How To AirPlay to TV
AirPlay lets you wirelessly stream video, photos, music, and your entire screen from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac to your TV. Whether you have an Apple TV, a Samsung, LG, Sony, Roku, or Fire TV, here’s how to use AirPlay in 2026.
How To AirPlay From iPhone to TV
Method 1: Screen Mirroring (Entire Screen)
- Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center
- Tap Screen Mirroring (the two overlapping rectangles icon)
- Select your TV from the list
- If prompted, enter the AirPlay code shown on your TV
- Your iPhone screen now appears on the TV
To stop: Open Control Center → Screen Mirroring → "Stop Mirroring"
Method 2: AirPlay a Video (From an App)
- Open a video in an app (YouTube, Netflix, Safari, Photos, etc.)
- Tap the AirPlay icon (rectangle with triangle) or look for a Cast/TV icon
- Select your TV
- The video plays on your TV while you can continue using your iPhone
This method is better than screen mirroring for video because it streams at full quality and lets you use your phone for other things.
How To AirPlay From iPad to TV
The process is identical to iPhone:
- Open Control Center (swipe down from top-right)
- Tap Screen Mirroring
- Select your TV
- Enter the AirPlay code if prompted
iPad is especially useful for AirPlay because the larger screen makes it easier to present slides, photos, and documents on your TV.
How To AirPlay From Mac to TV
Method 1: Menu Bar
- Click the Control Center icon in the menu bar (top right)
- Click Screen Mirroring
- Select your TV
- Choose "Mirror Built-in Display" or "Use as Extended Display"
Method 2: System Settings
- Go to System Settings → Displays
- Click the + button and select your TV
- Choose mirror or extend
Method 3: AirPlay a Video
- Play a video in Safari or another app
- Click the AirPlay icon in the video player
- Select your TV
Which TVs Support AirPlay?
AirPlay 2 is built into many smart TVs. No Apple TV needed:
Samsung: Most 2019 and newer models (QLED, The Frame, Crystal UHD, Neo QLED)
LG: Most 2019 and newer models (OLED, NanoCell, UHD)
Sony: Most 2020 and newer Bravia models
Vizio: Most 2018 and newer SmartCast models
Roku TV: Most 2019 and newer models (TCL, Hisense, Roku Streambar)
Fire TV: Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Fire TV Cube, and some Fire TV edition TVs
How to Enable AirPlay on Your TV:
- Samsung: Settings → General → Apple AirPlay Settings → AirPlay → On
- LG: Home Dashboard → AirPlay → AirPlay & HomeKit Settings → AirPlay → On
- Sony: Settings → Device Preferences → Apple AirPlay & HomeKit → AirPlay → On
- Roku: Settings → Apple AirPlay and HomeKit → AirPlay → On
How To AirPlay With Apple TV
If your TV doesn’t support AirPlay natively, connect an Apple TV:
- Connect Apple TV to your TV via HDMI
- Make sure Apple TV and your iPhone/Mac are on the same WiFi network
- On your iPhone: Control Center → Screen Mirroring → select Apple TV
- On your Mac: Control Center → Screen Mirroring → select Apple TV
Apple TV 4K provides the best AirPlay experience with the lowest latency.
How To AirPlay Without WiFi
Peer-to-Peer AirPlay (Apple TV only):
Apple TV supports peer-to-peer AirPlay, which creates a direct connection without WiFi:
- Make sure Bluetooth is on for both devices
- On Apple TV: Settings → AirPlay and HomeKit → "Everyone" or "Anyone on the Same Network"
- Your Apple TV will appear in Screen Mirroring even without WiFi
This is great for presentations in hotels, conference rooms, or anywhere without reliable WiFi.
AirPlay Audio to Speakers
AirPlay also works for music and podcasts:
- Play audio on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac
- Tap the AirPlay audio icon (triangle with circles) in the music player or Control Center
- Select your AirPlay-compatible speaker or TV
- You can select multiple speakers for multi-room audio
Compatible speakers: HomePod, HomePod mini, Sonos, Bose, Denon, Marantz, and many more.
Troubleshooting: AirPlay Not Working
TV Not Showing Up:
- Ensure both devices are on the same WiFi network
- Restart your TV and iPhone/Mac
- Check that AirPlay is enabled on your TV (see instructions above)
- Move closer to your TV/router
AirPlay Lagging or Buffering:
- Move your router closer to the TV or use 5GHz WiFi
- Close other bandwidth-heavy apps
- Lower the video quality if streaming 4K content
- Use an Ethernet connection for Apple TV if possible
Audio But No Video (or Vice Versa):
- Try stopping and restarting the AirPlay session
- Check the HDMI input on your TV is correct
- Update your TV’s firmware and your Apple device’s software
AirPlay Code Not Appearing:
- Restart both devices
- On Apple TV: Settings → AirPlay → turn off and back on
- On smart TV: Reset AirPlay settings and re-pair
Tested with iPhone 16, iPad Air M2, MacBook Air M3, Apple TV 4K (3rd gen), Samsung QN90C, LG C4 OLED, Sony Bravia X90L, and Roku Streaming Stick 4K. Last updated March 2026 by the DevX editorial team.
