How to Connect Your iPhone or iPad to Apple TV

The fastest way to connect your phone to Apple TV

To connect your iPhone or iPad to Apple TV, use AirPlay, which is Apple's built-in wireless connection system. Open Control Center on your phone, tap the screen mirroring icon, select your Apple TV from the list, and enter the four-digit code that appears on your TV screen. The whole process takes about 30 seconds once both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network.

AirPlay works on any iPhone 5s or newer and any iPad from 2012 onward, paired with Apple TV (2nd generation) or later. Your phone and Apple TV must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network—they do not need to be on a fast network, just the same one. If your Apple TV is set up as a HomeKit hub, you can also connect from outside your home, though this requires a few extra steps in Settings.

Key Takeaways

Open Control Center, tap screen mirroring, select your Apple TV, and enter the on-screen code to connect in under a minute.
Both devices must be on the same Wi-Fi network, and your phone must be running iOS 12.3 or later.
If your Apple TV does not appear in the list, restart both devices and check that Wi-Fi is turned on.
You can mirror your entire phone screen or stream video and music from specific apps without mirroring.
If you forget the code, restart your Apple TV or go to Settings > AirPlay and HomeKit to reset the connection.

Step-by-step connection on iPhone or iPad

Start by making sure your iPhone or iPad is unlocked and on the same Wi-Fi network as your Apple TV. Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen (or up from the bottom on older iPhones) to open Control Center. Look for the screen mirroring icon—it looks like a rectangle with a triangle at the bottom.

Tap the screen mirroring icon. A list of nearby Apple TVs will appear within a few seconds. Select your Apple TV by name. Your phone will then display a four-digit code on the screen. Look at your TV and enter that code using your Apple TV remote. Once you enter the code, your phone screen will appear on the TV within a few seconds.

If you do not see a code prompt on your TV, or if the connection fails, restart both devices and try again. Make sure Wi-Fi is turned on in your phone's Settings. If your Apple TV still does not appear in the list after 30 seconds, check that it is powered on and connected to the same Wi-Fi network by going to Settings > Network on the Apple TV itself.

What to do if your Apple TV does not show up

The most common reason your Apple TV does not appear in the screen mirroring list is that it is on a different Wi-Fi network than your phone. Check your Apple TV's network settings by pressing the Menu button on the remote, going to Settings > Network, and confirming the Wi-Fi name matches the one your phone is connected to. If they do not match, reconnect your Apple TV to the correct network.

If both devices are on the same network and your Apple TV still does not appear, restart your Apple TV by unplugging it for 10 seconds, then plugging it back in. While it restarts, restart your iPhone or iPad as well. Once both devices have fully restarted, open Control Center again and look for your Apple TV in the screen mirroring list.

If you have restarted both devices and your Apple TV still does not appear, check that AirPlay is turned on in your Apple TV settings. Go to Settings > AirPlay and HomeKit and make sure AirPlay is set to On. Some older Apple TV models may also require you to turn on Bluetooth in the same menu.

Mirroring your screen versus streaming from apps

Screen mirroring sends everything on your phone's display to your TV—your home screen, apps, notifications, and all. This is useful when you want to show someone something on your phone or control an app from the couch. However, screen mirroring uses more battery and can feel slightly slower than streaming directly from an app.

Streaming from an app means using the AirPlay button inside an app like Apple TV, YouTube, or Spotify to send just that video or music to your TV, without mirroring your entire screen. This is faster, uses less battery, and lets you keep using your phone for other things while content plays on the TV. Most video and music apps have an AirPlay icon (usually a rectangle with a triangle) that you tap to choose your Apple TV.

If you are watching a video in an app and do not see an AirPlay button, the app may not support AirPlay. In that case, screen mirroring is your only option. Some apps, like Netflix and Disney+, require you to have an active subscription and be signed in before the AirPlay button appears.

Entering the code and troubleshooting connection errors

When you tap screen mirroring and select your Apple TV, a four-digit code appears on both your phone and your TV screen. Use your Apple TV remote to enter this code. The remote's trackpad or arrow buttons let you navigate numbers, and the Select button (or center of the trackpad) confirms each digit. The code expires after 15 minutes, so enter it quickly.

If you enter the code incorrectly three times, you will need to start over. Go back to Control Center, tap screen mirroring again, and select your Apple TV to get a new code. If the code prompt never appears on your TV, or if your phone says "Unable to Connect," restart both devices and try again. Make sure no one else is trying to connect to the same Apple TV at the same time.

If you see an error message like "AirPlay Connection Lost," your phone and Apple TV may have lost their Wi-Fi connection or drifted too far apart. Move your phone closer to your Apple TV and restart both devices. If the problem continues, forget the Wi-Fi network on your phone (go to Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the network name, and select Forget), then reconnect by entering your Wi-Fi password again.

Connecting from outside your home

If your Apple TV is set up as a HomeKit hub—which requires an iPad, HomePod, or HomePod mini on the same Wi-Fi network—you can connect to it from anywhere using AirPlay. This is useful when you are traveling and want to stream music or video to your home TV.

To use AirPlay away from home, make sure you are signed into the same iCloud account on both your phone and your Apple TV. Open Control Center, tap screen mirroring, and look for your Apple TV in the list. It will have a small cloud icon next to it. Select it and enter the code as usual. The connection may take a few seconds longer than a local connection, but it works the same way.

If you do not see your Apple TV in the list when you are away from home, check that a HomeKit hub is set up. Go to the Home app on your phone, tap the house icon in the top-left corner, and look for "Home Hub Status" in the settings. If it says "No Home Hub," you will not be able to connect from outside your home until you set one up.

Disconnecting and resetting your connection

To stop mirroring, open Control Center again, tap screen mirroring, and select your Apple TV. Then tap Stop Mirroring. Your phone screen will no longer appear on the TV, but you will remain connected to the Apple TV. If you want to fully disconnect and remove the Apple TV from your phone's trusted devices, go to Settings > General > AirPlay and Handoff, find your Apple TV in the list, and tap the information icon next to it, then select Forget This Apple TV.

If you forget your Apple TV, you will need to enter the four-digit code again the next time you connect. This is useful if you are having persistent connection problems or if you want to reset the pairing. You can also reset the connection from your Apple TV by going to Settings > AirPlay and HomeKit > Reset AirPlay, which will clear all paired devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a password to connect my phone to Apple TV?

No password is required. You only need to enter the four-digit code that appears on your TV screen when you select your Apple TV from the screen mirroring list. This code is generated each time you connect and expires after 15 minutes.

Can I connect an Android phone to Apple TV?

No. AirPlay is an Apple-only feature and only works with iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers. Android phones cannot connect to Apple TV using AirPlay. Some third-party apps claim to enable this, but they are not reliable or officially supported.

Why does my screen mirroring keep disconnecting?

Disconnections usually happen because your phone and Apple TV lost their Wi-Fi connection or drifted too far apart. Move closer to your Apple TV, restart both devices, and make sure they are on the same Wi-Fi network. If the problem continues, forget the Wi-Fi network on your phone and reconnect.

Can I use AirPlay while someone else is using the Apple TV?

No. Only one device can be connected to an Apple TV at a time. If someone else is already mirroring or streaming, you will need to wait for them to disconnect before you can connect. You can see who is connected by looking at the Apple TV home screen.

What if I lost the Apple TV remote and need to enter the code?

If you have lost your remote, you can use the Apple TV Remote app on your iPhone or iPad to control your Apple TV and enter the code. read the app from the App Store, open it, and follow the on-screen instructions to set it up. Once it is set up, you can use it to enter the AirPlay code.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.