Screencast iPhone Method
Being able to display a feature, setting, or new application to a large group of people can be invaluable. Whether presenting a live keynote or an online webinar, the ability to mirror an iOS device to the performance of a Mac can mean the difference between success and failure.
Fortunately, there are different ways to create this mirroring magic.
In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to mirror an iOS device to use a Mac:
- QuickTime or
- Reflector with airplay
I will also highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each method along the way.
Mirroring with QuickTime
The pros of mirroring with QuickTime are many. It doesn’t cost anything extra, the accountability is almost instant, and it can’t be easy to set up.
The only thief is that it requires a wired connection between a Mac and an iOS device.
Setting Up
Connect the iOS device to the Mac via a Lightning-to-USB cable.
Note: This connection may cause iTunes and / or Image Capture to launch automatically. They can start trying to coordinate with the program iDevice and create gaps. So be sure to close those applications before proceeding.
Once the device is connected, Launch QuickTime. QuickTime will bring up a filepicker menu. The goal here is not to run an existing file, so click Done.
From the menu-bar, click File, then click on New Movie Recording.
The default I/P device will be set to the iSight camera. To convert it to an iOS device, click the down arrow next to the record button. Then select iOS device from camera list. The screen of the device will appear immediately and any actions done on the device will be reflected on the Mac’s display.
An additional advantage of this method is that the record button is just one click away. Using QuickTime, a built in recording feature, makes iOS-based Screnast a breeze.
Mirroring With Reflectors
The biggest proponent of using reflectors is that it allows mirroring without any wires. Mirroring works over Wi-Fi, in the same way as Mac or iDevices mirrors to AppleTV.
It also requires that both Mac and iOS devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. And the lack of wire may mean a little more lag. For this a paid software will also have to be installed on the Mac. But Reflector offers a seven-day free trial, so it is worth a download.
- Open the web browser and go to http://www.airsquirrels.com/reflector/
- Click on the try reflector, then download the reflector.
- Download the .dmg file and open it.
- Application folder for drag reflector.
- Launch the reflector.
- Click on Try Reflector.
You will not see any windows or other application screens. The dock resides in the reflector until an iOS device is connected to it.
On an iOS device, swipe through the bottom bezel to open the control center. Click AirPlay from the control center. Select the Mac you want to mirror from the list, then enable mirroring.
Read More:
- How To Check IMEI Number In iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
- How To Download And Install MacOS Catalina Beta on Mac
- How to Export Health Data from Your iPhone
The Conclusion
In this tutorial, I showed you two different ways to mirror an iOS device on a Mac. I also pointed out their different pros and cons along the way.
Using these techniques you can display a new application live and in person, host an interactive webinar, or even record a screencast. Give them both a shot and let me know how it goes in the comments below.