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How to mirror an iPhone to a Windows PC

An iPhone shares its screen with Screen Mirroring, which uses Apple's AirPlay protocol. Windows does not understand AirPlay on its own, so the PC needs a receiver app. Once that is running, mirroring takes three taps on the iPhone and needs no cable.

What you need

  • A Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC with a screen mirroring receiver installed. This guide uses Castpane, a free download from the Microsoft Store.
  • An iPhone with Wi-Fi turned on. Nothing needs to be installed on it.
  • Both on the same network: the same Wi-Fi, or the PC plugged into the same router by cable.

Mirror your iPhone in four steps

  1. Install the receiver on the PC. Get Castpane from the Microsoft Store and open it. The first time, Windows may ask whether Castpane may use the network. Allow it on private networks.
  2. Open Control Center on the iPhone. Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen. On an iPhone with a Home button, swipe up from the bottom edge.
  3. Tap Screen Mirroring. It is the button with two overlapping rectangles.
  4. Pick your PC from the list. It appears under the name shown in Castpane. Your iPhone screen and its sound now play in a window on the PC.

To stop, open Control Center again, tap Screen Mirroring and choose Stop Mirroring. Closing the window on the PC ends it too.

Sound, rotation and full screen

  • Sound comes with the picture. Use the iPhone's volume buttons to set how loud it plays on the PC. If you hear nothing, see no sound when mirroring.
  • Rotation: turn the iPhone sideways in an app that supports landscape, such as Photos or a game, and the picture on the PC turns with it.
  • Full screen: switch the window to full screen, or turn on full screen at start in Castpane's settings. This is the mode to use with a projector or TV connected to the PC.
  • Notifications show on the PC too, because the whole screen is mirrored. Turn on a Focus mode such as Do Not Disturb before presenting.

The PC is not in the Screen Mirroring list

This is the most common problem, and it is almost always the network: a guest Wi-Fi, a PC network set to Public, a firewall prompt that was dismissed, or a VPN. In Castpane, click Can't see this PC? to run the connection wizard, then follow the full checklist.

Other ways people try, and why they do not work

  • A USB cable: Screen Mirroring works over the network, not over the cable. Plugging the iPhone into the PC lets you copy photos, but it does not show the screen.
  • Projecting to this PC: the receiver built into Windows uses Miracast, the standard used by Windows laptops and many Android phones. iPhones do not send Miracast, so they never see it.
  • Phone Link: Microsoft's app connects an iPhone for calls, messages and notifications. It is not built to show the iPhone's screen.

So a receiver app is the practical route. Several exist, free and paid; this comparison lists the main ones with their prices and limits.

What cannot be mirrored

Netflix, Disney+, the Apple TV app and other services with protected video show a black picture on every third-party receiver, Castpane included. That is decided on the iPhone, not on the PC. Why streaming apps show a black screen.

Questions

Can I mirror an iPhone to a PC for free?

Yes. Castpane is a free download, sound included and without a watermark. Each connection lasts up to 15 minutes and you can reconnect straight away. Free download, 15 minutes per connection. A one-time in-app purchase removes the limit.

Do the iPhone and the PC have to be on the same Wi-Fi?

Yes, they have to be on the same local network. A PC on Ethernet works if the cable goes into the same router. Mobile data never works for mirroring.

Can I mirror an iPhone to a PC with a USB cable?

Not with Screen Mirroring. It only works over the network. If your Wi-Fi blocks it, a phone hotspot is the usual way out.

Last updated October 16, 2026. Still stuck? Contact support.

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