iPhone Mirroring offers a seamless way to control your iPhone from your Mac, allowing you to respond to notifications, send messages, and navigate iOS apps without touching your phone. The feature is particularly useful for tasks that require extensive typing, such as composing long emails or editing documents on your iPhone. If you're experiencing issues with iPhone Mirroring, follow these steps to get it working again.

iPhone Mirroring Thumb 2

Check System Requirements

First, ensure your devices meet the minimum requirements for iPhone Mirroring:

  • Your Mac has an Apple silicon chip or T2 security chip
  • Your Mac is running macOS Sequoia or later
  • Your iPhone is running iOS 18 or later

Check Your Apple Account

ios 18 iphone 15 pro ipad pro two factor authentication
For iPhone Mirroring to work, both your Mac and iPhone must be signed in to the same Apple Account, and
two-factor authentication needs to be enabled for the account.

Check Proximity and Connectivity

settings
Keep your iPhone close to your Mac, as iPhone Mirroring relies on Bluetooth. Make sure both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are turned on for both devices. If either is off, enable them in System Settings on your Mac and in Settings on your iPhone.

Additionally, make sure Personal Hotspot is not in use on your iPhone, and that your Mac is not sharing its internet connection or using AirPlay or Sidecar.

Restart Both Devices

A simple restart can often resolve connectivity issues. Power off both your Mac and iPhone, then turn them back on after a minute.

Check for Software Updates

settings
Ensure both your Mac and iPhone are running the latest software versions. On your Mac, go toSystem Settings ➝ General ➝ Software Update. On your iPhone, go toSettings ➝ General ➝ Software Update.

Disable VPN and Security Software

settings
Temporarily turn off any VPN services or third-party security software on both devices, as these can interfere with the connection.

Reset iPhone Mirroring

iphone mirroring reset settings
If issues persist, reset iPhone Mirroring settings. In the iPhone Mirroring app, go toiPhone Mirroring ➝ Settings, and clickReset iPhone Access. This will clear existing settings and allow you to set up the feature again from scratch.

Drag and Drop Won't Work?

finder
As of writing, Apple has not enabled file transfers for iPhone Mirroring, so you cannot currently transfer files, photos, and videos from your Mac to your ‌iPhone‌ and vice versa using drag and drop gestures. This capability will be enabled in Apple's forthcoming macOS Sequoia 15.1 update, which is expected to drop in late October 2024.

How Are Your Settings?

Depending on your issue, adjusting these iPhone Mirroring settings might help:

  1. Open the iPhone Mirroring app on your Mac.
  2. Go toiPhone Mirroring ➝ Settings in the menu bar.
  3. Choose betweenAsk Every Time orAuthenticate Automatically for Mac login authentication.

settings

It's also worth noting that inSystem Settings ➝ Desktop & Dock, under the "Widgets" section, you'll find an option to select which iPhone to use if you have multiple devices.

No Luck?

If you've tried all these troubleshooting tips and iPhone Mirroring still isn't working, you may need to contactApple Support for further assistance.

Popular Stories

streaming black friday 2025

Black Friday Streaming Deals Include Big Savings on Disney+, Hulu, Apple TV, and More

Monday November 24, 2025 8:03 am PST by
We've been focusing on deals on physical products over the past few weeks, but Black Friday is also a great time of year to purchase a streaming membership. Some of the biggest services have great discounts for new and select returning members this week, including Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and more.Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a...
Apple Foldable Thumb

Foldable iPhone to Debut These Three Breakthrough Features

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:09 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in fall 2026, and it's shaping up to include three standout features that could set it apart from the competition.The book-style foldable will reportedly feature an industry-first 24-megapixel under-display camera built into the inner display, according to a recent JP Morgan equity research report. That...
General Black Friday Deals 25 Red

Apple Black Friday Deals Available Now on AirPods, iPads, Accessories, and More

Friday November 21, 2025 8:48 am PST by
We're only a few days away from Black Friday, which will take place on Friday, November 28 in 2025. As always, this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon.Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When...
General Apps Messages Redux

Singapore Orders Changes to iMessage by December

Tuesday November 25, 2025 6:39 am PST by
Singapore has ordered Apple to block or filter messages on iMessage that impersonate government agencies, requiring the company to implement new anti-spoofing protections by December as part of efforts to curb rising online scams, the Straits Times reports.Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that it had issued an Implementation Directive to Apple under the Online Criminal Harms...
iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket is Now Completely Sold Out Worldwide

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:16 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. However, it is now completely sold out in all countries where it was released.iPhone Pocket became available to order on Apple's online store starting Friday, November 14, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, ...
maxresdefault

The MacRumors Show: iPhone 18 Pro Looks Like a Huge Upgrade

Friday November 21, 2025 9:10 am PST by
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through all of the new features and improvements expected to come to next year's iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models.Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos Apple's next-generation iPhones are less than ten months away and we already have a good idea about what to expect based on corroborated leaks, rumors,...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Adds These New Features to Your iPhone

Thursday November 20, 2025 10:50 am PST by
iOS 26.2 is currently in beta testing. The upcoming update includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, including a new Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics for Apple Music, and more. In a recent press release, Apple confirmed that iOS 26.2 will be released to all users in December, but it did not provide a specific release date. Keep reading...
iOS 26 on Three iPhones

iOS 27 Will Reportedly Have Two Key Upgrades

Sunday November 23, 2025 8:48 am PST by
iOS 27 will reportedly have two major elements: quality improvements and new AI features.In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that iOS 27 will be similar to Mac OS X Snow Leopard, in the sense that Apple is focused on improving "quality and underlying performance" over adding new features.Gurman said there is one exception to this rule, though, as he expects...
apple news banner

Apple News Loses CNN

Monday November 24, 2025 7:56 am PST by
American multinational news company CNN has abruptly pulled its content from Apple News, Semafor reports.CNN quietly removed its stories from Apple News over the weekend and there is no longer a feed from the network to subscribe to in the app. This effectively ends its distribution agreement with Apple while the two sides negotiate new terms. Discussions are apparently ongoing and CNN's...