AirPlay gives you a simple way to send content from an iPhone, iPad, or MacBook to a TV. Instead of keeping everything on a small device screen, you can cast content to a TV that supports AirPlay.
The setup is easy, but two things must be in place first: your device and TV need to use the same Wi-Fi network, and AirPlay must be turned on for the TV. Once those checks are complete, you can send video, photos, music, or your full device screen to the TV.
How to AirPlay from an iPhone or iPad
Start by confirming that both your TV and iPhone or iPad are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Then check that AirPlay is turned on for the TV. These connections allow the iOS device to find the display and send content to it.
Next, open the content you want to watch in a compatible app, such as Prime Video or Disney+. Look for the AirPlay icon at the top right and select it. Your TV should appear as an available display, allowing the content to move from the iPhone or iPad to the TV.
YouTube uses a slightly different path. Open the video, tap the cast symbol, which looks like a rectangle with Wi-Fi wave lines, and select AirPlay from there. This keeps the process inside the YouTube controls while still sending the video to the TV.
Photos also use their own sharing control. Open an image in Photos, press the Share button, shown as a square with an upward-facing arrow, and then choose AirPlay. The selected image can then appear on the connected TV.
For music, open Control Center and find the music playback square. The AirPlay icon is inside that square and looks like an upward-facing arrow with three arcs above it. Select the icon to choose the TV for music playback.
Set AirPlay to Connect Automatically
If you use AirPlay often, you can change how your iPhone handles future connections. Open Settings, select General, and then choose AirPlay & Continuity. From there, select one of three options: Never, Ask, or Automatic.
These choices control whether AirPlay stays off until you select a device, asks before making a connection, or connects automatically. The setting gives you a way to match AirPlay with how you use your TV and iPhone.
Use Screen Mirroring When AirPlay Is Missing
Not every site has an AirPlay option. When the service or site you are using does not offer AirPlay, screen mirroring can provide another way to stream video to the TV.
On your iPhone, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen to open Control Center. Tap the Screen Mirroring icon, select your TV, and enter a pairing passcode if the TV asks for one. The iPhone screen can then appear on the TV, including video from a site that does not include its own AirPlay control.
Screen mirroring is different from selecting AirPlay inside an app. With AirPlay, you choose the content control in an app such as Prime Video, Disney+, YouTube, or Photos. With screen mirroring, you choose the TV from Control Center and send the iPhone screen itself.
AirPlay from a MacBook
A MacBook uses the same basic connection requirements. First, confirm that AirPlay is turned on for the TV and that the MacBook and TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
On the MacBook, open System Settings, select General, and then choose AirDrop & Continuity. Make sure AirPlay Receiver is switched to “on.” This setting allows the MacBook to use AirPlay with the TV.
Once AirPlay Receiver is on, open the content you want to send from the MacBook. Select the AirPlay icon or the Share icon, then choose your TV from the list. The MacBook may ask you to enter a pairing passcode during the connection.
The steps cover the main ways to move content from an iPhone, iPad, or MacBook to a TV. Check the Wi-Fi connection first, confirm that AirPlay is available on the TV, and then choose the control that matches the content you want to share.
