iPhone mirroring on the Mac: even better, but without the EU
Apple has made further improvements to iPhone mirroring in macOS 26 Tahoe. The blocking within the EU is becoming increasingly annoying.
iPhone mirroring on the Mac: Here in Sonoma. EU users will not see this icon.
(Image: Apple)
Since iOS 18 and macOS 15 from autumn 2025, Apple operating systems have had a practical remote control function for iPhones: iPhone mirroring, also known as iPhone synchronization, allows you to control an Apple mobile phone from the Mac desktop without having to reach for the device. This makes everyday working life much easier, as you can respond to notifications on your iPhone directly from the big screen—or use apps that are not yet available on the Mac. The problem is that the feature is still not approved in the EU due to regulatory problems that Apple sees. With iOS 26 and macOS 26, Apple has now even added more features, while local users are left out in the cold.
Now also from the Mac: Where's my food?
Notifications are now not only redirected from the iPhone to the Mac on request, but also live activities. These are background processes that allow users to monitor ongoing processes, whether it's a food order, taxi directions, or the schedule for a flight. On the iPhone, the information ends up on the lock screen or in the Dynamic Island; on the Mac, it can now be found in the menu bar from macOS 26 alias Tahoe.
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There you can view either a mini version (similar to what you know from Dynamic Island) or a large version of the live activity. This is seamlessly integrated: If you double-click, you also land directly in the app on the mirrored iPhone. As iPhone mirroring does not have an official lock screen, this is the only way to view current events. Unfortunately, there is still no message center on the mirrored iPhone; this cannot be accessed at – in contrast to almost all other iPhone functions—because Apple optionally forwards the smartphone notifications to the Mac's message center. A separation would be very useful here, at least if desired.
EU implementation still unclear
Apple has summarized further details on the implementation of Live Activities on the Mac in a separate help document. It also explains how to get rid of live activity if it does get in the way in practice.
iPhone mirroring only appears on the Mac if you are not using an EU account. This is linked to “Media & App Store” access, but not iCloud access. It remains unclear whether Apple will release the service in the EU in the foreseeable future. The manufacturer recently massively criticized the EU's DMA law, which enforces regulation.
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