AirPlay from an iPhone or MacBook to a television is a straightforward process for U.S. consumers, provided the TV supports the feature, according to a guide from Engadget. The steps are nearly identical across iOS devices and work with any brand of television that includes AirPlay compatibility. Users open content from a compatible app, such as Prime Video or Disney+, and tap the AirPlay icon, which appears as a rectangle with an upward arrow. For services like YouTube, the cast symbol, a rectangle with Wi-Fi wave lines, leads to the AirPlay option. After selecting the target TV from the list, the connection is established.
For images stored in the Photos app, the process differs slightly. Users press the Share button, depicted as a square with an upward arrow, and then choose AirPlay from the resulting menu. This sequence may apply to other apps as well. For music playback, the AirPlay icon, an arrow with three arcs above it, appears within the music playback square in Control Center on the device.
Users who frequently AirPlay to a specific TV can automate the process, as long as the iPhone or iPad runs the latest operating system. In Settings, navigating to General and then AirPlay & Continuity presents three options under Automatically AirPlay. The Never setting requires manual steps every time, Ask prompts the device to suggest a connection when it detects potential use, and Automatic initiates the connection without any user action.
Screen mirroring is available for content that does not support direct AirPlay, such as documents or Safari browser tabs. On an iPhone, swiping down from the top-right corner opens Control Center, where a two-overlapping-squares icon appears. If missing, users can add it via the plus sign in the top-left corner and selecting Screen Mirroring from the Add a Control list. Tapping the icon, choosing the TV, and possibly entering a pairing passcode on first use mirrors the entire phone display, including real-time navigation. This method also works for streaming video from sites without AirPlay, with horizontal orientation and a full-screen button often required.
MacBook users follow a similar path. After confirming AirPlay is enabled on the TV and both devices share a Wi-Fi network, System Settings, General, and AirDrop & Continuity, sometimes labeled AirDrop & Handoff, must have the AirPlay Receiver switched on. Selecting the same rectangle-with-arrow icon or the Share icon from playback controls, then choosing the TV, completes the connection, with a passcode possible on first use. Screen mirroring from a MacBook begins via the Control Center icon in the menu bar, followed by the Screen Mirroring option and TV selection.
MacBook users have additional mirroring controls. While screen mirroring is active, opening the Screen Mirroring menu and selecting Change offers options to cast the entire screen, display only an active window or app, or extend the display so the TV acts as an additional monitor. Audio output may require adjustment, with the TV selected as the output source through the Control Center icon and the Sound settings.
Some apps block screen mirroring due to copyright protections or sensitive information, including certain banking apps, which results in a black screen. A direct HDMI cable connection from the iPhone, iPad, or MacBook to the TV serves as a workaround. Netflix does not support AirPlay, though casting works with compatible TVs, and that casting support has been discontinued for newer TV models, remaining functional only for Standard or Premium plan subscribers on older sets.
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