How to mirror or stream content from your Android device to Mac or Windows PC [Video]

Apple and Google products don’t always play together nicely, but when they do, it’s normally because a third party has created an application or two to get them talking to each other. That’s exactly what Reflector 2 for Mac does (among many other things). If you’ve been wondering how you can get content from your Android smartphone or tablet mirrored or streamed to your Mac (and Windows PC, if you’re into that kinda thing), this is one really easy way.

The first thing you need to do is download Reflector 2 direct from AirSquirrels.com. It’s available as a free trial, or you can purchase a full individual license for $14.99. Once installed and open, it essentially turns your Mac or Windows PC in to a Google Cast-compatible device. You’ll be able to mirror or stream anything from your favorite Android phone.

It’s not just a simple streaming or mirroring tool though. You can record anything you mirror and change all kinds of settings, including recording quality, mirroring quality and format, among other things. If you happen to have more than one device, you can mirror multiple devices at once and it arranges them automatically to not get in each others’ way. Apple’s iOS devices work too.

Easy controls let you prioritize certain screens in case you want to draw more attention to one screen over another. For an added level of security, Reflector 2 can also restrict pairing by displaying a unique code on screen for you to enter in order to gain access and start streaming. In that way, not just anyone can start streaming stuff to your Mac.

Reflector handles multiple devices well

All in all, the program seems well worth the fifteen bucks you need to spend to get full access. It has many uses, although the frame-rate lag leads me to believe that gaming is not its forté. It’s versatile and cross-platform, but needs to speed up if it’s going to be useful for gamers. Saying that, it’s ridiculously easy to use and takes very little work. If you want to stream your Android content to a Mac or PC, Reflector 2 is a no-brainer.