Table of contents(14)+
- 01The 30-second sound test
- 02Fix 1: Turn your phone volume up
- 03Fix 2: Take your phone off silent
- 04Fix 3: Check the TV input and audio output
- 05Fix 4: Rule out an app that blocks audio
- 06Fix 5: Ditch a video-only adapter or app
- 07Which mirroring methods carry sound?
- 08Frequently Asked Questions
- 09Does AirPlay screen mirroring have sound?
- 10Why is my screen mirroring not playing sound?
- 11Does screen mirroring to a Hisense TV have sound?
- 12Does an HDMI cable for mirroring carry audio?
- 13Does Bluetooth screen mirroring have sound?
- 14Related guides
Yes, screen mirroring has sound. AirPlay, Google Cast, and Miracast all send your phone or laptop audio to the TV along with the picture. If you get video but no sound, the cause is almost always a muted phone, the wrong TV input, or audio routed to another speaker — not the mirroring itself.
I mirror my iPhone 13 to a Hisense U7 (VIDAA) most weekends for YouTube workouts (here's my full iPhone-to-Hisense mirroring walkthrough). Sound comes through the TV every time — until it doesn't. Last month I got silent video, and it turned out my phone's ring switch was flipped to mute. The fixes below are the same ones I run through, fastest first.
The 30-second sound test
Before you change any settings, rule out the obvious. This takes about half a minute. Nine times out of ten one of these gets sound back.
- Press volume-up on your phone while mirroring — the phone controls system volume.
- Check the TV isn't muted or turned down. Grab the remote and press volume up.
- Flip your iPhone's side ring switch so you don't see orange. Orange means silent.
- Play a plain video (YouTube or your camera roll) instead of a streaming app that may block audio.
If sound comes back, you're done. If not, work through the fixes below in order.
Lost the TV remote and can't raise the volume or change inputs? HiRemote turns your iPhone into a Hisense remote — volume, mute, and the Source button all work over Wi-Fi, so you can test TV audio without hunting for the clicker. On a Hisense Roku model, the free browser remote does the same from any tab.
Fix 1: Turn your phone volume up
Screen mirroring streams your phone's system audio. So your phone's volume buttons — not just the TV's — control how loud it plays. If the phone sits at zero, the TV plays silent video even at full TV volume.
- Press volume-up on the side of your phone while mirroring is active.
- On iPhone, open Control Center and check the volume slider isn't at the bottom.
- On Android, pull down the shade and raise Media volume, not Ring volume.
When this won't help: wired HDMI mirroring on some Android phones sends audio at a fixed level. There you adjust volume on the TV instead.
Fix 2: Take your phone off silent
The ring switch on the side of an iPhone mutes more than notifications. With some apps it also mutes mirrored audio. Flip it so the orange stripe disappears.
- Find the switch above the volume buttons on the top-left edge.
- Push it toward the screen. No orange showing means the ringer is on.
- On iPhone 15 Pro and newer, the Action Button replaces the switch — check Settings → Sounds & Haptics → Silent Mode.
When this won't help: Netflix, Disney+, and similar apps still block mirrored audio for copyright reasons even off silent. See Fix 4.
Fix 3: Check the TV input and audio output
Your TV can show the mirrored picture but send sound somewhere else. This happens a lot when a soundbar or ARC device is connected. Point the audio back to the TV — or turn the soundbar on.
- On Hisense VIDAA, open Settings → Sound → Speakers and pick TV Speaker.
- Make sure the TV is on the mirroring source. Hisense calls its built-in mirroring Anyview Cast.
- If you use a soundbar, switch it on and set the TV output to ARC or your soundbar's name.
When this won't help: a broken HDMI-ARC handshake needs its own fix. Our soundbar sync guide walks through it.
Digging through Settings → Sound but the remote batteries just died? Open HiRemote's VIDAA remote on your phone and use the D-pad to reach the audio menu — the same menu, driven from your screen. It won't mirror your phone, but it gets you into the settings that fix silent mirroring.
Fix 4: Rule out an app that blocks audio
Some streaming apps mute or black out mirrored playback on purpose. It's a copyright rule, not a bug on your end. Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video are the usual ones.
- Test with a non-protected video first — YouTube, TikTok, or your camera roll.
- If that plays with sound, the streaming app is the block, not your setup.
- Use the app's own Cast or AirPlay button instead of full screen mirroring. That sends real sound.
The honest fix: open the app directly on the TV and sign in. Mirroring protected content is a losing battle.
Fix 5: Ditch a video-only adapter or app
Not every cable or app carries audio. Cheap HDMI adapters and some free mirroring apps send picture only. If you bought a no-name Lightning adapter, that's often the culprit.
- Use Apple's official Lightning or USB-C Digital AV Adapter — it carries audio.
- Check the third-party app's description. Many free ones say "video only" in the fine print.
- Switch to native AirPlay, Google Cast, or Miracast, which always include sound.
When this won't help: a genuinely dead HDMI port on the TV. Try a second port before you blame the adapter.
Which mirroring methods carry sound?
Not all mirroring is equal. Here's what sends audio and what to watch for.
| Method | Sends sound? | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| AirPlay (iPhone, iPad, Mac) | Yes | Protected streaming apps may mute audio |
| Google Cast / Chromecast | Yes | Cast the tab or app, not just a single photo |
| Miracast (Android, Windows) | Yes | Older PCs may need a graphics driver update |
| Wired HDMI adapter | Yes, if certified | No-name adapters can be video-only |
| Bluetooth "mirroring" | No | Bluetooth can't mirror a screen at all |
For platform-specific steps, see Apple's AirPlay guide and Roku's screen mirroring page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does AirPlay screen mirroring have sound?
Yes, AirPlay screen mirroring sends both video and audio to your TV. When you mirror an iPhone, iPad, or Mac to an AirPlay-compatible TV, system sound plays through the TV speakers by default. If it's silent, check your device volume and the ring switch. Some streaming apps still block audio during mirroring for copyright reasons.
Why is my screen mirroring not playing sound?
The most common reason is a muted phone or the wrong TV audio output. Raise your phone's media volume, flip the iPhone ring switch off silent, and set the TV to TV Speaker if a soundbar is connected. Protected streaming apps like Netflix also mute mirrored audio on purpose. Test with a plain YouTube video to isolate the cause.
Does screen mirroring to a Hisense TV have sound?
Yes, mirroring to a Hisense TV includes sound on every platform — VIDAA, Roku, Google TV, and Fire TV. Hisense uses Anyview Cast for built-in Miracast, and newer models add AirPlay. If you get silent video, check the TV's Sound settings and make sure output is set to TV Speaker rather than a connected soundbar.
Does an HDMI cable for mirroring carry audio?
Yes, a certified HDMI adapter carries both video and audio in one cable. Apple's Lightning and USB-C Digital AV Adapters pass sound to the TV. Cheap, unbranded adapters sometimes send video only, so check the packaging. If a wired setup plays silent, swap the adapter for an official one before you blame the TV.
Does Bluetooth screen mirroring have sound?
No — Bluetooth can't mirror a screen at all, so there's no video or sound to speak of. Bluetooth carries audio to speakers and headphones, but screen mirroring needs Wi-Fi-based AirPlay, Cast, or Miracast. If someone tells you to mirror over Bluetooth, they're mixing up audio streaming with screen mirroring. Use Wi-Fi mirroring instead.
