Yes, you can screen share to Apple TV using AirPlay

AirPlay is Apple's built-in screen sharing tool that lets you mirror your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to an Apple TV wirelessly. When you screen share, everything on your device's screen appears on your TV in real time — useful for showing photos, playing videos, presenting slides, or playing games on a larger display.

Screen sharing works on most Apple TV models made in 2015 or later, and on all current iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Your device and Apple TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network. The process takes seconds once everything is set up, and you can stop sharing just as quickly.

Key Takeaways

  • AirPlay screen sharing requires your Apple TV and your device to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
  • On iPhone and iPad, swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, and select your Apple TV.
  • On Mac, click the Control Center icon in the menu bar, select Screen Mirroring, and choose your Apple TV from the list.
  • Your Apple TV must be running tvOS 12.4 or later, and your iPhone or iPad must run iOS 12.4 or later.
  • If your device does not appear in the Screen Mirroring menu, restart both your device and Apple TV, then try again.

Screen sharing from iPhone or iPad

Open Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of your screen (or up from the bottom on older iPad models). Look for the Screen Mirroring button — it looks like a rectangle with a triangle at the bottom.

Tap Screen Mirroring and wait a moment for your Apple TV to appear in the list. Select your Apple TV by name. Your iPhone or iPad screen will now appear on your TV. The Screen Mirroring button will turn blue to show that sharing is active.

To stop sharing, open Control Center again, tap Screen Mirroring, and select Stop Mirroring. Your TV will return to its normal display.

Screen sharing from a Mac

Click the Control Center icon in the menu bar at the top of your screen — it looks like three overlapping circles. Select Screen Mirroring from the menu that appears.

Your Apple TV will show up in the list. Click it to start sharing. Your Mac screen will appear on your TV, and the Screen Mirroring icon in the menu bar will turn blue. You can continue using your Mac normally while sharing — everything you do will show on the TV.

To stop, click the Control Center icon again, select Screen Mirroring, and choose Stop Mirroring.

What to check if screen sharing is not working

The most common reason screen sharing fails is that your device and Apple TV are not on the same Wi-Fi network. Check your device's Wi-Fi settings and make sure it is connected to the same network name as your Apple TV. If you have a 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz network with the same name, try connecting to the 2.4 GHz band — some older Apple TV models work better on that frequency.

Restart both your device and your Apple TV. Unplug the Apple TV for 10 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for it to fully boot up. Then try screen sharing again. If your Apple TV is running an older version of tvOS, go to Settings > System > Software Updates and check for updates.

If Screen Mirroring still does not appear in your Control Center menu, your device may not be running a recent enough version of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS. Check Settings > General > Software Update (or System Settings > General > Software Update on Mac) and install any available updates.

Screen sharing with AirPlay on tvOS 17 and later

On newer Apple TV models running tvOS 17 or later, you can also start screen sharing from the TV itself. Go to Settings > AirPlay and HomeKit, make sure AirPlay is turned on, and set it to allow screen sharing from anyone on your network or only from people in your Home app.

When AirPlay is set to allow sharing, your device will find the Apple TV more reliably, and you can start sharing even if the TV is in sleep mode. The TV will wake up automatically when you begin screen sharing.

Audio and video quality during screen sharing

Screen sharing sends video at up to 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second, which is smooth enough for most uses. Audio plays through your TV's speakers. If you are playing a video or music, the sound will come through your TV rather than your device's speaker.

Screen sharing uses your Wi-Fi bandwidth, so a slow or crowded network may cause lag or stuttering. If you notice delays, move your device closer to your Wi-Fi router, or reduce the number of other devices using the network.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I screen share from an Android phone to Apple TV?

No. AirPlay is exclusive to Apple devices. Android phones cannot screen share to Apple TV. If you want to use an Android device with your TV, you would need a TV that supports Google Cast or another screen sharing standard.

Does screen sharing drain my device's battery?

Yes, screen sharing uses more power than normal use because your device is constantly sending video to the TV over Wi-Fi. If you are screen sharing for a long time, plug your device into power. Battery drain is usually noticeable within 30 to 60 minutes of continuous sharing.

Can I use my device while screen sharing?

Yes. Everything you do on your device appears on the TV in real time, so you can open apps, take photos, browse the web, or do anything else while sharing. This is useful for presentations or showing someone how to do something on their device.

What if my Apple TV is not showing up in the Screen Mirroring list?

Make sure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network and that your Apple TV is powered on. Restart your device and your Apple TV, then try again. If the Apple TV still does not appear, check that AirPlay is turned on in the TV's settings under Settings > AirPlay and HomeKit.

Can I screen share to multiple Apple TVs at the same time?

No. You can only screen share to one Apple TV at a time from a single device. If you want to share to a different TV, stop the current sharing session and start a new one with the other Apple TV.