Casting to Apple TV uses AirPlay, Apple's built-in wireless system

AirPlay is Apple's wireless casting standard. It lets you send video, audio, or your entire screen from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac to an Apple TV without plugging in cables. The process is the same across all three device types: you open the Control Center (or equivalent menu), tap AirPlay, and select your Apple TV from the list.

Your Apple TV and the device you're casting from must be on the same Wi-Fi network. They don't need to be plugged into the same router — just the same network. If you're on a guest network and your Apple TV is on the main network, casting won't work.

AirPlay works with Apple TV 4K (all generations), Apple TV HD, and older Apple TV models running tvOS 5.1 or later. If your Apple TV is very old, check its settings to confirm it supports AirPlay.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Control Center on your iPhone or iPad, or the menu on your Mac, find AirPlay, and select your Apple TV by name.
  • Your casting device and Apple TV must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network for AirPlay to work.
  • You can cast video apps, music, photos, or your entire screen — the method is the same for all three.
  • If your Apple TV doesn't appear in the AirPlay menu, restart both devices and check that they're on the same network.
  • AirPlay casting is free and built into every Apple device — no extra apps or subscriptions are needed.

Casting from an iPhone or iPad

Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to open Control Center. (On older iPad models, swipe up from the bottom instead.) Look for the Screen Mirroring button — it shows two overlapping rectangles. Tap it.

A list of available Apple TVs appears. Tap the name of the Apple TV you want to cast to. If you see a passcode prompt on your TV screen, enter it on your iPhone or iPad. Once connected, your entire screen mirrors to the TV, and you'll see a blue bar at the top of your device showing that mirroring is active.

To cast just a single app instead of your whole screen, open the app (like Apple TV+, YouTube, or Spotify), look for the AirPlay icon — usually three stacked lines with a triangle — and tap it. Select your Apple TV. The app will then play on the TV while your phone or iPad shows other content or goes dark.

To stop casting, open Control Center again, tap Screen Mirroring, and select Stop Mirroring.

Casting from a Mac

Click the Control Center icon in the top-right corner of your menu bar (it looks like three horizontal lines). Scroll down to find Screen Mirroring. Click it.

A dropdown menu shows available Apple TVs. Click the one you want to connect to. If prompted, enter the passcode shown on your TV. Your Mac screen will then appear on the television.

To cast a single app instead of your whole screen, open the app and look for the AirPlay icon in its menu or toolbar. Click it and select your Apple TV. Some apps like Apple TV+ and Music have this option built in.

To disconnect, click Control Center again, click Screen Mirroring, and select Stop Mirroring.

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

The most common reason AirPlay doesn't work is that your devices are on different networks. Check that your iPhone, iPad, or Mac is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Apple TV. Open Settings on your device and look at the Wi-Fi name. Then check your Apple TV's network settings (go to Settings > Network on the TV) and confirm the names match.

If the names match but 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. Then restart your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Open Control Center or the AirPlay menu again.

If your Apple TV has a name that's hard to read or contains special characters, you can rename it to make it easier to find. On the Apple TV, go to Settings > AirPlay and HomeKit, then select Apple TV Name and type a new one.

Casting video and music apps

Most video and music apps built into Apple devices support AirPlay. Open the app you want to use — Apple TV+, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, Podcasts, or others — and look for the AirPlay icon. It's usually in the playback controls or the top corner of the screen.

Tap or click the AirPlay icon and select your Apple TV. The video or music will start playing on the TV, and your device will show what's currently playing. You can control playback from your device — pause, skip, adjust volume — while the content plays on the big screen.

If an app doesn't have an AirPlay button, you can still cast it by using Screen Mirroring instead. This sends your entire screen to the TV, which uses more battery but works with any app.

Casting photos and slideshows

Open the Photos app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Select a photo or album you want to view on your TV. Look for the AirPlay icon (three stacked lines with a triangle) and tap or click it. Select your Apple TV.

The photo appears on your TV screen. If you want to play a slideshow, tap or click the slideshow button in the Photos app. Your TV will display each photo in sequence while your device controls the pace. You can set the slideshow speed and choose whether to include music in the Photos app settings before you start.

Casting audio only to Apple TV speakers

You can use your Apple TV as a wireless speaker for music without displaying anything on the screen. Open the Music app or another audio app on your device. Tap the AirPlay icon and select your Apple TV. The audio will play through your TV's speakers while your device's screen remains dark or shows other content.

This is useful if you want to play background music in a room without turning on the TV display. You can still control volume and playback from your device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cast from an Android phone or Windows computer to Apple TV?

No. AirPlay is Apple's proprietary system and only works with iPhones, iPads, Macs, and other Apple devices. Android phones and Windows computers cannot cast to Apple TV. If you need to cast from those devices, you'll need a different TV or a casting device that supports Android and Windows, like a Chromecast or Roku.

Does casting use a lot of battery on my phone or iPad?

Screen mirroring uses more battery than casting a single app because your device is constantly sending video data. If you're casting a video app like Apple TV+ or YouTube, battery drain is minimal. If you're mirroring your entire screen, expect faster battery drain — consider plugging in your device if you'll be casting for more than an hour.

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 be asked if they want to take over. The current connection will stop, and the new device will take control.

What if I see a passcode on my Apple TV when I try to cast?

Enter the four-digit code shown on your TV screen into your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. This is a security feature that prevents strangers from casting to your TV. You can turn off this requirement in Apple TV Settings > AirPlay and HomeKit > Require Code, but leaving it on is more find.

Can I cast while my Apple TV is already playing something else?

No. When you cast to Apple TV, it stops whatever was playing and switches to your cast content. If you want to pause what's on the TV and come back to it, you'll need to stop the cast first, which returns the TV to its previous state.