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Josh Brown Aug 4, 2022

How To Stream Video from Mac to Apple TV?

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Josh Brown Aug 4, 2022

In this article, we'll show you two ways to "How To Stream Video from Mac to Apple TV".

Streaming videos from your Mac to Apple TV might seem like a pretty straightforward process. However, when you get down to it, there are many nitty-gritty details that you need to be aware of before streaming videos from your Mac to your Apple TV. If you want to know how to stream video from Mac to Apple TV and gather all the required information before you get started, you’ve arrived at the right place!

As you might already know, Apple TV and Mac have strict format requirements that limit what you can and can’t watch through these Apple devices. In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know about Apple TV’s video and audio requirements, streaming video from Mac to Apple TV directly, and streaming through a revolutionary tool that lifts off the burden of converting video formats not natively supported by Apple devices.

So, if you’re ready, let’s dive right into it!

Table of Contents

What Are Apple TV Format Restrictions?

When it comes to video formats, Apple TV HD supports MPEG-4, H.264, and HEVC SDR with specific resolution and audio requirements. As for Apple TV-supported audio formats, you can play audio and video files with HE-AAC, AAC, MP3, Apple Lossless, VBR, WAV, and AIFF formats.

As an example, you can only play those MP4 videos on your Apple TV that are encoded with H.264 or MPEG-4 codec. Furthermore, the audio codec for your file is also required to be in AAC format. Suffice to say, you won’t be able to play any other MP4 format on your Apple TV.

To ensure you have the right video and audio formats, you should check the list of supported formats for the specific model of Apple TV that you own. In case you have files in a format that is not natively supported by Apple, you may have to go through the process of converting your files to an iOS-friendly format.

Fortunately, there’s an easier way to play video files – even those not natively supported by iOS devices – on your Apple TV. Keep reading to find out how!

How To Stream Video from Mac to Apple – The Easiest Solution

Beamer is an app that has been explicitly designed for Apple TV users to help them stream videos on their Apple TV through their Macs. It takes all the hassle off our hands by helping us avoid conversions that are typically a prerequisite for video streaming on Apple TV.

If you wish to skip the extra step of using a video converter to view your collection of videos on your Apple TV, Beamer is one of the best options available on the market. It enables you to enjoy hours of uninterrupted videos and movies on your Apple TV and start your movie nights right away without waiting for any conversions to conclude.

The video streaming tool supports all video and audio formats – even those not natively supported by iOS devices, including Apple TV, Mac, iPhone, iPad, etc. Some of the supported formats include SUB/IDX, SRT, FLV, MOV, WMV, MKV, AVI, etc.

It is crucial to note, however, that Beamer will not play files that are in DVD or Blu-Ray format, as such video files are copyright protected.

Before we jump into why Beamer is the best streaming app to use for streaming videos on your Apple TV, let’s take a look at the steps you need to follow to begin watching your favorite videos in just a few minutes using this tool:

Step 1. Download and install Beamer on your Mac

Open your Mac and click on this link to download the free version of Beamer. Through the free trial version, you can test out the product and decide whether or not the paid version will be worth your buck in the long term.

The free version will allow you to stream videos that accumulate to a total of 15 minutes of watch time through this tool. The 15 minutes of free streaming will further give you an idea of how this app works and all the functions and features that it entails.

If you’re satisfied with the demo, you can then invest in the paid version of Beamer, which will unlock unlimited playback as well as the playlist and queueing features.

Once you’ve downloaded and installed Beamer, you can launch the app. When you do this, a small window will pop up with the message, “Drag movies here to stream to…”

Step 2. Select Your Apple TV

Beamer works for both Apple TV and Google Chromecast. Assuming you’re using this tool for your Apple TV, you’ll have to connect both your Mac and your Apple TV to the same Wi-Fi network to locate your Apple TV on Beamer.

You will see your device in the device menu bar that is located at the lower right corner of the Beamer window. Click on your Apple TV to select it from the list of available devices to begin streaming videos to it directly from your Mac.

Step 3. Drag, Drop, and Bring Your Popcorn Out!

After selecting your Apple TV from the device menu bar, you can start streaming your favorite videos by simply dragging and dropping them into the Beamer window.

Yes, you read that right!

There’s no need for you to transcode your videos into an iOS-friendly format or even check the format of your videos, for that matter. You can simply drag and drop as many files as you like into the window and the playback will begin almost immediately.

Can You Airplay from Mac to Apple TV?

Given that you’ve enabled Airplay on your Mac and your video files are in a format natively supported by iOS devices, you can directly stream your videos to your Apple TV or any other compatible smart TV easily. It is pertinent to note that the following steps will only work for Macs that are running on macOS Mojave, macOS Catalina, and macOS Big Sur. Additionally, since we’re here to learn how to stream videos from Mac to Apple TV, the following instructions entail details pertaining to these specific devices.

First, let’s take a look at how you can use AirPlay on your Mac:

1. Select the status icon for AirPlay in the menu bar or Control Center

2. Select your Apple TC from the list of devices available under AirPlay To

3. You will be prompted to enter the code being displayed on your Apple TV

4.You can also open Control Center and then select Screen Mirroring to choose the name of your Apple TV. For audio, you can open Control Center and press the AirPlay icon to select a compatible speaker from the list of available devices.

5. Enter the code on your Mac

Once you’ve completed these steps, the AirPlay mirroring option will be enabled automatically. However, if you want to adjust the mirroring size, you can do so by following these steps:

1. Once you’ve enabled AirPlay Mirroring, press the blue Airplay status icon

2. In the AirPlay drop-down menu, review the mirroring options

3. Mirror TV_Name, which is the default setting, matches the display to the TV’s display

4. If you want the display size to match your Mac’s display size, select Mirror Built-in Display_Name

Why Is Beamer the Best Mac to Apple TV Streaming Option?

As is evident from the steps and facts mentioned above, Beamer is the preferred option to stream videos from your Mac to Apple TV. Even if you play the supported MP4 format through the AirPlay option, you will still need to ensure that it is encoded with the supported format and audio codec.

Furthermore, streaming videos through AirPlay can sometimes provide glitchy results and the process of enabling and playing videos through the AirPlay option can be tricky – especially for those of us who aren’t exactly tech-savvy.

If your videos are not already in an iOS-supported format, you’ll need to go through the strenuous process of converting your videos to an Apple-friendly format, which can also take several hours and almost a dozen additional steps [unless you’re using WALTR PRO].

With Beamer, you can skip the hassle of converting your video files to an iOS-friendly format and also free up space on your Mac as you won’t be creating any duplicate files. The tool automatically detects and removes videos you’ve watched from a playlist, freeing up space on your device.

What’s even more favorable is that Beamer lets users watch videos in a variety of different formats in one go without any additional steps or need for conversions.

Here’s a brief overview of everything we love about Beamer and the reasons we think this tool is a better Apple TV streaming option than others:

1.Making Playlists and Editing Queues

With the Beamer app for Mac, you can add as many video files to the playlist as you want and prepare for an uninterrupted movie night. You can also edit the queues and make adjustments to your playlist before initiating the streaming process.

The app allows users to delete the files they want to remove from the playlist and it also automatically removes video files on the playlist that have already been watched. You can head to the player window to review all the videos in your playlist and the playlist’s total time duration.

2.Use Your Apple TV Remote for EVERYTHING

Whether you want to skip a scene, rewind the video, or take a break from binge-watching your favorite movies by hitting pause, all of these actions can be completed from the comfort of your sofa via the Apple TV remote. Your Mac can sit anywhere in the room while you control everything with your TV’s remote. The remote can also be used to view the upcoming video on your playlist; you can do so by double-pressing the remote’s Play button.

3.Adding Subtitles Has Never Been Easier

One of the best features of Beamer is that it automatically detects the embedded or associated subtitle files and adds them to the playback. The external subtitle tracks can be added in any format, including embedded or text-based formats. Some of the many supported subtitle formats include SubRub, Blu-Ray, Subviewer, DVD, MPL(2), etc.

4.Get the Best Audio and Video Quality Possible

Beamer streams videos with Surround Sound support and video quality at up to 1080p, which means that you can watch all your videos in the same quality as you would on your Mac. The high bitrate and native streaming capabilities enable Beamer to provide the best audio and video qualities, regardless of the format of your video files.

5.You Can Stream All Video Formats in One Go

Beamer lets you play multiple video formats in one sitting without having to use video converters to view them on Apple TV. You can add as many videos in various formats to your playlist as you wish and rest assured that the streaming process will begin immediately without any additional steps for format adjustments.

FAQs

Why can't I stream from Mac to Apple TV?

If you’re unable to stream music or a video from Mac to Apple TV, it might be because your AirPlay-compatible devices are either turned off or far away from each other. Additionally, you also need to ensure that your devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. If the problem persists, look for any software updates, complete the update process, and restart your device.

Can I stream from my MacBook to my TV?

You can stream from your MacBook to your Apple TV or any other compatible smart TV using AirPlay Mirroring by turning on the screen mirroring option on your Mac. The next step would be to select your Apple TV for screen mirroring and play the videos you want to watch. Another great tool for easy Mac to Apple TV streaming is Beamer, which plays all audio and video files, including those not natively supported by iOS devices.

How do I mirror my Mac to Apple TV without AirPlay?

If you want to mirror your Mac to Apple TV without AirPlay, you can do so using an HDMI cable to connect the two devices and changing the source to the one your Mac is connected to. Another efficient way to stream all your video files from your Mac to your Apple TV without any format restrictions is through the revolutionary app known as Beamer.

Can you AirPlay from Mac?

You can AirPlay from your Mac after ensuring that both your Smart TV/Apple TV and Mac are on the same Wi-Fi network and that your AirPlay is enabled on your Mac.

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