How to enable AirPlay on iMac?

Question

Level 1

28 points

How to enable AirPlay on iMac?

My main computer is an iMac (27", Mid 2010, 2.93 GHz Intel Core i7, ATI Radeon HD 570 1 GB) connected to a 4TB external HD. I also have a MacBook Pro (Retina display, 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5, 8 GB 1600 MB). Both are running Mac OS 10.13.1.

I can airplay direct from my MacBook to my Apple TV, however I only rarely have the option to do so from my iMac.

WHY ???

If the iMac can airplay sometimes, why can't it do it always (like with the MacBook). I shouldn't have to drop a home video into iTunes to share it through my iTunes library on the Apple TV. This is counter intuitive.

Can anyone provide a solution?

iMac, macOS High Sierra (10.13), 27 inch, 2.93 GHz Intel Core i7

Posted on Nov 11, 2017 8:01 AM

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Answer 1

PN2

Level 4

1,052 points

Nov 13, 2017 11:46 PM in response to hotkeyz69

Nothing in Console.app that could be related ?. Apple Hardware Test reports no problems ?.

Unfortunately, these things can be hard to track down unless there's common(ish) solutions out there, or some clue in logs.

A test in another User Account seems unlikely to work, but it's quick & easy.

Even though Airplay won't work in Safe Mode , it does remove some caches, and again, takes little time.

After that : I'd reinstall via Recovery, which shouldn't normally affect your existing apps & data (have backups anyway). It's a long wait if sitting there watching, but left overnight, or even lunchtime, is perfectly reasonable.

Another option would be to install High Sierra to a suitable external drive, then start the iMac from it; just to prove that the hardware does what's expected without any interference from apps or settings.

You may be able to start the MBP in Target Disk Mode, and start the iMac from that, but Apple don't seem to push it now, except for data transfer. I don't know if they ever did, TBH, but it used to work perfectly well, even between different models, for me.

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Answer 2

hotkeyz69 Author

Level 1

28 points

Nov 11, 2017 10:38 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

They are on the same network with full signal strength - in fact most of the time they are located close together in the same space.

The issue here is the absence of "mirroring options" in the menu bar on the iMac. This option is selected in the display preferences, but it rarely appears in the menu bar - unlike my MacBook where it is available all the time. I can't even get an AirPlay option when I open the m4v file in QuickTime or PlayerX.

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Answer 3

hotkeyz69 Author

Level 1

28 points

Nov 13, 2017 6:28 AM in response to PN2

No. Plenty of 3rd party software, but none of them seem to provide an AirPlay option.

But that's beside the point. I'm trying to find out why the AirPlay option is rarely available on my iMac when it's running the same OS as the MacBook.

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Answer 4

hotkeyz69 Author

Level 1

28 points

Nov 13, 2017 11:00 PM in response to Threadingham

Thanks but you've skipped over key information in the original question. AirPlay is an option that you can select who an app such as QuickTime opens an m4v file, or is an option in the menu bar (Mirroring options).

It's NOT a case of failure to connect between the iMac and the Apple TV. It is the fact that the mirroring option is not available in the menu bar, or an app, to even try to AirPlay.

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Answer 5

Jan 22, 2018 2:37 PM in response to patsun74

It's not so correct.

I've got a macbook pro early 2009 and I can airplay with X-mirror.

My old iPhone was able to connect through airplay too until

an update to ios 7 (I think but not so sure) without any further app

or hardware. Apple has in evidence cut off this opportunity

for marketing reasons, but with x-mirage you can airplay.

Cheers

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Answer 6

PN2

Level 4

1,052 points

Nov 12, 2017 12:13 AM in response to hotkeyz69

Duet, or other 3rd party software on the iMac ?

airplay doesn't mirroring

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Answer 7

Nov 11, 2017 9:20 AM in response to hotkeyz69

Is your iMac connected to same Wifi network as your AppleTV? How strong is the wireless signal?

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Answer 8

PN2

Level 4

1,052 points

Nov 13, 2017 9:54 AM in response to hotkeyz69

The point was only that other users have said that some 3rd party software affected Airplay working as expected.

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Answer 9

Nov 13, 2017 10:21 AM in response to hotkeyz69

Do you by any chance get a blank screen when you try to connect to Apple TV? We are having the same problem. MacBook connects fine, brand new iMac will not connect.

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Answer 10

hotkeyz69 Author

Level 1

28 points

Nov 13, 2017 10:55 PM in response to PN2

Thanks PN2 ... I understand why you asked the question. To the best of my knowledge I have the same apps on the iMac and MacBook, so I don't think this is a causative factor.

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Answer 11

patsun74

Level 1

4 points

Dec 27, 2017 9:55 AM in response to hotkeyz69

You can't. Airplay is not supported older than 2011. I'm also on an iMac Mid 2010. O'boy have I tried. Doesn't even work with AirParrot which is SUPPOSED to work.

Crap.

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