How to use your Apple Vision Pro as a Mac display

You can use the Apple Vision Pro as an external display for a Mac. The feature is compatible with some older Intel-based Macs, but to get the full experience, you’ll need an Apple Silicon Mac.

To use Mac Virtual Display on Apple Vision Pro, your Mac must have macOS 14 Sonoma or later. Your Mac and your Apple Vision Pro need to be signed in to the same Apple ID, and that account must have two-factor authentication turned on. And make sure that your Mac and your Apple Vision Pro both have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on.

To start a Mac display session:

° Bring its display into Apple Vision Pro by looking at it:

° Make sure that your Mac laptop is open and its display is active.

° While wearing Apple Vision Pro, look at your Mac laptop.

° Tap the Connect button that appears in your view above your Mac laptop.

If you have a compatible Mac desktop computer, or you don’t see the Connect button above your Mac laptop, you can start Mac Virtual Display in Control Center:

° Look up, then tap the check-in-a-circle icon near the top of your view to open Control Center.

° Tap the Control Center button (two button icons stacked atop each other) to see more options.

° Tap the Mac Virtual Display button (a Vision Pro/laptop icon).

° Select your Mac desktop computer from the list that appears.

And if this doesn’t work (and it didn’t for me), you’ll have to open System Settings on your Mac, choose Displays, click the “+” button, then select Vision Pro from the display options.

Using Mac Virtual Display

When your Mac connects, its display appears as a window in Apple Vision Pro. Just like with all windows in your Apple Vision Pro workspace, you can pinch and drag the window bar that appears at the bottom of the window to move your Mac display and arrange it closer or farther away in space. You can also resize Mac Virtual Display by pinching and dragging the window bars that appear at either bottom corner of the window.

If your Mac has multiple displays connected to it, Mac Virtual Display shows only the one that you’ve set as the main display. To adjust the resolution of your Mac display in Apple Vision Pro, go to the Settings app on your Mac, click Displays, then choose from the available resolutions. If you have a Mac with Apple silicon, it can appear in Apple Vision Pro at resolutions up to 4K. If your Mac has an Intel processor, it can appear at resolutions up to 3K.

Use your Mac computer’s built-in keyboard and trackpad, or its connected Bluetooth keyboard and trackpad, to work on your Mac within Apple Vision Pro. 

While you’re using Mac Virtual Display, sounds from your Mac (such as notifications) will continue to come from your Mac, not from Apple Vision Pro.

Use your Mac input devices to control Apple Vision Pro apps

When you’re in a Mac Virtual Display session, you can use your Mac computer’s built-in keyboard and trackpad, or its connected Bluetooth keyboard and trackpad, to control Apple Vision Pro apps and content inside the Mac Virtual Display. 

First, make sure that your Mac is set up right:

1. On your Mac, open Settings > Displays.
2. Tap Advanced.
3. Turn on Allow your pointer and keyboard to move between any nearby Mac or iPad.

Now you can move your Mac pointer out of the Mac Virtual Display window into other Apple Vision Pro windows, where you can use it to scroll and select items.

End a Mac Virtual Display session

When you’re finished, tap the close button at the bottom of the Mac window to disconnect from your computer.

If Mac Virtual Display isn’t working

Try these tips:

• Make sure that your Apple Vision Pro and your Mac have the latest software updates. Your Mac needs to have macOS 14 Sonoma or later.
• Make sure that your Apple Vision Pro and your Mac are signed in to the same Apple ID. Mac Virtual Display doesn’t work when your Apple Vision Pro is in Guest Mode.
• Make sure that your Apple Vision Pro and your Mac have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on.
• Move closer to the Mac that you’re trying to connect to.
• Restart your Apple Vision Pro and your Mac.