Table of contents(14)+
- 01The 30-Second Test: Does Your TV Even Support AirPlay?
- 02Method 1: AirPlay to an Apple TV
- 03Method 2: AirPlay to a Smart TV With Built-In AirPlay 2
- 04Method 3: AirPlay Through a Streaming Device
- 05Fix 4: What to Do When Your TV Never Shows Up
- 06AirPlay vs Other Ways to Get Your iPhone on a TV
- 07Frequently Asked Questions
- 08Why isn't my TV showing up when I try to AirPlay?
- 09Does AirPlay work without Wi-Fi?
- 10Can I AirPlay to a Hisense TV?
- 11Is AirPlay free to use?
- 12Why does AirPlay lag or keep dropping the connection?
- 13What's the difference between AirPlay and screen mirroring?
- 14Related Guides
AirPlay is the easiest way to get an iPhone screen onto a TV, when it works. It's built into iOS, so there's no app to download for the basic version. The catch is that AirPlay only works if your TV can actually receive it. Apple TV always can. Plenty of other smart TVs can't, and no amount of fiddling with Control Center fixes that.
The 30-Second Test: Does Your TV Even Support AirPlay?
Before you troubleshoot anything, check whether your TV shows up at all. This takes less time than reading the rest of this guide.
- Connect your iPhone and TV to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open Control Center (swipe down from the top-right corner, or up from the bottom on older iPhones).
- Tap the Screen Mirroring icon — two overlapping rectangles.
- Look at the list of devices that appears.
If your TV or an Apple TV shows up, tap it and you're mirroring. If the list is empty or only shows other Apple devices, your TV most likely doesn't have a built-in AirPlay receiver. Skip ahead to Method 3 or the fix section below.
If nothing shows up and you're on a Hisense set, that's usually a platform issue. VIDAA, Roku TV, and Google TV builds don't all ship with native AirPlay support. You can still control the TV itself from your phone, even if AirPlay won't work. The free HiRemote app pairs over Wi-Fi in about 30 seconds. It gives you a full remote, plus a keyboard for typing streaming app logins.
Method 1: AirPlay to an Apple TV
This is the path AirPlay was built for, and it almost always works on the first try. Apple controls both ends of the connection, so there's no compatibility guesswork.
- Make sure your iPhone and Apple TV are on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open Control Center and tap Screen Mirroring.
- Select your Apple TV from the list.
- If a passcode appears on the TV screen, type it into your iPhone.
Your iPhone's screen now plays on the TV, including apps that don't have their own TV app. Apple keeps a general overview of AirPlay on its AirPlay page. One honest limitation: some video apps block mirroring for licensed content. They show a black screen instead of the video, even though the audio keeps playing. That's the app's rights restriction, not a bug in AirPlay.
Method 2: AirPlay to a Smart TV With Built-In AirPlay 2
Many TVs now include an AirPlay 2 receiver without needing an Apple TV box. Whether yours is one of them depends on the brand, model, and sometimes the software version. The steps below are general, so check your TV's own menu for the exact wording.
- Turn on the TV and connect it to the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone.
- Open Control Center on your iPhone and tap Screen Mirroring.
- Select your TV's name from the list.
- Enter the on-screen code if your TV asks for one.
If your TV supports AirPlay 2, it should appear in that list the same way an Apple TV does. If it never appears no matter how many times you restart both devices, the TV likely doesn't have a receiver built in. Check the TV's settings menu or its manual to confirm. This varies between Hisense, LG, Samsung, Sony, and Vizio models, so don't assume one generation behaves like the next. For Hisense owners specifically, our iPhone-to-Hisense mirroring guide covers model-by-model quirks in more detail.
Method 3: AirPlay Through a Streaming Device
If your TV itself doesn't support AirPlay, a streaming device plugged into an HDMI port can sometimes add it. Many current Roku, Fire TV, and Google TV players include some form of AirPlay or screen-mirroring support. The exact feature name and menu location depend on the device and its software version.
- Check the streaming device's settings menu for an AirPlay, Screen Mirroring, or Cast option.
- If it's there, turn it on and follow the on-screen pairing steps.
- Switch the TV's input to that streaming device's HDMI port first.
Not every streaming device supports AirPlay specifically — some only support casting from Android apps, which is a different protocol. If you don't see an AirPlay option, check the device maker's support site before assuming your iPhone is the problem.
Fix 4: What to Do When Your TV Never Shows Up
Sometimes the issue isn't AirPlay at all — it's network setup. Work through these before giving up on mirroring entirely.
- Confirm both devices are on the exact same Wi-Fi network, not just the same router with a guest network split.
- Restart the TV and the iPhone — this clears most one-off connection glitches.
- Update iOS and your TV's software, since older versions sometimes drop AirPlay support mid-stream.
- Turn off any VPN on the iPhone — VPNs often block the local network discovery AirPlay needs.
If you've tried all of that and your TV still never appears, it almost certainly doesn't have an AirPlay receiver at all. No setting fixes that, because the hardware or software just isn't there. At that point your realistic options are an HDMI cable, a casting app built for your TV's platform, or an Apple TV box.
Either way, you'll still want to control the TV itself once something's playing — volume, pause, switching inputs. That's a plain remote-control job, not a mirroring one, and it's what the free HiRemote app is built for. It pairs with Hisense TVs over Wi-Fi in about 30 seconds and skips the account signup some official remote apps require. See the full iPhone remote app comparison if you want to see how it stacks up.
AirPlay vs Other Ways to Get Your iPhone on a TV
| Method | Works With | Setup Time | Needs Same Wi-Fi | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AirPlay | Apple TV, AirPlay 2 smart TVs | Under a minute | Yes | Free |
| HDMI cable (with adapter) | Any TV with an HDMI port | A few minutes | No | Cost of the cable/adapter |
| Streaming device casting | Roku, Fire TV, Google TV | A few minutes first time | Usually yes | Varies — check the device's store page |
| Phone-as-remote app (HiRemote) | Hisense TVs, for control not mirroring | About 30 seconds | Yes | Free download; Pro priced in-app |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why isn't my TV showing up when I try to AirPlay?
Your TV isn't showing up because it either lacks a built-in AirPlay receiver or isn't on the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone. Double-check both devices are on the identical network, not just the same router with separate 2.4GHz and 5GHz names. If the TV truly has no AirPlay support, no network fix will make it appear.
Does AirPlay work without Wi-Fi?
No, AirPlay requires both devices to be on the same Wi-Fi network to find each other and stream. There's no cellular or Bluetooth-only version of standard AirPlay mirroring. If you don't have Wi-Fi available, an HDMI cable with the right adapter is the only reliable alternative.
Can I AirPlay to a Hisense TV?
It depends on the specific model and software platform. Some Hisense smart TVs run platforms that include AirPlay 2 support, while others don't, so check your TV's settings menu or manual to confirm. If yours doesn't support it, mirroring through a streaming device or a cable are your remaining options. A remote app like HiRemote still handles playback control either way.
Is AirPlay free to use?
Yes, AirPlay itself is a free feature built into iOS — Apple doesn't charge for it. You only pay anything if you need extra hardware, like an Apple TV box or an HDMI adapter. That hardware is what actually makes the connection work.
Why does AirPlay lag or keep dropping the connection?
AirPlay lag or dropouts usually come down to a crowded or weak Wi-Fi signal, since the video stream runs entirely over your local network. Move your router closer and switch to the 5GHz band if your TV supports it. Also close other apps that are heavily using the network at the same time.
What's the difference between AirPlay and screen mirroring?
Screen mirroring is the general term for sending your phone's display to a TV, and AirPlay is Apple's specific version of that technology. Android phones use different casting protocols, like Google Cast, which aren't compatible with AirPlay receivers. The terms get used interchangeably on iPhone because AirPlay is the only mirroring option Apple builds in.
