The basic steps to send video or photos to your Apple TV
To cast from your iPhone to Apple TV, open the app or photo library you want to share, look for the AirPlay icon (it looks like a triangle with curved lines beneath it), tap it, and select your Apple TV from the list. Your iPhone and Apple TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network. The content will then play on your TV screen instead of your phone.
The AirPlay icon appears in different places depending on what you're doing. In the Apple TV app, it's in the playback controls. In Photos, it's in the bottom-left corner. In Safari, it's in the address bar. Once you tap it, you'll see your Apple TV's name appear — tap that name and the stream begins.
If you don't see your Apple TV listed, check that both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network and that your Apple TV is powered on. You may need to wait a few seconds for the list to populate.
Key Takeaways
- The AirPlay icon appears in most Apple apps and lets you send video, photos, or audio to your Apple TV with one tap.
- Your iPhone and Apple TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network for casting to work.
- If your Apple TV doesn't appear in the AirPlay menu, restart both devices and check your Wi-Fi connection.
- You can cast from the Apple TV app, Photos, Safari, YouTube, and most streaming services that support AirPlay.
- Casting uses your Wi-Fi connection, not Bluetooth, so your iPhone can stay in your pocket while content plays on the TV.
Which apps let you cast to Apple TV
Most Apple apps built into your iPhone support AirPlay casting. The Apple TV app, Photos, Safari, Music, and Podcasts all have the AirPlay icon. Third-party apps like YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and Paramount+ also include AirPlay support — you'll find the icon in their playback controls or menu.
Not every app supports casting. Some streaming services require you to use their app on the Apple TV itself rather than casting from your phone. If you don't see an AirPlay icon in an app, that app does not support casting to Apple TV. In those cases, you can use screen mirroring instead, which mirrors your entire iPhone screen to the TV.
How to mirror your entire iPhone screen instead
If an app doesn't have an AirPlay icon, you can mirror your whole iPhone screen to Apple TV using screen mirroring. Swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPhone to open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, select your Apple TV, and your entire screen appears on the TV.
Screen mirroring is slower and uses more battery than casting a single app, but it works with any app on your phone. Once you're mirroring, you can open any app and it will display on the TV. To stop mirroring, open Control Center again, tap Screen Mirroring, and select Stop Mirroring.
Troubleshooting when your Apple TV doesn't appear
If you tap AirPlay or Screen Mirroring and your Apple TV doesn't show up in the list, the devices are not on the same network. Check your iPhone's Wi-Fi settings and make sure it's connected to the same network name as your Apple TV. You can find your Apple TV's network in Settings > AirPlay and HomeKit on the Apple TV itself.
If both devices are on the same network and your Apple TV still doesn't appear, restart your Apple TV by unplugging it for 10 seconds and plugging it back in. Then restart your iPhone by powering it off and on. Wait 30 seconds after each restart before trying again. If the problem persists, forget the Wi-Fi network on your iPhone (Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the network name, tap Forget), then reconnect to it.
Make sure your Apple TV software is current. On your Apple TV, go to Settings > System > Software Updates and check for updates. Older software versions sometimes have compatibility issues with newer iPhones.
Why casting stops or lags
If your cast keeps dropping or the video lags, your Wi-Fi signal is likely weak. Move your iPhone and Apple TV closer to your router, or move your router away from walls and metal objects that block the signal. A weak connection causes buffering and disconnections.
Casting also stops if your iPhone goes to sleep. Keep your iPhone awake by tapping the screen occasionally or disabling Auto-Lock in Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock while you're casting. Once you stop casting, you can turn Auto-Lock back on.
If multiple devices are using your Wi-Fi heavily, casting may stutter. Close other apps on your iPhone and ask others on your network to pause large downloads or video streaming temporarily.
Controlling playback while casting
When you're casting video from the Apple TV app or another streaming service, your iPhone becomes a remote control. You can pause, play, skip forward or backward, and adjust volume all from your phone. The controls appear on your iPhone screen automatically when you tap it.
You can also use your physical Apple TV remote to control casting. If you're casting from the Apple TV app, both your iPhone and the remote will work. Some third-party apps only respond to the remote, so check the app's controls if your iPhone isn't responding.
Casting audio only to Apple TV speakers
You can cast audio from Music, Podcasts, or other audio apps to your Apple TV's speakers without displaying anything on the screen. Open the app, tap the AirPlay icon, select your Apple TV, and the audio plays through the TV's speakers while your iPhone screen stays dark. This is useful for playing music throughout your home without turning on the TV display.
To stop audio casting, tap the AirPlay icon again and select your iPhone to return the sound to your phone's speaker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an Apple TV 4K to cast from my iPhone?
No. AirPlay casting works with any Apple TV model — the original Apple TV, Apple TV HD, and Apple TV 4K all support it. Older models may have slower casting speeds, but the feature is available on all of them.
Can I cast if I'm not on the same Wi-Fi network?
No. Your iPhone and Apple TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network to cast. If you're away from home, you cannot cast to your Apple TV remotely. You would need to use HomeKit to control your Apple TV, but that's a different feature from casting.
Will casting drain my iPhone battery quickly?
Casting uses Wi-Fi, not Bluetooth, so battery drain is minimal — similar to normal Wi-Fi use. Your iPhone can stay in your pocket while content plays on the TV. Screen mirroring uses more battery because your phone is constantly sending the entire screen to the TV.
What's the difference between casting and screen mirroring?
Casting sends just the app's content to your TV, while screen mirroring sends your entire iPhone screen. Casting is faster and uses less battery. Screen mirroring works with any app but is slower and drains your battery more quickly.
Can I cast to multiple Apple TVs at the same time?
No. You can only cast to one Apple TV at a time from your iPhone. If you want to play content on multiple TVs, you would need to cast to one, stop, then cast to the other.