What AirPlay Does and How to Turn It On
AirPlay lets you send video, audio, or your entire screen from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac directly to your Apple TV without plugging in cables. The content appears on your TV in real time, and you control it from your device. To use it, both your Apple TV and your source device must be on the same Wi-Fi network, and your Apple TV must be turned on and set up.
Before you start, check that your Apple TV is running the current version of tvOS. On your Apple TV, go to Settings > System > Software Updates and select Update if one is available. This takes a few minutes but ensures AirPlay works smoothly. Your iPhone, iPad, or Mac should also be updated to the latest iOS, iPadOS, or macOS version.
Key Takeaways
- AirPlay requires your Apple TV and your source device to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- On iPhone and 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 mirror your entire screen, stream a single app, or send audio to AirPlay speakers without mirroring video.
- If your Apple TV does not appear in the AirPlay menu, restart both devices and check that they are on the same Wi-Fi network.
Mirroring Your iPhone or iPad Screen to Apple TV
Open Control Center on your iPhone or iPad. On iPhone X and newer, swipe down from the top-right corner. On iPad, swipe down from the top-right corner as well. On older iPhones, swipe up from the bottom of the screen instead.
Look for the Screen Mirroring button—it shows three nested rectangles with a curved line at the bottom. Tap it. A list of nearby AirPlay devices appears. Select your Apple TV by name. Your screen will flash, and after a moment, everything on your device appears on your TV. The Screen Mirroring button turns blue when mirroring is active.
To stop mirroring, open Control Center again, tap Screen Mirroring, and select Stop Mirroring. Your TV returns to its previous input, and your device screen is no longer shared.
Mirroring Your Mac Screen to Apple TV
On your Mac, click the Control Center icon in the menu bar at the top right of your screen. It looks like three horizontal lines inside a rectangle. From the dropdown menu, select Screen Mirroring.
A list of available AirPlay devices appears. Click your Apple TV by name. Your Mac screen will flash once, and then your entire display appears on your TV. The Screen Mirroring option in Control Center now shows a blue dot next to your Apple TV's name, indicating an active connection.
To disconnect, click Control Center again, select Screen Mirroring, and choose Disconnect. Your Mac display returns to normal, and your TV shows its previous input.
Streaming Audio Without Mirroring Video
You can send audio to AirPlay speakers or your Apple TV without mirroring your screen. This is useful when you want to play music or a podcast through your TV speakers while keeping your device screen private.
On iPhone or iPad, open Control Center and look for the Now Playing card at the top. If music or audio is playing, tap the AirPlay icon—it looks like a triangle with sound waves. Select your Apple TV or AirPlay speaker from the list. The audio plays through your TV speakers, but your screen does not mirror.
On Mac, click the volume icon in the menu bar, then click the AirPlay icon next to the volume slider. Select your Apple TV. Audio routes to your TV while your Mac screen stays private.
Troubleshooting When Your Apple TV Does Not Appear
If your Apple TV is not showing up in the AirPlay menu, the most common cause is that your devices are not on the same Wi-Fi network. Check your iPhone, iPad, or Mac Wi-Fi settings and confirm they match the network your Apple TV is connected to. You can see your Apple TV's network in Settings > AirPlay and HomeKit on the Apple TV itself.
Restart both your Apple TV and your source device. 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. After both devices restart, try AirPlay again.
If your Apple TV is still not visible, check that AirPlay is turned on. On your Apple TV, go to Settings > AirPlay and HomeKit and confirm that AirPlay is set to On. If it is set to Off or restricted, change it to On. Some networks with guest Wi-Fi or separate bands (2.4 GHz versus 5 GHz) can cause connection issues—try connecting both devices to the same band if your router offers that choice.
What to Do If Mirroring Lags or Cuts Out
Lag or disconnection usually means your Wi-Fi signal is weak or your network is congested. Move your source device closer to your Apple TV or router, or reduce the number of devices using your Wi-Fi at the same time. Streaming video, large downloads, or online gaming on other devices can interfere with AirPlay.
If mirroring cuts out repeatedly, try lowering the resolution on your source device. On iPhone and iPad, this happens automatically based on your network speed, but restarting both devices often improves performance. On Mac, you can reduce the resolution by holding the Option key while clicking Screen Mirroring in Control Center, then selecting a lower resolution option if available.
If one app causes problems but others work fine, the app itself may not support AirPlay well. Close the app completely and try a different one. Some older apps or apps that use their own video technology do not work reliably with AirPlay.
Using AirPlay With Multiple Devices and Speakers
You can send audio to multiple AirPlay speakers at the same time, but you can only mirror your screen to one Apple TV at a time. If you want to play the same song in multiple rooms, open Control Center, tap the Now Playing card, select the AirPlay icon, and tap the checkboxes next to each speaker you want to use.
If you have multiple Apple TVs in your home, you can only mirror to one at a time. To switch, open Control Center, select Screen Mirroring, and choose a different Apple TV. Mirroring stops on the first TV and starts on the second.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to pair my device with Apple TV before using AirPlay?
No pairing is required. As long as your device and Apple TV are on the same Wi-Fi network, your Apple TV appears in the AirPlay menu automatically. The first time you connect, your TV may ask you to confirm the connection with a code, but this is a one-time step.
Can I use AirPlay if my Apple TV is connected to a different Wi-Fi band?
If your router broadcasts both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands with the same network name, your devices should connect automatically to the same band. If your router uses different names for each band, connect both your Apple TV and your source device to the same named network. Some older Apple TVs work better on 2.4 GHz, while newer models handle 5 GHz well.
Can I use AirPlay over a cellular connection or outside my home?
No. AirPlay requires both devices to be on the same local Wi-Fi network. It does not work over cellular data or the internet. You can only use AirPlay when your device and Apple TV are connected to the same router.
What if I want to mirror just one app instead of my entire screen?
Some apps support AirPlay within the app itself. Open the app, look for an AirPlay icon (usually a triangle with sound waves or a rectangle with an arrow), and tap it to send that app's content to your TV. Not all apps offer this feature. If the app does not have an AirPlay button, you must mirror your entire screen instead.
Does AirPlay work with non-Apple devices?
AirPlay works between Apple devices and Apple TV. You cannot use AirPlay from an Android phone, Windows PC, or other non-Apple device to an Apple TV. Some third-party AirPlay speakers exist, but they require devices that support AirPlay, which limits them to Apple products.