Since the advent of smart TVs, the use of a computer as a media center connected by cable to a larger screen has been relegated to the background. However, its multimedia possibilities remain intact. Rather, they have been favored by the irruption in the world of Smart TVs of wireless transmission technologies such as Miracast, Google Cast or Airplay.
In fact, some of these wireless projection standards are built into the operating system of a laptop. For example, Miracast on Windows 10 and Windows 11, and AirPlay on Mac, so now it’s easier to project or mirror what’s happening on your laptop to your TV screen without having to manage cumbersome cables.
This means that everything that cannot yet be done on a smart TV, such as making video calls, playing demanding video games or running incompatible multimedia applications, can be done on the computer and transmitted with a few simple steps to the living room screen.
The same thing happens with Mac computers. Instead of using an HDMI cable to mirror the content generated by your multimedia programs, video conferencing applications or web applications on the big screen, you can take advantage of its support for AirPlay technology and transmit that information wirelessly to compatible smart TVs. .
For example, televisions that natively integrate AirPlay, such as televisions with the WebOS system and Roku TV, as well as televisions equipped with Google TV and Android TV, in which it is possible to run screen mirroring applications via Wi-Fi. Next, we show you both transmission systems.
How to screen mirror Mac to WebOS TVs and Roku TV
If you own a WebOS TV (LG, Hyundai, BGH, etc.) or a Roku TV system-equipped TV (Hisense, AOC, TCL, etc.), follow these steps.
First, connect your Mac and smart TV to the same home Wi-Fi network.
Next, enable the AirPlay feature on your Mac computer. To do this, go to Apple menu > System Preferences. Then click Displays and check the Show AirPlay options in menu bar when available box.
Now, go to the smart TV and make sure you have AirPlay enabled. On LG TVs, go to your app launch bar, tap the AirPlay icon, and follow the instructions. On Roku TVs, the AirPlay feature is turned on by default.
From now on, when you want to mirror your Mac’s screen on this kind of TV, you just have to press the AirPlay icon and select the screen. This AirPlay icon is also present in many compatible media apps, making it even easier to use.
How to screen mirror Mac to Google TV and Android TV
To get started, connect your Mac and your Google TV or Android TV to the same Wi-Fi network.
Now, go to the TV and enter the Google Play Store. Then download and install the AirScreen app. After this, select Open.
Next, go to your Mac computer and enable the AirPlay function. To do this, choose Apple menu > System Preferences. Then click Displays and check the Show AirPlay options in menu bar when available box.
From now on, to mirror the screen of your Mac on the TV, you just have to use the AirPlay icon and select the TV.
What to do if your TV does not support AirPlay natively or through apps
In this case, you only have to use the HDMI connection to carry out the screen duplication. However, there are wireless devices, many of them inexpensive, that can avoid the use of cables.
These are connected through an HDMI port to the television and are very easy to configure. These are streaming devices Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Mi Box S, Chromecast, Chromecast with Google TV, among many others, in which natively (Apple TV and Roku) or through applications is perfectly possible. do screen mirroring.
The steps are similar to those in the previous paragraphs and vary depending on the operating system they are running on.