AirPlay lets you send video, audio, and photos from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac directly to your Apple TV without cables

AirPlay is Apple's wireless streaming technology. It sends what you see on your phone, tablet, or computer to your Apple TV or AirPlay-compatible TV in real time. You don't need to plug anything in — both devices just need to be on the same Wi-Fi network. The picture and sound appear on your TV almost when ready, and you keep using your device as a remote.

AirPlay works with any Apple TV model (including the older ones), most newer Samsung, LG, and Sony TVs, and some Roku devices. If your TV doesn't have AirPlay built in, you can add it with an Apple TV box. The setup takes less than a minute the first time, and after that it's one tap away.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Apple device and TV must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network before you can use AirPlay.
  • On iPhone or iPad, swipe down from the top-right corner, tap Control Center, then tap Screen Mirroring and select your TV.
  • On Mac, click the Control Center icon in the menu bar, select Screen Mirroring, and choose your TV from the list.
  • You can also AirPlay individual apps like Apple TV+, YouTube, or Apple Music without mirroring your whole screen.
  • If your TV doesn't show up, restart both devices and check that they're on the same Wi-Fi network.

How to AirPlay from an iPhone or iPad

Open Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of your screen (or up from the bottom on older models). Look for the Screen Mirroring option — it shows a rectangle with a triangle in the corner. Tap it, and a list of available TVs appears. Select your Apple TV or AirPlay-compatible TV from the list.

Your iPhone or iPad screen now appears on your TV. Everything you do on your device shows up there — apps, photos, web pages, all of it. To stop mirroring, open Control Center again, tap Screen Mirroring, and select Stop Mirroring.

If you want to AirPlay just one app instead of your whole screen, open that app (like Apple TV+, YouTube, or Spotify) and look for the AirPlay icon — it's a triangle with a circle underneath. Tap it and select your TV. The app will play on your TV while you can use your phone for other things.

How to AirPlay from a Mac

Click the Control Center icon in the menu bar at the top right of your screen. Select Screen Mirroring from the dropdown. A list of available TVs appears — click the one you want to use. Your Mac screen now mirrors to your TV.

To stop mirroring, click Control Center again, select Screen Mirroring, and choose Stop Mirroring. On older Macs that don't have Control Center, click the AirPlay icon directly in the menu bar (it looks like a triangle with a circle) and select your TV from there.

You can also AirPlay audio from your Mac to your TV or to AirPlay speakers. Open the volume control in the menu bar, click the AirPlay icon, and select your TV or speaker.

What to do if your TV doesn't appear in the AirPlay list

The most common reason your TV doesn't show up is that it's on a different Wi-Fi network than your Apple device. Check that both are connected to the same network — look in your TV's Wi-Fi settings and your phone's Settings app under Wi-Fi. They should show the same network name.

Restart both devices. Turn off your TV and Apple device completely, wait 30 seconds, and turn them back on. Then try AirPlay again. If your TV still doesn't appear, restart your Wi-Fi router by unplugging it for 30 seconds.

If you have an older Apple TV model, make sure it's running the latest software. Go to Settings > System > Software Updates on your Apple TV and install any updates available. For non-Apple TVs, check the manufacturer's website to see if your model supports AirPlay and whether a firmware update is needed.

AirPlay vs. screen mirroring vs. casting individual apps

Screen mirroring sends everything on your device to your TV — your whole screen, every app, every notification. It's useful when you want to show someone something on your phone or use your TV as a second monitor. Battery drains faster because your device is constantly sending video.

Casting individual apps sends just one app to your TV while you keep using your phone for other things. You can watch Netflix on your TV and text on your phone at the same time. Not every app supports this — it depends on whether the developer built it in. Apps that support it show an AirPlay icon inside the app itself.

Screen mirroring works with every app. Casting individual apps is more efficient and lets you multitask, but only works with apps that have the feature built in. For watching video or listening to music, casting is usually the better choice.

Using AirPlay with Apple TV+ and other streaming apps

Open Apple TV+, Netflix, YouTube, or any other streaming app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Find the video you want to watch. Look for the AirPlay icon — it's a small triangle with a circle underneath, usually in the bottom corner or top corner of the video player. Tap or click it and select your TV.

The video now plays on your TV, and you can use your phone as a remote. You can pause, rewind, skip forward, or adjust the volume from your device. You can also lock your phone or use other apps while the video plays — the TV keeps playing.

If you don't see an AirPlay icon in the app, that app doesn't support casting yet. You can still use screen mirroring to watch it on your TV, but you won't be able to use your phone for other things while it plays.

Troubleshooting common AirPlay problems

If the picture keeps cutting out or the sound drops, move your device closer to your TV and router. Wi-Fi interference from other devices or walls can weaken the signal. If you have a 5 GHz Wi-Fi network available, connect your Apple device to that instead — it's usually faster and more stable for AirPlay.

If the video is choppy or lags behind the audio, restart both devices and try again. Close other apps on your phone that might be using Wi-Fi in the background. If you're on an older Wi-Fi router, consider upgrading to Wi-Fi 6 or newer for better performance.

If AirPlay connects but then disconnects after a few seconds, check that your TV's AirPlay settings are turned on. On Apple TV, go to Settings > AirPlay and HomeKit and make sure AirPlay is enabled. On other TVs, check the manufacturer's settings menu for AirPlay options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an Apple TV box to use AirPlay?

No. If your TV has AirPlay built in (most newer Samsung, LG, and Sony models do), you can use it directly. If your TV doesn't have AirPlay, you can add an Apple TV box to any TV with an HDMI port. Check your TV's manual or the manufacturer's website to see if it supports AirPlay.

Can I AirPlay to multiple TVs at the same time?

No. You can only AirPlay to one device at a time from a single Apple device. If you want to send the same content to multiple TVs, you would need to start AirPlay on each TV separately using different Apple devices, or use a different method like casting through the app itself.

Does AirPlay work over cellular or outside my home?

No. AirPlay requires both devices to be on the same Wi-Fi network. It doesn't work over cellular data or when you're away from home. If you want to watch content away from home, use the app's built-in streaming feature instead of AirPlay.

Why is my AirPlay connection slow or laggy?

AirPlay depends on your Wi-Fi speed and stability. If your router is far away or there's interference from other devices, the connection will lag. Move closer to your router, switch to a 5 GHz network if available, or restart your router. If you're streaming 4K video, make sure your Wi-Fi is fast enough — most older routers struggle with it.

Can I use AirPlay if my TV is on a different Wi-Fi band?

Your Apple device and TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network to use AirPlay. If your router broadcasts both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, make sure both devices are connected to the same one. Check your Wi-Fi settings on both devices and connect them to the same network name.