Can iMac be used as an external monitor or in external display mode? Is it possible to connect a Macbook to a TV?

Any user may need to connect a Mac to a TV. Someone is trying to connect external screen For a more interesting and vivid gaming experience, some people may strive for higher quality video viewing. However, whatever the original purpose, it is unlikely that 50% of the population knows how to carry out such a procedure. The instructions include several steps.

First stage: preparation

First, read the instructions or examine the poppy in search of an answer to the question of what connector your device has. The youngest models have a Mini port Display Port s supporting hdmi cable, while the old ones are not equipped with them. If there are no instructions, and you cannot determine it by eye, you should visit the Internet and find information about this model. The next step is almost exactly the same - you need to find out which connector is on the TV.

Choosing an adapter involves searching the Internet for information about hardware compatibility. On Apple Info, at the very bottom of the page there is a listing of all adapters. For example, a Mac is equipped with a Mini Display Port, and the TV connector is VGA, which port is needed? MDP - VGA. The whole system is very simple.

Stage two: shopping

Let's look at the connection using a specific example:

1. MacBook with Thunderbolt connector;
2. TV with HDMI port.

To connect these two devices, you will need to purchase some accessories:

• Thunderbolt to HDMI adapter (supports audio);
• HDMI cable (you need to determine the length yourself).

Before making direct purchases, read reviews about them on the Internet. Purchasing in stores in your city may require much more finance than purchasing online. If there is no need to rush, we recommend ordering online. Beware of defective products and counterfeits.

Third stage: connection

The main thing when connecting to a TV is to maintain the order of actions. So, the initially turned off Mac needs to be connected to the adapter. Then put a cable into the adapter, and connect the cable to the TV. After these steps, turn on the computer, and then turn on the TV. The hardest part is over. By default, the Mac finds the new device and casts it to the TV. If this does not happen, most likely you installed the cable in the wrong connector on the TV. Try to fix this.

Stage four: settings

When playing or watching a movie, the need for a second computer screen disappears. In order to turn off the screen, you need to find the system settings and turn off the “Monitors” section mirror image screen. In the system settings, you can enable sound playback through the TV; to do this, you will need the sound section, where you need to click “Output”. And select HDMI playback. In accessibility, you can customize the zoom and associated hotkeys.

What is Apple TV? In its full meaning, it is a device aimed at broadcasting multimedia data from various Internet sources to a television screen. This little gadget provides different TVs with different functions:

• Availability of video resources from various Internet sources;
• Access to sources of games, music and other content;
• The device allows you to display on the TV screen various devices, including home PC networks.

The set-top box kit consists of the set-top box itself, a cable and a control panel. The set is compatible only with widescreen TVs (1080p, 1080i, 720p, 576p, 480p). In order to connect it you will need an HDMI cable or its equivalent.

Connect the cable to the set-top box and the TV, after which we plug the Apple TV into the mains. Initial setup finished. Read the instructions carefully. After the first turn on, setup follows, which will be generously provided with instructions and tips.

Advice: by placing any object on the device, you create interference that disrupts communication and may interfere with operation of the device.

Using the remote control

You cannot control the volume using this remote control. To do this you need a TV remote control. This remote allows you to work with the menu, restart Apple TV and enter sleep mode. To change the power source, open the compartment on the front of the remote control (there is a small button that you need to press). Immerse the battery so that the positive pole is on top. Close the cap and dispose of the old battery, depending on your country's environmental laws.

It is now possible to wirelessly display images from a computer directly to the TV screen using the AirDisplay function. However, to do this, it was necessary to use exclusively the mirroring mode, which did not allow broadcasting a single video without displaying the entire screen.

Apple has addressed this limitation in OS X 10.11 El Capitan, adding fuller support for AirPlay, allowing you to stream video from Safari and other apps to Apple TV.

So, for comfortable streaming you will need: Mac based Intel processor running OS X 10.11 El Capitan and higher, an Apple TV set-top box (you can buy it), a TV with an HDMI connector. Using AirPlay requires Mac connection and Apple TV to one local network. You can check for AirPlay support as follows: apple menu () → « System Settings » → « Monitors" If the option " "is not displayed, it means your Mac does not meet AirPlay requirements.

1 . Launch Safari and play any video.

2 . While playing a video, click on the AirPlay icon located in the lower right corner of the YouTube video player (the AirPlay icon may be located in a different location depending on the service).

If the video is hosted on a video hosting site that does not support AirPlay, then click on the corresponding icon on the Mac panel:

3 . Select Apple TV from the menu.

4 . The video will start playing on the TV screen.

1 . Launch QuickTime Player on Mac by clicking on the plugin icon in the Dock, or by double-clicking on the application icon in the " Programs" You can also use the Spotlight feature to quickly search.

2 . Open an already downloaded video or use the URL from QuickTime Player's file menu.

3 . When playing a video, the AirPlay icon should appear in the QuickTime Player playback controls.

Click on it to see the available options.

4 . Select your Apple TV from the menu.

5 . The video will begin to be broadcast to the TV screen via the Apple TV set-top box.

The benefits of using AirPlay to display video from your Mac to HDTVs

Using AirPlay is less expensive in terms of CPU resources. Wireless video streaming from a Mac using AirPlay is the same as on iOS devices: macOS simply sends the URL to the Apple TV, and the rest of the work of retrieving, decoding and displaying is done by the set-top box itself, which significantly removes the load from the central and GPUs Mac.

How to stop streaming a video

If you're streaming video from Safari or QuickTime Player to external monitor but for some reason decide to return to the Mac screen again, click on the AirPlay icon in the playback controls and select the option Turn off AirPlay" You can also stop the broadcast by clicking on the " Menu" on the Apple TV remote, or by selecting the " Turn off AirPlay» in the Mac menu bar.

If the AirPlay menu is not visible, go to the Apple menu () → " System Settings» → « Monitors" Select the option " Show video replay options in menu bar when available».

macOS will automatically detect your Apple TV on the network (if it's in working mode) and display the AirPlay icon in the menu bar.

Possible problems when working with AirPlay

For the most part, problems using AirPlay arise from incorrect Wi-Fi work or hardware inconsistencies. If your Mac and Apple TV are on the local network in working mode, and the AirPlay icon still doesn’t appear, this may mean that your computer’s hardware does not meet AirPlay requirements. Check if your Mac hardware is compatible system requirement AirPlay as well Apple connection TV to electrical outlet and to the TV. If everything is in order, but the icon is still not displayed, then the problem may lie in the settings firewall. To check the settings, you must perform the following steps:

Step 1. Open menu  → « System Settings» → « Protection and safety» → « Firewall».

Step 2. Click on the lock icon and enter the administrator username and password.

Step 3. If the feature is enabled, select the " Firewall».

Step 4. Uncheck " Block all incoming connections».

Step 5. Select the option " Automatically allow signed software incoming connections».

Sometimes AirPlay may turn off on its own. This means that the Wi-Fi network is overloaded or the connection is interrupted due to large quantity interference

System requirements to use AirPlay

You can use AirPlay mirroring mode to wireless transmission content from your Mac screen to another monitor via Apple TV. To use this function, you need an equipped latest versions Apple TV software 2 or later and a Mac running OS X Mountain Lion 10.8 or later:

• iMac (Mid 2011 and later);
• Mac mini(mid 2011 and later versions);
• MacBook (early 2015 and later);
• MacBook Air (Mid 2011 and later);
• MacBook Pro(early 2011 and later versions);
• Mac Pro (Late 2013 and later).

AirPlay also supports peer-to-peer networking, allowing your friends to connect their Mac or iOS devices to the Apple TV without having to enter a password or connect to Wi-Fi. To use the feature, you will need an Apple TV 3 (model A1469) or later, or any Mac 2012 or later running OS X Yosemite 10.10 or later.

If you are the owner of one of the iMacs, you have a great opportunity to get a lot of pleasure from “widescreen” watching videos or playing games on big screen. To do this, just connect your gadget to the TV. We'll show you how to do this using an HDMI connection.

It's very easy from Apple - you just need to get the appropriate cable. But what if you decide to make friends between your Mac and a regular TV? You can, of course, use a special Apple TV set-top box, but other connection methods have certain advantages.

We are talking, as you probably already guessed, about an HDMI cable. This is true best tool to display an image from MacBook display, iMac or even Mac mini onto your TV screen. Of course, AirPlay also allows you to this operation through, but HDMI is still the undisputed leader. It is not only cheaper, but also able to provide high quality transmitted image, whereas AirPlay is entirely dependent on your internet connection.

Many Apple computers are equipped with an HDMI port, so the procedure for connecting a device is no more complicated than via Thunderbolt. But the same MacBook Air or cannot boast of having it, so we will look at a few alternative ways.

So, we will need:

• Mac computer with Mini-Display, Mini-DVI or Thunderbolt port
• Mini-DisplayPort/Thunderbolt to HDMI adapter with audio support
• HDMI cable
• TV with HDMI port
• A couple of thousand rubles to buy of this equipment(in Russia) or 500 rubles (via eBay or Amazon)

I believe almost everyone knows what an HDMI cable looks like, but here’s what an adapter from Thunderbolt to HDMI is:

Let's assume that we have successfully completed the purchase of equipment, now we proceed directly to connecting the computer to the TV. There is a certain sequence of actions here that is highly recommended not to be violated.

• Connecting a Thunderbolt to HDMI adapter to your Mac
• Then we connect the HDMI cable to it, and connect the other side to the TV
• Turn on the computer
• Turn on the TV and select HDMI as the image transmission interface (usually using the button on the remote control)

Your Mac will immediately make friends with your TV, and after all the above operations it will look something like this:

By default, your Mac detects your TV as an external display, so it streams to both screens. But if you, for example, watch movies or play games, you simply don’t need a second screen (on a computer). To do this, you need to go to system settings, select the “Monitors” tab and disable video mirroring.

To configure audio output via HDMI, you need to select the “Sound” section in system settings and go to the “Output” tab.

OS X provides hotkeys for zooming in on the screen. This list is very useful when watching movies, and you can study it in the “Universal Access” section of the system settings.

Servicing equipment Apple has already for more than 10 years, we regularly receive many letters and requests from our Clients, as well as from site visitors and participants. In the vast majority of cases, we manage to provide necessary information which helps people solve difficulties that arise when using iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac.

Today we are pleased to present to you new instructions, telling about how to display an image from MacBook screen to TV without using wires.

But we decided to write these instructions in a format that is unusual for our site, representing an imitation of a dialogue between a user and a specialist. To be fair, we note that exactly this kind of dialogue actually happened with one of our Clients recently. We hope that the material in the article will be useful to you and that the format of the material is convenient.

How to display a MacBook screen on a TV

Good afternoon I have an Apple MacBook Air laptop and an Apple TV 2 connected to big TV. I can watch a movie on the big screen, but I can’t do that with a MacBook. Is it possible to do this and how to enable this feature?

Hello! Your problem is clear. Please tell me what year your laptop is and what operating system is installed on it. You can view this information by clicking on the apple in top panel on your computer screen and selecting About This Mac.

- MacBook Air 2012, version 10.9

Great! This means that the built-in AirPlay Video Replay function is available on your computer, allowing you to solve your problem right now. Make sure your MacBook and Apple TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi networks.

- Yes, both devices are connected.

Then the MacBook should automatically see the Apple TV that is on the same Wi-Fi network as it, and the “AirPlay” icon should appear on the top panel. Check it out.

- No. I don't have such an icon on my screen.

Fine. Then go to "System Preferences" and select "Monitors". At the bottom of the window that opens, find the line “AirPlay video replay.” Most likely, the “Off” item is active there, click on it and select “Apple TV” from the drop-down list.

- Hmm, strange... The option is not displayed in the "Monitors" menu Apple's choice TV.

In this case, most likely, your Apple TV is currently in sleep mode. Press any button on your Apple TV remote to wake it from this mode. After 15-20 seconds, an indication of Apple TV detection should appear in the monitor settings on the MacBook. Also make sure that the "Display video replay options in the menu bar when available" option is enabled in the settings.

- ABOUT! Thank you! Everything worked out, everything works! 🙂 Can you clarify one more question?

Yes, sure.

My sister also has a MacBook, but it's not very new. On New Year I want to give her an Apple TV. Tell me, she can also transfer images from her computer to the TV screen.

It all depends on the year of manufacture of the computer and the version of the operating system. AirPlay Video Replay is supported on all MacBook (Pro and Air), iMac, and Mac mini models released in mid-2011 or later. operating system At a minimum, Mountain Lion (OS X 10.8) must be installed.

- Thank you for your help and advice.

Please. Contact us! 🙂

We hope that the article was useful to you. If you are interested in computer setup or repair Apple technology, You can always count on the help of our specialists service center. Tell us about your problem and we will be happy to solve it! Need to ? No problem! Come visit and we will help you.