The short answer
On a Mac, open your TacBoard gallery's Display Live view in Chrome or Safari, open Control Center > Screen Mirroring, choose your Apple TV or AirPlay TV, and go full screen. The Mac runs the stream and AirPlay mirrors it to the TV over Wi-Fi. For the most reliable picture on a busy network, use HDMI instead.
- Difficulty
- Moderate. Test before the event.
- Runs on
- A laptop in Chrome. The TV or projector is the display.
What you need
- A Mac
- An Apple TV, or a TV with AirPlay built in (many recent Samsung, LG, Sony and Vizio models)
- Both on the same Wi-Fi network
Before you start
- A laptop (Windows or Mac) with Chrome. Safari and Edge also work, but Chrome is recommended. Close other tabs.
- Your own laptop, not a work-issued one. Company and school laptops often block the screen sharing and sites you need.
- Reliable internet for the laptop: venue Wi-Fi or a phone hotspot. Weak Wi-Fi is the most common reason photos are slow to appear.
- Cell signal for guests if they will text photos. Test both at the venue with Try TacBoard.
- Your gallery open in Live mode. Log in at tacboard.com, open your gallery and click Display Live.
Step by step: Apple TV (AirPlay)
- 1
Join the same Wi-Fi
Put the Mac and the Apple TV on the same network.
- 2
Open the live stream
Log in at tacboard.com, open your gallery and click Display Live.
- 3
Start mirroring
Click Control Center in the menu bar, then Screen Mirroring, and choose your Apple TV or TV. Enter the code on the TV if asked.
- 4
Match the TV's shape
In the Screen Mirroring menu, choose to mirror the built-in display or use the TV as a separate display, then drag the browser window onto it.
- 5
Go full screen and keep the Mac awake
Press Control+Command+F, plug in the charger, and turn off sleep for the event.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Photos take a long time to appear | The laptop's internet is weak. Move closer to the router or switch to a phone hotspot. |
| The stream stops scrolling at the bottom instead of looping | Change the browser zoom: Ctrl and + or - on Windows, Command and + or - on Mac. Some screen sizes need 110%. |
| The TV shows "No signal" | Select the right HDMI input with the TV remote's Input or Source button. |
| The picture does not fill the screen | Enter full screen in Chrome (F11 on Windows, Control+Command+F on Mac), and set the display to Duplicate or Mirror. |
| The laptop goes to sleep | Plug in the charger and turn off sleep and the screen saver for the event. |
Other displays
Frequently asked questions
Can I use an iPad instead of a Mac?
We recommend a laptop. TacBoard's live stream is built for a laptop browser.
Does this work from Windows?
AirPlay is built into Macs. From Windows, use an HDMI cable, a Chromecast or Miracast.
Why do photos take a while to appear on the screen?
Almost always a weak Wi-Fi signal on the laptop. Move it closer to the router or switch to a phone hotspot. Guests also need cell signal to text photos.
Do I need Wi-Fi at the venue?
The laptop running the stream needs internet: venue Wi-Fi or a hotspot. Test it at the venue beforehand with Try TacBoard.
Will TacBoard set up the equipment for us?
No. TacBoard does not provide or set up equipment, but most DJs, AV companies and venues can connect a laptop to their screen.
Last reviewed by the TacBoard team.