How do you send video from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to your Apple TV? How do you beam audio to your connected speakers? With AirPlay!
AirPlay lets you stream video and mirror your display from iPhone, iPad, or Mac to Apple TV. It also lets you stream audio to Apple TV and any compatible speakers, including those connected to an AirPort Express router. If you're on the same Wi-Fi network, AirPlay simply connects and starts streaming. If you're not on the same network, AirPlay can use point-to-point Wi-Fi to stream. That makes AirPlay great for entertainment, education, and enterprise — just tap a button, choose a target, and watch your show or run your presentation.
- How to AirPlay video from your iPhone or iPad
- How to stop AirPlay video from your iPhone or iPad
- How to AirPlay audio from your iPhone or iPad
- How to stop AirPlay audio from your iPhone or iPad
- How to AirPlay Mirror from your Mac
- How to switch AirPlay Mirroring modes on your Mac
- How to stop AirPlay Mirroring from your Mac
How to AirPlay video from your iPhone or iPad
Apple has simplified how AirPlay works for video. Previously you'd turn AirPlay on, then choose whether or not to mirror. Now, AirPlay will mirror by default, and switch to video streaming whenever it detects a video to stream.
While some apps build AirPlay buttons into their media controllers, it's inconsistent enough that going straight to Control Center, where AirPlay can always be found is the best option.
- Swipe up from the bottom bezel onto the screen to bring up Control Center.
- Tap the AirPlay button in the middle, left.
Tap on the AirPlay source — the Apple TV you want to target.
If you're not on the same Wi-Fi network as the Apple TV you're targeting — for example, if you're at a meeting — the Apple TV will display a code and require you to enter it on your iPhone or iPad before streaming over point-to-point Wi-Fi.
How to stop AirPlay video on your iPhone and iPad
When you want to stop AirPlay, it's just as easy.
- Swipe up from the bottom bezel onto the screen to bring up Control Center.
- Tap the AirPlay button in the middle, left.
Tap on Turn Off AirPlay Mirroring
How to AirPlay audio from your iPhone or iPad
Just like with video, some audio apps will build in their own AirPlay button. Whether they do or not, you can always AirPlay your audio from the new Now Playing card in Control Center, and send it to any Apple TV, AirPort Express-connected speakers, or any speakers with AirPlay built-in.
- Swipe up from the bottom bezel onto the screen to bring up Control Center.
- Swipe from right to left to get to the Now Playing card, if you're not there already.
- Tap the Audio Destination button at the bottom.
Select the device name you want to AirPlay audio to.
How to stop AirPlay audio from your iPhone or iPad
If you're done with your audio on AirPlay, you can quickly bring it right back to your iPhone or iPad.
- Swipe up from the bottom bezel onto the screen to bring up Control Center.
- Swipe from right to left to get to the Now Playing card, if you're not there already.
- Tap the Audio Destination button at the bottom.
Select iPhone or iPad to restore audio to your device.
How to AirPlay Mirror from your Mac
You can AirPlay video from your Mac using the AirPlay button on Safari, QuickTime, and a few other apps. You can also mirror your entire display, or use AirPlay to turn your HDTV into a second monitor.
- Click on the AirPlay icon on the right side of your Mac's menubar.
Click on Apple TV from the dropdown. (If you have multiple Apple TV's in the vicinity, choose the one you want to use right now.)
How to switch AirPlay Mirroring modes on your Mac
AirPlay Mirroring will default to mirroring your HDTV's native resolution on your Mac. If you want to change that, it's easy to do.
- Click on the AirPlay icon on the right side of your Mac's menubar.
Choose your preferred option:
- Click on Mirror Built-In Display to mirror your Mac's native resolution on your TV.
- Click on Mirror Apple TV to resize your Mac's resolution to match the resolution of your TV.
- Click on Use as Separate Display to have your Mac extend your desktop and treat your TV as an additional display.
How to stop AirPlay Mirroring from your Mac
When you're done and want to return your Apple TV to being an Apple TV, it's easy to shut off.
- Click on the AirPlay icon on the right side of your Mac's menubar.
Click on Turn AirPlay Off.
Or simply click on the Menu button on you Apple TV remote. That'll stop AirPlay and return you to the Apple TV interface instantly.
Any AirPlay questions?
Having trouble with AirPlay or have any additional questions? Let me know in comments!
Reader comments
AirPlay: The Ultimate Guide
Do you have any AirPlay speakers you recommend? I've been looking for something like a Sonos speaker that works natively with Music and not through a third party app.
I'd recommend any of the Bowers and Wilkins speakers, either the A5, A7 or Zeppelin Wireless depending on your budget / preference. They're all brilliant. I also hear the Naim speakers are excellent. Both brands are premium hi-fi specialists, a tier above Bose, Sony etc.
Great article. Wonder if you can help me. I am trying to do the opposite -- I want to stream what's on the TV, via the analog audio 3.5mm port or digital optical port -- to my daughter's iPhone. She has bluetooth enabled hearing aids, and I'm trying to find a way so she can listen to the TV. If it can stream to the iPhone, it automatically goes to her hearing aids via Bluetooth. The hearing aids can directly connect via bluetooth to a standalone device that the manufacturer has created for this purpose of connecting to the TV, but they want $450 for the device! We can't afford that. So I was looking for some sort of dongle that would connect easily to the iPhone, either via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, since any streaming content on the phone will stream to the hearing aids. Any ideas?
Do you mean you just want the audio output from the TV to go to the Bluetooth hearing aids? If so you want something like this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00Q2EGQQU?tag=androcentr-21&ascsubt...
It's unlikely to be as simple as plugging it in though, because then there might not be any audio out of the TV. It will depend on the model of TV. You may need to use external speakers, and ideally get one of these adaptors with audio pass-though. Try asking on a Hi-Fi forum or on Amazon Answers, or on a forum for the hard-of-hearing.
For all I know the hearing aids aren't compatible with this though.
Thanks for your reply, it is appreciated. So I started my quest with such a device on Amazon, and this whole class does not appear to work, because they do not support communications TO an iPhone (only FROM), and I also think that they use a different part of the BlueTooth standard for data transmission -- but would need someone with BlueTooth expertise to confirm. Bottom line: After many emails with customer service, this just does not work -- as easy and attractive as it is to just plug the 3.5mm jack into the TV! I wish(ed)! But thanks for the suggestion!
Ooops meant to follow replies to me!
We have an Apple TV gen 3 at our church connected to our projector, and also have an Apple Airport Express (AE) connected to the sound system. The ATV is configured to use the AE as airplay speakers. We use Airplay from iPhones to project picture and videos. When we airplay a video from the internet (i.e. YouTube, Vimeo, etc...) the audio will go to the AE as expected, but when we play videos saved in the "video" album in Photos, the sound will NOT go to the AE, but plays through the projector.
(If I select the AE in Music, it plays through the sound system with no problem as well)
Is there some setting I have overlooked?
Help
Randall