Can You Use an iPhone as a Monitor for a Mac?
Updated August 2026 · 4 min read
Short answer: not with anything Apple ships.
Sidecar is iPad only, and an iPhone can never be an AirPlay display. Third-party apps can present an iPhone to macOS as an extra display, but before you go looking, it is worth checking which of two very different things you actually want.
First, which one do you mean?
"Use my iPhone as a monitor" gets typed by two groups of people who want opposite things, and the right answer is completely different for each.
Two different jobs
| You want to… | That's called | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Drag windows onto the phone for more desktop room | Extended display | Duet Display |
| See what's on your Mac from across the room | Screen streaming | Beam |
| Click and type on your Mac from the phone | Remote desktop | Jump Desktop, VNC |
In practice most people arriving at this question are in the second row. They are not hoping to do spreadsheet work on a 6-inch panel wedged next to a 27-inch display. They want to keep an eye on the Mac while not sitting at it.
What Apple actually supports
Sidecar: iPad only
Sidecar turns a nearby iPad into a genuine second Mac display, mirrored or extended, wired or wireless. It is excellent, it is built in, and it has never supported iPhone. There is no hidden setting.
AirPlay: wrong direction
An iPhone is an AirPlay sender, never a receiver. A Mac can AirPlay to an Apple TV, a compatible TV, or another Mac, but not to a phone. Covered in detail in can you AirPlay from Mac to iPhone.
iPhone Mirroring: also wrong direction
Added in macOS Sequoia, iPhone Mirroring puts your iPhone on your Mac. It is genuinely useful, and it is the opposite of what you are looking for.
What each Apple feature does
| Feature | Direction | Mac onto iPhone? |
|---|---|---|
| Sidecar | Mac → iPad | No |
| AirPlay | Mac → TV / Mac | No |
| iPhone Mirroring | iPhone → Mac | No |
| Continuity Camera | iPhone → Mac | No |
| Beam | Mac → iPhone | Yes |
If you want a real extended display
Duet Display can present an iPhone to macOS as an additional display, so windows genuinely move onto it. It is sold on subscription. Whether a phone-sized extra desktop earns that depends entirely on how you work. Compared directly in Beam vs Duet Display.
If you want to see your Mac from elsewhere
This is what Beam does, and it is a much simpler proposition than a second monitor. Two free apps: Beacon in your Mac's menu bar captures the screen, and Beam on your iPhone plays it full screen with the Mac's audio.
- Works over your local WiFi, directly between the two devices
- No account, no cloud, nothing leaves your network at home
- Free to download, with a 30-minute free tier
- Beam Unlimited, a one-time $4.79, removes the limit and adds streaming from anywhere over your own Tailscale network
It is a viewer, not a controller. You watch your Mac, you do not drive it. For most of the reasons people ask this question, watching is the whole point. Step-by-step setup in the mirroring guide, and the wider picture in the complete mirroring guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use an iPhone as a monitor for a Mac?
Not with anything built into macOS. Third-party apps can do it, but if you only want to see your Mac screen rather than extend onto it, Beam is the simpler fit.
Does Sidecar work with iPhone?
No. Sidecar is iPad only.
Is an iPhone big enough to use as a second display?
For desktop windows, rarely. For watching your Mac from across the room, it's perfect.
How do I see my Mac screen on my iPhone for free?
Install Beacon on the Mac and Beam on the iPhone, pair once on the same WiFi. Free tier streams 30 minutes at a time.
See your Mac on your iPhone
No Sidecar required, and no second monitor to buy.