AirPlay not working? Here’s how to fix it

AirPlay is the easiest way to share photos, audio, and video from one Apple device to another, with sharing possible between iPhones, Macs, Apple TVs, and other smart TVs and streaming devices. The feature got a massive upgrade with AirPlay 2 in 2018, which added support for multiroom audio, HomeKit integration, voice commands, and more. Many people don’t even realize they are using it because it is so simple and easy to use. Until something goes wrong. Like any software feature, AirPlay is not immune to bugs and glitches. If your AirPlay is not working, here are some troubleshooting steps you can try to fix it.

Also see: Use AirPlay on any Apple device

Before trying to fix AirPlay not working on your device, find out if the feature is available on your phone, computer, or TV. AirPlay 2 in particular has specific requirements that your Apple product may not meet.

You can use AirPlay 2 to stream videos from any iPhone or iPad with iOS 12.3 or later and any Mac with macOS Mojave 10.14.5 or later. Audio streaming has lower minimums and is available on iPhones and iPads running iOS 11.4 and Macs running macOS Catalina. You can also use AirPlay to stream audio from HomePods, Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD (with tvOS 11.4 or later), and PCs with iTunes 12.8 or later.

With AirPlay 2, you can stream audio, video, and other files to Apple TV 4K, Apple TV HD, the HomePod, and AirPlay 2-compatible smart TVs and third-party speakers labeled “Works with AirPlay.” The older version of AirPlay is more all-inclusive, so you should have access to some form of AirPlay on your device, even if it’s not the latest version.

iPhone and Mac users cannot use AirPlay to stream content on Windows PCs and Android smartphones without relying on third-party screen mirroring apps.

AirPlay uses Wi-Fi to stream content on other devices, so it may not work if you have Wi-Fi connection issues. If you’re having problems with your router or network, check out our Wi-Fi troubleshooting guide. However, there may be issues with device settings.

First, make sure Airplane Mode isn’t accidentally activated. Open the Control Center and disable Airplane Mode if it is enabled. You need to verify that your iPhone or Mac and the device you are sending content to are on the same Wi-Fi network. If you have dual-band networks, keep in mind that some smart TVs may only connect to the 2.4 GHz network while your phone and computer run at 5 GHz. Also, don’t forget to disable any VPN services you use.

Check which network you are connected to by going to Settings > Wi-Fi (Settings > General > Wi-Fi on older devices) on an iPhone or iPad, or by clicking the Wi-Fi icon on a Mac. You can find the network name on Apple TV and most smart TVs by going to Settings > Network.

If AirPlay doesn’t work, try turning Wi-Fi off and on on all of these devices. Keep in mind that while your iPhone and iPad have a Wi-Fi switch in the Control Center, this will only disconnect you from your router, but will continue to work for AirDrop, AirPlay, Instant Hotspot, and devices like the Apple Pencil and Apple Watch. You need to go to the Settings menu to turn off Wi-Fi completely.

You may have set up your iPhone or iPad to automatically stream content to your Apple TV. However, this setting can interfere if you try to send video or audio to other devices like a Mac or HomePod. Go to to disable this option Settings > General > Airplay & Transferselect Automatically AirPlay to TVsand choose Never. This prevents your phone or tablet from automatically connecting to a nearby Apple TV when you want to use the feature with other devices.

Your Macbook and iMac also work as AirPlay receivers, allowing you to stream content from your iPhone to a larger screen. However, the setting may be off or set only to allow devices where you’re signed in with the same Apple ID. But you can change the setting to allow others to share content on your Macbook. Go to System Preferences > Sharing and check the box next to it AirPlay receiver to enable AirPlay. Uncheck the box to allow other users Password required and change the Allow AirPlay for option to Everyone on the same network or Everyone.

You may also need to make some changes to the macOS firewall settings if AirPlay is not working. Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Firewall (tab). Uncheck Block all incoming connections and enable both Allow built-in software to receive incoming connections automatically and Automatically allow downloaded signed software to receive incoming connections. Click OK to confirm your updated settings.

Finally, you can make it easier for your Macbook to find nearby Apple TVs and other AirPlay devices to stream to. Go to System Preference > Dock & Menu Barselect Mirror screen and check Show in menu bar and Everyone. You can now quickly mirror your screen or AirPlay content with a click in the menu bar.

Sometimes the simplest troubleshooting step can work. Try restarting all your devices if AirPlay isn’t working. To restart your iPhone or iPad, press and hold one of the two volume and side buttons at the same time until the power off slider appears on the screen. Drag the slider and wait for your phone to turn off and restart. You can also go to Settings > General > Shut Down.

You need to do a force restart if your iPhone or iPad is frozen and unresponsive. Press and release the volume up button, press and release the volume down button, and then press and hold the side button. Release the side button only after the Apple logo appears on the screen.

Go to to restart your Apple TV Settings > System > Restart. And on a Mac, click on the Apple menu and select Restarting.

Update your Apple devices

Software bugs and glitches can cause AirPlay to stop working, so don’t forget to update your Apple devices. Go to Settings > General > Software Update on your iPhone or iPad to make sure you have the latest software version. You can also enable Automatic updates to have the device download and install them automatically. Crane Download and install if a software update is available.

You can update your Apple TV by visiting Settings > System > Software update. Select Download and install if an update is available. On a Mac, go to System Preferences > Software Update. If you have connected devices like HomePods, you can use the Home app on your phone, tablet, or computer. Open the Home app, tap the Home icon in the top left corner and go to Home Settings > Software Update.

Also see: Using AirPlay on a Samsung TV