macOS 12 Monterey was introduced during the WWDC 2021 keynote. The new Mac operating system will be an improved version of its predecessor, macOS 11 Big Sur. One of the top features of Monterey is the ability to AirPlay to Mac.
One of Apple's most notable features is the ability to AirPlay content from iPhone to Apple TV, smart TVs, and even compatible speakers. With macOS Monterey, it's finally possible to stream content directly to Mac, meaning users can use their iPhones to play a song on their MacBook, watch a video, or share their screen. As we explained in a previous article, some features of macOS Monterey are exclusive to M1 Macs. But that doesn't apply to AirPlay. This means that the feature is also supported by some Intel devices. These Apple devices are compatible with the new feature:
- MacBook Pro (2018 and newer)
- MacBook Air (2018 and newer)
- iMac (2019 and newer)
- iMac Pro (2017)
- Mac Mini (2020 and newer)
- Mac Pro (2019)
- iPhone 7 and newer
- iPad Pro (2nd Gen and newer)
- iPad Air (3rd Gen and newer)
- iPad (6th Gen and newer)
- iPad mini (5th generation and newer)
Apple says older iPhone, iPad, and Mac models can share content at a lower resolution to support Mac models if "Allow AirPlay to" in Sharing settings is set to "Everyone" or "Anyone on the same network."
macOS Monterey: These features are supported by AirPlay for Mac
- AirPlay content to Mac: Use AirPlay to send content from an iPhone, iPad, or even another Mac to your Mac. Watch videos, edit Keynote presentations, and listen to music on your Mac. Your Mac works with any Apple device, and it's even easier to connect when the devices have the same Apple ID.
- Use as an AirPlay 2 speaker: Your Mac can act as a third-party AirPlay 2 speaker, so you can play music or podcasts on your Mac or use it as a second speaker for multi-room audio.
- Mirror or extend the display: When you send content from your iPhone or iPad to your Mac, you can choose to mirror your iPhone or iPad or extend its display, using your Mac as a secondary display for apps that support it, like Keynote and Photos.
- Send wired or wirelessly: AirPlay works both wirelessly and wired via USB. A wired connection is useful if you want to make sure there is no latency or you don't have access to WiFi.
macOS Monterey is currently in beta for developers. According to Apple, the new Mac operating system will be released to public testers in July. The final release will take place alongside iOS 15, iPadOS 15, tvOS 15 and watchOS 8 in the fall of this year. (Image: Apple)
