Casting to Apple TV uses AirPlay, Apple's wireless connection system

AirPlay is the technology that lets your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or other Apple device send video, audio, or your entire screen to an Apple TV wirelessly. You don't need cables, apps, or special setup beyond having both devices on the same Wi-Fi network. The casting process takes seconds once everything is connected.

Apple TV supports AirPlay on all current models. Your source device (phone, tablet, or computer) needs to be running a recent version of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS — generally from the last few years. If you're using an older device, check your software version first, as very old versions may not support AirPlay to Apple TV.

The most common reason casting fails is that your Apple TV and your phone or computer are on different Wi-Fi networks. Make sure both devices are connected to the same network before you start. If you have a guest network separate from your main network, that's likely the problem.

Key Takeaways

  • Both your Apple TV and your source device must be on the same Wi-Fi network for AirPlay to work.
  • On iPhone or iPad, swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, and select your Apple TV from the list.
  • On Mac, click the Control Center icon in the menu bar, select Screen Mirroring, and choose your Apple TV.
  • You can cast just audio (music or podcasts) or your entire screen, depending on what you're doing.
  • If your Apple TV doesn't appear in the list, restart both devices and check that they're on the same network.

Casting from an iPhone or iPad

Open Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of your screen (or swiping up from the bottom if you have an older iPhone). Look for the Screen Mirroring button — it looks like a rectangle with a triangle at the bottom. Tap it to see a list of available devices.

Your Apple TV should appear in that list with its name (for example, "Living Room" or "Apple TV"). Tap the name to connect. Your iPhone or iPad will ask you to confirm; tap Start Mirroring. Within a few seconds, your screen will appear on your TV. Everything you do on your phone — opening apps, scrolling, typing — shows up on the TV in real time.

To stop casting, open Control Center again, tap Screen Mirroring, and select Stop Mirroring. Your phone's screen goes back to normal, and the TV returns to whatever was on before.

Casting from a Mac

Click the Control Center icon in your menu bar (top-right corner of your screen). It looks like a grid of dots. From the dropdown menu, select Screen Mirroring. A submenu will show your available Apple TV devices.

Click your Apple TV's name to connect. Your Mac may ask for permission; click Start Mirroring. Your entire Mac screen will now display on your TV. You can continue working normally — open documents, browse the web, or play videos. Everything appears on both your Mac and the TV.

To disconnect, click Control Center again, select Screen Mirroring, and choose Turn Off Screen Mirroring. Your Mac screen returns to normal display.

Casting audio only (music and podcasts)

You don't always need to mirror your entire screen. If you're playing music or a podcast and want the sound to come through your TV's speakers, you can cast audio only. Open Control Center on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac and look for the AirPlay Audio option (separate from Screen Mirroring).

Tap or click your Apple TV, and the audio will play through your TV's speakers while your phone or Mac screen stays private. This is useful when you're playing music in another room and want to hear it in the living room without showing your phone on the big screen. You can still use your device normally — answer texts, check email, or open other apps — and the audio keeps playing.

To switch audio back to your device's speaker, open Control Center again, tap AirPlay Audio, and select your device's name or iPhone Speaker / Mac Speaker.

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

The most common fix is to check your Wi-Fi connection. Open Settings on your phone or Mac and confirm you're connected to the same network as your Apple TV. Look at your Apple TV's screen — it should show which network it's connected to in the Settings menu. If they don't match, connect your phone or Mac to the same network.

If both devices are on the same network and your Apple TV still doesn't show up, restart both devices. Unplug your Apple TV for 10 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for it to fully boot (about 30 seconds). Then restart your phone or Mac. Open Control Center again and check for your Apple TV.

If you've just set up your Apple TV, it may take a minute or two to appear on the network. Wait a few moments and try again. If you're still having trouble, check that your Apple TV's AirPlay setting is turned on: go to Settings on the Apple TV, select AirPlay and HomeKit, and make sure AirPlay is enabled.

Casting video apps and streaming services

Many video apps — Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, and others — have their own AirPlay button built in. When you're watching something in one of these apps, look for the AirPlay icon (a rectangle with a triangle) and tap it. Select your Apple TV from the list. The video will play on your TV while you can use your phone for other things.

This method is often smoother than mirroring your entire screen because the app handles the video directly. You'll use less battery on your phone, and the video quality may be better. The app's controls stay on your phone, so you can pause, rewind, or adjust volume without affecting what's on the TV.

Not all apps have built-in AirPlay support. If you don't see an AirPlay button in the app, you can still mirror your entire screen using the method described earlier.

Troubleshooting common casting problems

The connection keeps dropping. This usually means your Wi-Fi signal is weak. Move your phone or Mac closer to your Apple TV or router, or check if other devices are using a lot of bandwidth. If you have a 5 GHz Wi-Fi network available, try connecting to that instead of 2.4 GHz — it's often more stable for casting.

The video is choppy or freezing. Again, this points to Wi-Fi issues. Close other apps on your phone that might be using the network (like downloads or cloud backups). If you're streaming video, the problem might be your internet speed rather than AirPlay itself. Try casting something stored locally on your device (like a photo or video you recorded) to test whether the issue is the network or your internet connection.

The audio is out of sync with the video. This is rare but can happen with some apps. Try stopping the cast and starting again. If it persists, restart your Apple TV and try a different app or video to see if the problem is specific to that content.

Your phone or Mac gets very hot while casting. Screen mirroring uses more power than normal. This is usually fine, but if your device is getting uncomfortably hot, take a break and let it cool down. Make sure you're not in direct sunlight and that the device has good airflow around it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be on the same Wi-Fi network to cast to Apple TV?

Yes. Both your source device and your Apple TV must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network. If you're on a guest network or a different network entirely, casting won't work. Check your network settings and make sure both devices show the same network name.

Can I cast from a non-Apple device to Apple TV?

No. AirPlay is exclusive to Apple devices. If you have an Android phone, Windows computer, or other non-Apple device, you cannot use AirPlay to cast to Apple TV. Some third-party apps claim to offer this, but they are not supported by Apple and may not work reliably.

Will casting drain my phone's battery quickly?

Yes, screen mirroring uses more battery than normal because your phone is constantly sending data to the TV. If you're casting for a long time, plug your phone into a charger. Casting audio only uses much less battery than mirroring your entire screen.

Can multiple people cast to the same Apple TV at the same time?

No. Only one device can cast to an Apple TV at a time. If someone else tries to cast while you're already connected, they'll see a prompt asking if they want to take over. The current cast will stop, and the new device will take control.

What if my Apple TV is an older model?

Older Apple TV models (2nd generation and earlier) do not support AirPlay. If you have a very old Apple TV, you'll need to upgrade to a newer model to use wireless casting. Current Apple TV models (4K and HD) both support AirPlay fully.