iPad/iPhone screen mirroring on Nobara Linux

This tutorial explains how to set up and use UxPlay on Nobara Linux to mirror an iPad screen using the AirPlay protocol.

Prerequisites

• An iPad and a Nobara Linux PC connected to the same local network.
• Access to a terminal (such as Alacritty).

Step 1: Install UxPlay

UxPlay is the primary tool used to act as an AirPlay server on Linux. Install it and the necessary dependencies using the package manager.

sudo dnf install uxplay

Step 2: Configure the Firewall

AirPlay requires several network ports to be open to communicate with Apple devices. Use the following commands to configure the firewall rules.

sudo firewall-cmd --add-service=mdns --permanent
sudo firewall-cmd --add-port=5353/udp --permanent
sudo firewall-cmd --add-port=6000-6001/tcp --permanent
sudo firewall-cmd --add-port=7000-7001/tcp --permanent
sudo firewall-cmd --add-port=7100/tcp --permanent
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

Step 3: Enable Network Discovery Services

UxPlay relies on Avahi (mDNS/DNS-SD) to be visible to your iPad. Ensure the service is enabled and running.

sudo systemctl enable --now avahi-daemon

Step 4: Create a Shortcut with Hardware Acceleration

To make the mirroring process easier and more efficient, you can create a Zsh alias. The -avdec flag enables hardware-accelerated video decoding, which significantly reduces CPU usage and latency.

1. Open your Zsh configuration file:

   nvim ~/.zshrc
   

2. Add the following line to the bottom of the file:

   alias ipad-mirror="uxplay -avdec"
   

3. Save the file and reload your shell configuration:

   source ~/.zshrc
   

Step 5: Start Mirroring

1. Open your terminal and run the new shortcut:

   ipad-mirror
   

2. On your iPad, swipe down from the top-right corner to open the Control Center.
3. Tap the Screen Mirroring icon (two overlapping rectangles).
4. Select your computer from the list of available devices.

Step 6: Create a KDE Desktop Shortcut

Creating a desktop entry allows you to launch the mirror from your Application Launcher or pin it to your taskbar.

1. Create a new desktop entry file:

   nvim ~/.local/share/applications/ipad-mirror.desktop
   

2. Paste the following configuration into the file:

   [Desktop Entry]
   Name=iPad Mirror
   Comment=Start AirPlay Mirroring Server
   Exec=uxplay -avdec
   Icon=phone-apple-symbolic
   Terminal=true
   Type=Application
   Categories=Utility;
   

3. Save and close the file.
4. You can now find “iPad Mirror” in your KDE Application Launcher. Right-click it to select “Pin to Task Manager” for one-click access.

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Troubleshooting

• Black Screen: If the window opens but remains black, try running the command with a forced video sink: uxplay -avdec -vs autovideosink.
• Not Found: If the iPad cannot find the PC, verify that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi SSID and that no VPN is active on either device.
• Performance: Ensure you are using a 5GHz Wi-Fi band or Ethernet for the PC to minimize lag and stuttering during high-resolution mirroring.