How Apple Vision Pro Works With the Mac - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

How Apple Vision Pro Works With the Mac

Apple Vision Pro is a standalone hardware device that has its own processors and does not require a connection to a Mac or an iPhone to operate, but it is able to interface with other Apple devices. With the Mac, for example, the Vision Pro can serve as a Mac display.

apple vision pro mac
Apple says that there's a Mac Virtual Display feature that works wirelessly with the Mac. You can bring your Mac's display into Vision Pro and "place it anywhere in space." You can see each of your Mac apps individually, arranging them in a way that works for you.

According to Apple, the Vision Pro is meant to serve as a "private, portable 4K display" when used with a Mac. Connecting is as simple as looking at a compatible Mac while wearing the Apple Vision headset.

apple vision pro mac desktop
You can connect Mac accessories to the Vision Pro, including the Magic Keyboard and the Magic Trackpad for input purposes. Attaching Bluetooth accessories allows for a typical Mac workflow to continue to be used, with the display replaced by Vision Pro.

Vision Pro is set to launch in early 2024, so we won't know more about how it functions as an actual Mac display replacement until closer to that date. The headset is priced starting at $3,499.

Related Roundup: Apple Vision Pro
Buyer's Guide: Vision Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: Apple Vision Pro

Popular Stories

General visionOS watchOS and tvOS Betas Feature Redux

Apple Releases Second watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5 and visionOS 26.5 Betas

Monday April 13, 2026 10:06 am PDT by
Apple today provided developers with the second betas of upcoming watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5, and visionOS 26.5 betas for testing purposes. The software comes two weeks after Apple released the first betas for each platform. The software updates are available through the Settings app on each device, and because these are developer betas, a free developer account is required. There's no word ...
Apple Vision Pro with battery Feature Blue Magenta

New Book Details Vision Pro's Troubled Launch in Apple Stores

Tuesday April 7, 2026 5:57 am PDT by
A new book by New York Times labor reporter Noam Scheiber argues that Apple's decade-long erosion of its retail workforce directly contributed to the disappointing launch of the Apple Vision Pro in early 2024 (via WIRED). The book, Mutiny: The Rise and Revolt of the College-Educated Working Class, draws on interviews with Apple Store employees to document how staffing cuts, reduced training, ...
steam link%402x

Valve's Steam Link App Is Coming to Apple Vision Pro

Monday April 13, 2026 6:14 am PDT by
Valve's Steam Link app, which is designed to let you stream games from your main gaming computer to another device, is coming to Apple Vision Pro. The upcoming app for visionOS means users will be able to wirelessly stream games from Steam running on their Mac or PC to their Vision Pro headset, assuming the devices are on the same local network. Prior to its official release, Valve is...

Top Rated Comments

38 months ago
This is gonna be the most sold-out thing ever. Probably a year long waitlist.

I'm anti-VR and even I'm thinking about getting it, if it works with the Mac like this. It's not enough for me to already be working in bed with a laptop under work-from-home - I also want to be able to work while just lying back half asleep.

I'll pay top dollar for anything that'll let me be just a little bit lazier.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
alexandr Avatar
38 months ago
No, mom, I don't have any other windows open in my Vision Pro — just the one with algebra that you can see on my MacBook.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Will Co Avatar
38 months ago
As I understand it, this is effectively just a screen share. What would be very powerful is the ability to create multiple desktops on the Mac and left each into VisionPro. My Mac would then effectively be able to access enormous screen area, rather than one copy of its screen, albeit a large scale version.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mongobongo Avatar
38 months ago

I wonder if this is going to work with Macs that contain Intel Chip.
I can venture a wild guess...
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
38 months ago
Even it was just for a part of a work day, I can see this offering a great option for ergonomics. The abilty to relax in a chair with your head at any angle that's comfortable could bring some relief to an otherwise static posture. We all know looking down at a laptop is not good on the neck.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
38 months ago
Alright Apple, hear me out. A reverse Apple TV that’s a bunch of HDMI inputs that can airplay to the Reality Pro
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Related Apple News: Entertainment | Lifestyle | Sport | Iphone | Travel