Samsung TVs do not have native AirPlay support built in

Most Samsung televisions cannot receive AirPlay directly from iPhones, iPads, or Mac computers. Samsung uses its own SmartThings ecosystem and supports Google Cast and Alexa, but not Apple's AirPlay protocol. If you own an iPhone or iPad and want to stream to a Samsung TV, you will need a workaround rather than a direct connection.

This matters because AirPlay is the standard way Apple devices talk to televisions. If your Samsung TV does not support it, you cannot straightforward swipe up from your iPhone home screen and mirror your screen to the TV the way you would with an Apple TV or an AirPlay-compatible LG or Sony model.

The good news is that Samsung TVs released in 2018 and later do support AirPlay 2 through a software update, but only for audio and photos — not for screen mirroring or video apps. Even this limited support requires your TV to be connected to WiFi and your iPhone to be on the same network.

Key Takeaways

  • Samsung TVs do not support full AirPlay, meaning you cannot mirror your iPhone or iPad screen to the TV directly.
  • Newer Samsung models (2018 and later) support AirPlay 2 for music and photos only, not for video or screen mirroring.
  • You can use Google Cast from an iPhone by opening a compatible app and tapping the Cast button instead of using AirPlay.
  • An Apple TV box connected to your Samsung TV via HDMI is the most reliable way to use AirPlay with a Samsung television.
  • Some third-party apps like Plex and Spotify work on Samsung TVs and can receive audio from iPhones without needing AirPlay.

Which Samsung models support AirPlay 2

Samsung added AirPlay 2 support to its 2018 and newer QLED and The Frame models through software updates. However, this support is limited to music streaming and photo sharing only. You cannot use AirPlay 2 to mirror your entire iPhone screen or stream video content from apps like Netflix or YouTube.

To check if your Samsung TV has AirPlay 2, go to Settings, then About TV, and look at the software version. If your TV is from 2018 or later and has received recent updates, it likely has AirPlay 2 available. Older Samsung models and budget-line TVs do not have this feature.

Even with AirPlay 2 support, the experience is limited. You can send music from Apple Music or Spotify to your TV's speakers, or view photos from your iPhone on the big screen, but you cannot watch video content or control your TV with AirPlay the way you would with an Apple TV.

Using Google Cast as an alternative to AirPlay

Samsung TVs have built-in Google Cast support, which works similarly to AirPlay but comes from Google instead of Apple. Many apps on your iPhone — including YouTube, Spotify, Plex, and Disney+ — have a Cast button that lets you send content to your Samsung TV without needing AirPlay.

To use Cast from an iPhone, open a compatible app, tap the Cast icon (usually three stacked lines with a WiFi symbol), and select your Samsung TV from the list. Your iPhone does not need to stay connected to the TV after you start casting — the content streams directly from the app's servers to your TV.

The limitation is that not every app supports Cast. Netflix, for example, does not have a Cast button in the iPhone app, though you can cast from a web browser on a Mac. Check whether the specific app you want to use has a Cast button before relying on this method.

Connecting an Apple TV box to your Samsung TV

The most straightforward way to use full AirPlay with a Samsung TV is to connect an Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD box via HDMI. Once connected, your iPhone, iPad, and Mac can all use AirPlay to stream video, mirror their screens, and play audio through the Apple TV, which then sends the signal to your Samsung TV.

This setup costs between $100 and $200 depending on the Apple TV model, but it gives you the complete AirPlay experience: screen mirroring, app streaming, and audio playback. You can also use the Apple TV for other purposes like watching Apple TV+ content or playing games.

The Apple TV connects to your home WiFi network and your Samsung TV via HDMI. Once set up, AirPlay works automatically when your iPhone is on the same network. This is the most reliable method if you own multiple Apple devices and want seamless streaming.

Third-party apps that work on Samsung TVs without AirPlay

Several streaming services have native Samsung TV apps that you can control from your iPhone without using AirPlay. Plex, Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Tidal all have Samsung TV apps with remote control features built into their iPhone apps.

For example, if you have Spotify on your iPhone and a Spotify app on your Samsung TV, you can open Spotify on your phone, tap the device icon, and select your TV to play music there. This works without AirPlay and without needing an Apple TV box. The same applies to Apple Music, which has a Samsung TV app.

The downside is that this only works for apps that have both an iPhone version and a Samsung TV version. You cannot use this method for screen mirroring or for apps that do not have a Samsung TV version.

Screen mirroring from iPhone to Samsung TV without AirPlay

If you need to mirror your iPhone screen to a Samsung TV and do not have an Apple TV box, your options are limited. Samsung TVs do not support AirPlay screen mirroring, and iPhones do not support Samsung's SmartThings or Google Cast screen mirroring the way Android phones do.

One workaround is to use a third-party app like Reflector or AirBeamTV, which creates an AirPlay receiver on your Samsung TV. These apps cost $10 to $20 and require installation on your TV, but they allow you to mirror your iPhone screen to the TV without an Apple TV box. Performance varies depending on your WiFi network quality.

Another option is to use an HDMI adapter and a Lightning cable to connect your iPhone directly to your Samsung TV, though this requires you to stay physically tethered to the TV and does not work with all apps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use AirPlay to watch Netflix on my Samsung TV?

No. Netflix does not support AirPlay on iPhone, and Samsung TVs do not have native AirPlay support. You can watch Netflix on your Samsung TV by downloading the Netflix app directly to the TV, or by using an Apple TV box connected via HDMI. You cannot use AirPlay to stream Netflix from your iPhone to a Samsung TV.

Does AirPlay 2 on Samsung TVs work for video streaming?

No. AirPlay 2 on Samsung TVs is limited to music and photos only. You cannot stream video content or mirror your screen using AirPlay 2 on a Samsung television, even on newer models that support it.

What is the cheapest way to get AirPlay on a Samsung TV?

The cheapest option is to use Google Cast with compatible apps like YouTube, Spotify, or Plex, which is free if you already own the TV. If you need full AirPlay support including screen mirroring, an Apple TV HD costs around $100. Third-party mirroring apps like Reflector cost $10 to $20 but may have performance issues.

Will Samsung add full AirPlay support in the future?

Samsung has not announced plans to add full AirPlay support to its TVs. The company prioritizes its own SmartThings ecosystem and Google Cast integration. If AirPlay is important to you, an Apple TV box remains the most reliable solution.