deskbeam
iPhone Mirroring in reverse: can you show your Mac on your iPhone?
Short answer: not with iPhone Mirroring, but yes with Screen Sharing.
iPhone Mirroring, which Apple added in macOS Sequoia, puts your iPhone in a window on your Mac. You can tap through your apps with the Mac's trackpad while the phone stays locked in your bag. It only goes one way, though. There's no switch that puts your Mac on your iPhone, and Apple doesn't make a Mac remote control app for iPhone or iPad.
What your Mac does have is Screen Sharing, a remote desktop server that's been part of macOS for years. It's what the Screen Sharing app on another Mac connects to, and any iPhone or iPad app that speaks the same protocol can connect to it too.
The two side by side
- iPhone Mirroring: your iPhone's screen, shown on your Mac. Needs the same Apple Account on both and the devices near each other.
- Screen Sharing from an iPhone or iPad: your Mac's screen, shown on your iPhone or iPad, with the pointer and keyboard under your fingers. Works on your home network, or from anywhere through Tailscale or an SSH tunnel.
Setting it up
- On the Mac: System Settings › General › Sharing, turn on Screen Sharing.
- On the iPhone or iPad: install a Screen Sharing client. Mine is Deskbeam, which finds the Mac on your Wi-Fi.
- Sign in with your Mac user name and password. Nothing else to install or set up on the Mac.
There's a longer walkthrough, including reaching the Mac away from home, in How to control your Mac from your iPhone or iPad.
When it's actually useful
- Grabbing a file or checking an app on the Mac upstairs without getting off the couch.
- Keeping an eye on a long export or build from your phone.
- Helping a parent on their Mac, with their permission and their sign-in.
- Getting to your desktop Mac while you're traveling, over Tailscale.
Deskbeam is free to download with a 7-day free trial, then $1.99 a month in the US.