Receive iPhone Notifications on Mac in iOS 18

With the release of iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia, Apple enables users to receive and interact with iPhone notifications directly on their Mac through a feature called iPhone Mirroring. This integration bridges the ecosystem gap, routing alerts from mobile-only apps straight to the desktop so users can stay informed without checking their physical devices. This article explains how the feature works, how users can interact with notifications, the technical requirements, and how to manage privacy settings.

How iPhone Notifications Work on Mac

When an iPhone running iOS 18 is paired with a Mac running macOS Sequoia, incoming iPhone notifications automatically appear on the Mac. These alerts look identical to native macOS notifications but feature a small iPhone badge on the app icon to indicate their origin. They appear in real time in the top-right corner of the screen and are stored in the Mac Notification Center.

Acting on Notifications

Users can do more than just view these alerts—they can actively respond to them:

  • Clicking an Alert: Clicking an iPhone notification on the Mac automatically launches the iPhone Mirroring app and opens the specific iPhone app linked to the alert.
  • Direct Interaction: Once the mirrored screen opens, users can reply to messages, perform actions inside apps, and navigate the interface using the Mac's keyboard, trackpad, or mouse.
  • Inline Actions: Certain notifications allow quick actions directly from the banner, such as marking a reminder as complete or replying to a message thread, without needing to open the full mirrored view.

Throughout this process, the physical iPhone remains locked and can be placed out of sight, ensuring privacy while in public or shared spaces.

System Requirements

To use this integration, devices must meet specific hardware and software prerequisites:

  • An iPhone running iOS 18.
  • A Mac running macOS Sequoia with Apple silicon or an Intel processor with a T2 Security Chip.
  • Both devices signed in to the same Apple Account using two-factor authentication.
  • Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled on both devices, with both placed in close proximity.

Managing and Filtering Notifications

Users maintain full control over which iPhone apps are allowed to push alerts to the Mac. To adjust these preferences:

  1. Open System Settings on the Mac.
  2. Navigate to Notifications.
  3. Select an individual app or adjust global mirroring preferences under the iPhone section to toggle alerts on or off.

This granular control prevents notification clutter and ensures that only essential alerts appear during focused work sessions.