Newer Macs and Apple TVs make screen mirroring amazingly easy. Just turn on the TV and Apple TV, then on the Mac, go through the Apple logo, then 'System Preferences,' then click 'Displays'. Where did my AirPlay icon go?
Many, if not most, professional Mac users prefer a multiple monitor setup. Sometimes these setups extend to 3 or 4 monitors. In this scenario it can be handy to have two separate displays, each with a mirror in another room. Or perhaps an audio professional may use 3 separate displays in a recording studio, with a mirror of your main monitor for external viewing/operation in the recording booth.
This all sounds great, but achieving this kind of setup can be a little tricky in OS X, Apple don't exactly make it clear that this option is even available.
Don't worry though, this option is available and below is a step by step guide on how to do it.
How to get to Display Options in Mac OS X
To get started, just head to ‘System Preferences' and click the ‘Displays' option. This will take you to the ‘Displays' preferences screen where we then can mirror specific displays. You should now be presented with a screen like the one below:
How to Set Up 4 Displays with 1 Mirrored Monitor
To achieve a monitor set up like the one above, may seem impossible at first, but it's actually really simple, Apple just don't tell you how to do it. All you need to do is hold the ‘Alt' key on your keyboard and then drag one of your secondary monitors onto your main monitor (your main monitor is identifiable by the menu bar on the top of the screen). By using the ‘Alt' key, we can now mirror specific monitors. In the set up above we have 3 separate independent displays and one monitor that mirrors the main monitor.
You can also mirror a secondary monitor, this set up would look like the one below. Simply drag your desired mirror onto a secondary display rather than your primary one.
How to Set Up 4 Displays with 2 Mirrored Monitors
To achieve a set up like the one above, 4 displays, 2 sets of mirrors, you just have to use the same ‘Alt' dragging technique. Please note, in testing it seems you must first mirror the main display and then the secondaries. For some strange reason, it just reverts back to one mirror if you do it the other way around.
There you have it, specific monitor mirroring in OS X explained. If you have any questions just let us know in the comments section below.
Newer Macs and Apple TVs make screen mirroring amazingly easy. Just turn on the TV and Apple TV, then on the Mac, go through the Apple logo, then 'System Preferences,' then click 'Displays'. Where did my AirPlay icon go?
Many, if not most, professional Mac users prefer a multiple monitor setup. Sometimes these setups extend to 3 or 4 monitors. In this scenario it can be handy to have two separate displays, each with a mirror in another room. Or perhaps an audio professional may use 3 separate displays in a recording studio, with a mirror of your main monitor for external viewing/operation in the recording booth.
This all sounds great, but achieving this kind of setup can be a little tricky in OS X, Apple don't exactly make it clear that this option is even available.
Don't worry though, this option is available and below is a step by step guide on how to do it.
How to get to Display Options in Mac OS X
To get started, just head to ‘System Preferences' and click the ‘Displays' option. This will take you to the ‘Displays' preferences screen where we then can mirror specific displays. You should now be presented with a screen like the one below:
How to Set Up 4 Displays with 1 Mirrored Monitor
To achieve a monitor set up like the one above, may seem impossible at first, but it's actually really simple, Apple just don't tell you how to do it. All you need to do is hold the ‘Alt' key on your keyboard and then drag one of your secondary monitors onto your main monitor (your main monitor is identifiable by the menu bar on the top of the screen). By using the ‘Alt' key, we can now mirror specific monitors. In the set up above we have 3 separate independent displays and one monitor that mirrors the main monitor.
You can also mirror a secondary monitor, this set up would look like the one below. Simply drag your desired mirror onto a secondary display rather than your primary one.
How to Set Up 4 Displays with 2 Mirrored Monitors
To achieve a set up like the one above, 4 displays, 2 sets of mirrors, you just have to use the same ‘Alt' dragging technique. Please note, in testing it seems you must first mirror the main display and then the secondaries. For some strange reason, it just reverts back to one mirror if you do it the other way around.
There you have it, specific monitor mirroring in OS X explained. If you have any questions just let us know in the comments section below.
Check display support
Mirror Master Mac Os 11
You can connect one or more external displays depending on your Mac model. To find out how many external displays your Mac supports, check its technical specifications:
- Choose Apple menu > About This Mac.
- Click the Support tab.
- Click Specifications.
- On the webpage that appears, the number of displays your Mac supports appears under Video Support or Graphics.
If you're using a Mac with Apple silicon, you can connect a single external display to your Mac using one of the Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports. Docks don't increase the number of displays you can connect as an extended desktop. On Mac mini (M1, 2020), you can connect a second display to the HDMI port.
Connect your display
Mirror Windows To Mac
Connect your display to power, then connect your display to your Mac. Check the ports on your Mac to find out whether you need an adapter.
Change display options
After you connect your display, you can choose to extend your desktop or mirror your displays.
Use extended desktop mode
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Displays.
- Click the Arrangement tab.
- Make sure that the Mirror Displays checkbox isn't selected.
- Arrange your displays to match the setup on your desk. To change the position of a display, drag it to the desired position. A red border appears around the display as it's moved.
- To set a different display as the primary display, drag the menu bar to the other display. The primary display is where your desktop icons and app windows first appear.
Mirror Master Mac Os Catalina
Mirror your displays
- Make sure that your external display is turned on and connected to your Mac.
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Displays, then click the Arrangement tab.
- Make sure that the Mirror Displays checkbox is selected.
Use AirPlay
Mac Os Mirror
With Apple TV, you can use your TV as a separate display for your Mac. Learn how to use AirPlay to mirror or extend your Mac display.
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