You can’t mirror an iPhone to a Windows 11 PC wirelessly without installing anything. iPhones mirror their screen with Apple’s AirPlay, and Windows 11 can’t receive AirPlay on its own; Windows uses a different standard, Miracast, which iPhones don’t support. There are still two ways to do it without adding an app to your iPhone: connect it with a cable and an inexpensive HDMI capture card and view it in the Windows Camera app, or install one AirPlay receiver app on the PC only.
Applies to: Windows 11 and iPhones with iOS 18 or iOS 26.
Option 1: Use a cable and a capture card (no downloads)
This shows your iPhone screen in a window on the PC using only apps built into Windows. It’s also the most reliable option, with no Wi-Fi lag.
What you need
- An HDMI adapter for your iPhone: a USB-C to HDMI adapter for iPhone 15 and later, or Apple’s Lightning Digital AV Adapter for older models.
- A USB HDMI capture card: a small adapter that turns an HDMI signal into a webcam-like USB device. Basic ones cost little.
- An HDMI cable.
Steps
- Plug the capture card into a USB port on the PC.
- Connect the iPhone’s HDMI adapter to the iPhone, then connect the HDMI cable from the adapter to the capture card.
- Unlock the iPhone. It starts sending its screen over HDMI.
- On the PC, open the Camera app from the Start menu.
- Select the Change camera button until you see your iPhone screen. Windows treats the capture card as a camera.
- Maximize the window, or press F11 in some apps, for a larger view.
The Camera app shows the picture but may not play the iPhone’s sound. If you need audio, keep it playing from the iPhone or connect headphones to it.
Option 2: Use Phone Link for calls, texts and notifications
If you want to use your iPhone from the PC rather than see its screen, Windows 11’s built-in Phone Link app connects over Bluetooth. If the PC’s Bluetooth is switched off, turn on Bluetooth in Windows 11 from the quick settings tile before you set up Phone Link.
- Open Phone Link from the Start menu, or select the phone icon in the Start menu’s side panel.
- Choose iPhone and scan the QR code with your iPhone’s camera.
- Follow the steps to pair over Bluetooth and allow notifications, contacts and messages on the iPhone.
You can then make calls, read and reply to texts and see notifications on the PC. Phone Link can’t show your iPhone’s screen or open iPhone apps. Android phones have more choices, covered in casting your phone to a Windows 11 laptop.
Option 3: Install an AirPlay receiver on the PC
For wireless mirroring, install an AirPlay receiver app on the PC. The iPhone needs nothing extra, because it uses its built-in Screen Mirroring.
- Install an AirPlay receiver app for Windows from the Microsoft Store or the developer’s official website. Several free and paid options exist.
- Open it and allow it through the Windows Firewall when asked, on Private networks.
- Connect the iPhone and PC to the same Wi-Fi network.
- On the iPhone, open Control Center and tap Screen Mirroring.
- Choose your PC from the list.
Expect a short delay, which is fine for photos and presentations but not for games. Free versions often add a watermark or time limit.
Be careful with “no app” instructions
Some guides say you can turn on mirroring in Settings > System > Projecting to this PC and then choose your PC from the iPhone. That feature only accepts Miracast connections from Windows PCs and Android phones, so an iPhone won’t find the PC that way. Treat any website that asks you to install a profile on your iPhone, or log in to mirror your screen, with caution.
Troubleshooting
The Camera app shows a black screen
Unlock the iPhone and check the adapter is firmly connected. Apps that block screen recording, such as some streaming services, show black over HDMI too.
The PC doesn’t appear in Screen Mirroring
Make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network, the receiver app is open, and the network is set to Private in Settings > Network & internet. Guest and public Wi-Fi often block devices from seeing each other.
Phone Link won’t connect to the iPhone
Turn on Bluetooth on both devices and remove any old pairing in Settings > Bluetooth & devices. Phone Link also needs the PC to have Bluetooth.
Frequently asked questions
Can I mirror an iPhone to Windows with a USB cable alone?
Not with Windows’ built-in tools. A USB cable lets you copy photos and charge, but showing the screen needs either the HDMI route above or an app.
Does Windows 11 support AirPlay?
No. Windows can receive Miracast only. Apple TV and AirPlay-compatible TVs receive AirPlay natively. Other ways to get your iPhone on a big screen are in connecting a mobile screen to a laptop.
Related: mirroring an iPhone to a Windows 10 PC and sending files from an iPhone to Windows 10.
Matt Jacobs writes and maintains the guides on Support Your Tech, which he started in 2017. He spent most of his career keeping small-business PCs running and still takes the occasional consulting job, so the steps here come from fixing the same problems on other people’s computers. Every guide is checked on his own Windows 11, Windows 10, Mac, iPhone and iPad before it goes up.