple tv

I just bought a new Macbook Pro (mid 2012) yesterday and Apple TV, but I don't have the option to mirror. I don't have the icon on the top right of the computer, nor do I have the option to mirror in the "displays" section under preferences. What's the deal?

MacBook Pro

Posted on Sep 16, 2012 11:08 PM

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Posted on Sep 16, 2012 11:11 PM

About AirPlay and Airplay Mirroring


AirPlay Mirroring requires a second-generation Apple TV or later, and is supported on the following Mac models: iMac (Mid 2011 or newer), Mac mini (Mid 2011 or newer), MacBook Air (Mid 2011 or newer), and MacBook Pro (Early 2011 or newer).


Several Apple Articles Regarding AirPlay


Apple TV (2nd and 3rd gen)- How to use AirPlay Mirroring

How to set up and configure AirPort Express for AirPlay and iTunes

About AirPlay Mirroring in OS X Mountain Lion

iTunes 10- About playing music with AirPlay

Troubleshooting AirPlay and AirPlay Mirroring

Using AirPlay

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Question marked as Best reply

Sep 16, 2012 11:11 PM in response to Bodezia

About AirPlay and Airplay Mirroring


AirPlay Mirroring requires a second-generation Apple TV or later, and is supported on the following Mac models: iMac (Mid 2011 or newer), Mac mini (Mid 2011 or newer), MacBook Air (Mid 2011 or newer), and MacBook Pro (Early 2011 or newer).


Several Apple Articles Regarding AirPlay


Apple TV (2nd and 3rd gen)- How to use AirPlay Mirroring

How to set up and configure AirPort Express for AirPlay and iTunes

About AirPlay Mirroring in OS X Mountain Lion

iTunes 10- About playing music with AirPlay

Troubleshooting AirPlay and AirPlay Mirroring

Using AirPlay

Sep 19, 2012 7:54 PM in response to Bodezia

I have the same question. My mid-2012 Macbook air I bought last month does not show the icon for airplay, nor does the display window in System Preferences show an option for Airplay. I was told at the store that Airplay is supported on this machine. My Apple TV bought last week from the store (3rd generation) is on the same network, and I can use it successfully to watch Netflix. What could I be missing?

Sep 23, 2012 3:21 PM in response to Bodezia

Hi Guys

I sort of figured it out. I was having the same problem as well and was really cheesed by apple for putting out a feature that doesn´t work. I have a late 2010 macbook pro and I figured it out.

Apple tv goes into sleep mode - at least mine does after 30 mins on standbye. If you try to mirror when your apple tv is on sleep mode....forget it. The Apple TV icon on the top right, just dissapears.

What I do and this is painful, is turn on the apple tv, and restart the macbook pro. Now there is a catch, don´t try and mirror it right after its booted. Wait a whaile for the system to "calm down" after its restarted. I get the idea that if the memory of your computer is not 100% available, the apple tv doesn´t pick it up and the whole thing just doesn´t gel....


Once all everything is fired up and looks like your macbook is waiting for you, try and mirror, but do it the following way:

- don´t use the icon on the top right of your desktop screen...tempting, but don´t go there...

- go the same place the icon shortcut would take you which is "system preferences", then click "displays" (under hardware) and you will see at the bottom left "AirPlay mirroring: choose the apple tv there.....

Hopefully it should do it.


I just lost my appletv icon on the top right of my macbook pro just as I write this. I thought I would check this thread again to see if someone smarter than me had found an easier way...but alas, no comments since the last time I checked.


So hope this helps....going to restart the macbook pro and do the schlepp procedure....when it does work, its great....just keep trying! I have had to restart 3 times before until it all came together! Its easier to get my 20 year old lawn mower to start!


Guys at apple...this seems simple to fix!

Looking forward to an update that gets this sorted out....you are almost there, just a few big bugs in the way!


Cheers guys!

Sep 23, 2012 3:43 PM in response to Bodezia

Its me again

Since I wrote the post, I had to restart my mac book pro twice to get it to mirror. I really think its a memory issue. I had open skype and gmail and tried to mirror, following the steps in my previous post. It didn´t connect and I lost the apple tv icon on the top right of my desktop screen and in the system preferences, I got something like "no devices detected".


Second time round, restarted (lyou have to restart, logging in doesn´t do the trick) waited for about 30 seconds and then tried it. It is mirroring as we speak!


My macbook pro has

Processor 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7

Memory 4 GB 1333 MHz DDR3

Graphics Intel HD Graphics 3000 384 MB

Software OS X 10.8.1 (12B19)


Tell me if you had the same problem and this helped. Good to know if this helped somebody out there!


Going to have a beer and enjoy a great movie! Have a good week everyone!

Nov 20, 2013 5:03 PM in response to Bodezia

I'm sorry, but I think this is absolutely rediculous! Im so frustrated. It seems to be impossible to get my MacBook Pro to mirror on my Apple TV 3. I purchased my MacBook Pro late 2010 and yes, I have read all the post stating that mirroring only works for early 2011 upwards, but I must say that, that is ubsurd!

I spent $1400.00 on my MacBook Pro, $110.00 on my Apple TV, and $20.00 to upgrade to the OS X Moutain Lion...I think that total alone qualifies me to be able to do something as simple as mirroring! This is bad business and a terrible way of showing appreciation to past customers.

I'm hoping that someone can educate me on a way to fix this or Apple releases some kind of way of correcting this.


-- I also would prefer a better answer than AirParrot


Thanks and I apologize for the tone that may be interpreted in this message, but it just seems extremely ungrateful from a loyal customers perspective.

Mirroring won't work on my new macbook/apple tv

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