AirPlay Not Working? What to Check on Your iPhone, Mac, Apple TV or Smart TV

This guide is for AirPlay streaming and screen mirroring problems. It is not a complete guide to slow internet, weak Wi-Fi around the house or a television that has no network connection at all.

When AirPlay stops working, first work out whether the receiving device is missing, the connection starts and then drops, or the picture works without sound. Those symptoms point to different checks.

Make sure both devices are ready

Turn on the iPhone, iPad or Mac you are sending from and the Apple TV, smart TV, Mac or speaker receiving the stream. Keep them nearby while testing.

Install available software updates on both devices. Then confirm they are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. A guest network can look like the same internet connection while keeping devices apart.

Check that AirPlay receiving is allowed

On an iPhone, AirPlay receiving is controlled under Settings, General, AirPlay & Continuity. On a Mac, check System Settings, General, AirDrop & Handoff.

For an Apple TV or compatible smart TV, open its AirPlay settings and make sure AirPlay is on. If the device is part of an Apple Home, Home settings can also restrict who is allowed to use speakers and televisions.

If a password keeps appearing, check the AirPlay access or content restrictions on the receiving device rather than repeatedly entering different Apple Account passwords.

Restart both ends

Restart the sending device and the receiving device. This clears a surprising number of discovery problems without changing any settings.

After both have restarted, open the app again and choose AirPlay or Screen Mirroring from the normal control. Do not reset the router or erase a device as an early step.

Test whether the problem belongs to one app

Try a different video, song or app. If screen mirroring works but a particular streaming app does not, the app or the content may be limiting playback.

Also try AirPlay from another iPhone, iPad or Mac if one is available. If every sending device fails, focus on the receiver or network. If only one device fails, focus on that device and its software.

If video works but there is no sound

Check the volume and mute controls on both the sending device and the television, receiver or speaker. If the television sends sound through a soundbar or receiver, confirm the correct audio input is selected.

Stop AirPlay, play ordinary television audio, then start AirPlay again. This helps separate an AirPlay issue from a soundbar or receiver problem.

If the device appears and then disappears

Move the devices closer to the Wi-Fi router for one test. If AirPlay becomes reliable there, the problem is probably coverage or interference rather than AirPlay itself.

If the home has more than one router, extender or mesh system, make sure both devices are joining the same home network. Our guide to Wi-Fi extenders, mesh systems and router position explains the practical differences.

When to stop changing settings

If AirPlay fails from several devices after updates, restarts and a same-network check, the next useful step is to test the receiver on another network or have the network layout checked. Repeatedly resetting the Apple TV or television rarely helps when the real problem is network separation.

Need a hand?

For help with AirPlay, Apple TV or a home network, see Wi-Fi & Home Networks or Mac and Apple device setup and troubleshooting. You can also contact Your Mac Tech.