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How to use your iPhone from your Mac remotely
Short answer: on a Mac running macOS Sequoia or a newer version, open iPhone Mirroring. Your iPhone screen appears on the Mac and you can swipe, open apps, read messages and use WhatsApp right from your desk. The main thing you cannot do is make phone calls.
Do you need to access your iPhone while it is on the charger or away from you? With iPhone Mirroring you can access it quickly, with no extra software needed. It is a very handy feature when you work at your desk all day.
What you need
iPhone Mirroring is built into the Mac. You need macOS Sequoia or any higher operating system. Open the iPhone Mirroring app on your Mac and you will see your iPhone screen in a window: everything on the phone is mirrored there.
How to move around your iPhone from the Mac
- Swipe between home screens: drag left or right in the mirroring window, just like swiping on the phone.
- Open an app: click on whatever app you want to see.
- Swap between apps: click the controls at the top of the window (the dots) to switch between apps.
- Go back to the main screen: click the home control at the top, or, when an app is open, click the white line at the bottom of the screen.
Note that the white line at the bottom only shows when an app is open. If you don't see it, open an app first.
What you can do from the Mac
Almost everything. In the video I open and close apps, check messages, browse my contact names, look at the cameras and change settings without touching the phone.
WhatsApp works great. I have a lot of people contacting me all the time, and I can answer them from the Mac. The same goes for Facebook Marketplace messages or Telegram: if someone sends you a message in an app you don't have on your computer, you can open it from here, type and do whatever you want.
What doesn't work
Phone calls. If you go to Favorites and try to call anybody, it doesn't work. You can still see your contacts, but you cannot place the call through iPhone Mirroring.
I also tried recording a video and taking a picture, and I don't think you can do that either. Other than that, it covers most things.
When iPhone Mirroring is most useful
It is perfect when your phone is charging or is in another place and you are working at your computer. Instead of picking up the phone every time a notification comes in, you answer from the Mac, keep working, and swap apps with a click.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to use iPhone Mirroring?
A Mac running macOS Sequoia or a newer operating system. Open the iPhone Mirroring app and your iPhone screen appears on the Mac. No extra software is needed.
Can I make phone calls with iPhone Mirroring?
No. In the video, trying to call a contact from Favorites doesn't work. You can still see your contact names.
Can I use WhatsApp from my Mac with iPhone Mirroring?
Yes. WhatsApp works great, and so do other messaging apps like Facebook Marketplace messages or Telegram, even if those apps are not installed on the Mac.
How do I go back to the home screen?
Click the home control at the top of the mirroring window, or click the white line at the bottom of the screen when an app is open.