What is AirPlay? Apple’s AirPlay exclusive streaming technology initially allowed you to wirelessly transfer music from an Apple device to AirPlay-compatible devices through Wi-Fi. The main benefit of AirPlay 2 is multi-room audio, which allows you to stream to several speakers at the same time. Apple Music users can even use various speakers to listen to different songs. AirPlay 2 has taken a long time to make its way into the products of a few third-party manufacturers. However, with companies like Sonos and B&W on board, universality isn’t far away. Keep in mind, too, that while many items will receive AirPlay 2 via over-the-air software updates, not every old wireless speaker will.
We know about AirPlay until now because it allows you to stream videos, photographs, music, from devices like iPhone, iPad, and the iPod to the Apple TV, favorite speakers, and most smart TVs. And whatever you share remains personal and confidential at all times. But with the introduction of the new macOS Monterey, things have upgraded to a whole new level.
The Mac can is usable as a receiver and an AirPlay 2 output device. It has several implications and applicability. For example, macOS Monterey adds the option to send content to a second Mac using AirPlay on newer Apple machines. You may also use the feature to transform a spare machine into an external display using screen mirroring.
AirPlay to Mac Supported Devices
Before we delve more into the key features, let us look at the compatible mac models to use AirPlay.
- 2018 or later MacBook Pro
- 2018 or later MacBook Air
- 2019 or later iMac
- 2019 or later iMac Pro
- 2019 or later Mac Pro
- 2020 or later Mac mini
- iPhone 7 and later
- 2nd generation and later iPad Pro
- 3rd generation and later iPad Air
- 6th generation and later iPad
- 5th generation and later iPad mini
When “Allow AirPlay for” is set to “Everyone” or “Anyone on the same network” under Sharing preferences, older iPhone, iPad, and Mac models may share content at a lower resolution to supporting Mac models.
1. Airplay Content to your Mac
With AirPlay to a Mac, you can broadcast media from iPhone and iPad or another Mac to your Mac over AirPlay. For better connectivity, you should share the same Apple ID through all your devices. You can also stream from an app; for example, you could doodle on your iPad and then use AirPlay to stream your activity to a Mac for others to see. AirPlay to Mac connectivity is also possible wirelessly or via USB.
2. Mirror or Extended Display
You can instantly turn a compatible AirPlay screen into a second display by enabling screen mirroring on your Mac. Thanks to a newly revealed vital feature, users can now extend or mirror their Mac display to another Mac. A Mac can connect to another Mac wirelessly or via a cable connection and utilize it as an external display. It means Apple is almost back to its Target Display Mode feature, which allowed
Mac users to utilize their iMacs as a display for another Mac. This function first features Apple’s iMac models from 2009 to 2014, which allowed AirPlaying from other Macs both wirelessly and via a USB connection, similar to macOS Monterey’s new feature.
3. Use as AirPlay 2 Speaker
Users can use Mac’s high-fidelity sound system as an AirPlay speaker to play media files or use the Mac device as a secondary speaker for multi-room audio files. Here are Best AirPlay 2 Supported Speakers.
4. Send Wired or Wirelessly
AirPlaying content from another Mac to a Mac is possible wirelessly or through a USB connection. While the latter will attach you to a cable, it will assure a stutter-free, zero-latency connection. It’s also beneficial in instances where you don’t have access to the internet.
Fix the issue if you are facing AirPlay 2 Delayed on iPhone, iPad or Mac.
You may AirPlay a presentation you produced on your Mac, iPad or iPhone to a conference room Mac plugged into a projector in a workplace setting using AirPlay to Mac. You might wish to mirror a video from your iPhone to your 24-inch iMac’s massive display at home so that everyone can see it. Perhaps you’ve grown bored of the tiny speakers on your iPhone and would rather listen to the much better sound from your MacBook Pro or iMac instead. Don’t worry about finding that audio on your Mac; you can AirPlay it from any of your favorite apps. The best part at the moment is that you can now extend your display. You may use AirPlay to enlarge the display of your existing Mac by placing a second Mac right next to it. Everything is much better and easier with the new macOS Monterey, so grab it as soon as you can.
