Apple has expanded iPhone Mirroring in iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe to make Live Activities appear directly on Mac. This feature is new in 2025 and builds on the continuity experience that started with iPhone Mirroring and iPhone notifications in iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia. Instead of just opening a mirrored iPhone screen, users can now stay updated with alerts, timers, ride-hailing status, and even sports scores without ever picking up their phone.
Once enabled, notifications from iPhone show up on Mac with a clear badge that distinguishes them from Mac app notifications. Dismissing an alert on one device clears it from the other. Live Activities also integrate into the Mac menu bar, expanding when clicked, so you can check progress at a glance. If your iPhone is nearby, double-clicking a Live Activity opens the mirrored iPhone app for full interaction.
To set up iPhone notifications and Live Activities on Mac, you first need to make sure iPhone Mirroring is enabled. This requires both devices to be signed into the same Apple ID with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Handoff turned on. After that, macOS Tahoe (macOS 16) or later is required for Live Activities, while basic notifications work with iOS 26 and macOS Sequoia (macOS 15).
Here’s how to get started:
- On your Mac, open System Settings > Desktop & Dock and select which iPhone to link if you use multiple devices.
- Go to System Settings > Notifications on Mac to allow iPhone alerts and customize how they appear.
- On iPhone, manage per-app settings in Settings > Notifications to choose which ones also show up on Mac.
- To turn off Live Activities completely, on your Mac, go to System Settings > Notifications > Notifications from iPhone and disable the toggle for “Allow Live Activities from iPhone”.
Once you’ve set it up, notifications from iPhone will appear on your Mac alongside your regular macOS alerts. Each one carries an iPhone badge so you can tell them apart, and clearing a notification on one device automatically clears it on the other. Live Activities also integrate into the menu bar, giving you glanceable updates on things like timers, deliveries, or sports scores. You can fine-tune which apps show up on Mac by adjusting notification settings on iPhone or Mac, so only the most useful alerts get through.
As a side note, call notifications behave differently. They are part of Apple’s existing Continuity features, so incoming call alerts always appear on Mac once the feature is enabled, even if iPhone Mirroring is turned off.
This update shows how Apple continues to blur the line between iPhone and Mac, letting users treat them as one connected system. For those who spend most of their time on a Mac, having real-time iPhone alerts and Live Activities available at a glance is a significant improvement in productivity and convenience. However, iPhone notifications can get overwhelming so it’s better to select which ones you want to see on your Mac.
