AirPlay is one of the most widely used features on Apple TV for streaming videos and listening to music. But what if the AirPlay doesn’t work on Apple TV? This happens for many reasons, such as poor internet connectivity, outdated firmware, devices being far from each other, software glitches, etc. Luckily, these issues can be easily rectified without a technician’s assistance. This article illustrates the possible workarounds to fix the AirPlay not working issue on an Apple TV.
How to Fix AirPlay Not Working on Apple TV
If AirPlay is not working on your Apple TV, follow these troubleshooting methods to resolve the issue.
Enable AirPlay on Apple TV
It is quintessential to enable the AirPlay feature on your Apple TV to wirelessly receive media files from an iPhone, iPad, and Mac. If you don’t want any unknown devices to connect to your Apple TV, you can enable security. Go to Settings → AirPlay → Security → Turn On Require Device Verification. So, every time you use AirPlay on an Apple TV, you must input the AirPlay passcode.
Check for Proper Internet Connection
Since AirPlay works through WiFi, you should connect your Apple device and Apple TV to the same wireless network. If you don’t, it will bring issues like AirPlay not working or the device not showing up. If your WiFi network speed is not fast enough, you have to keep the router close enough. Otherwise, contact your internet service provider and upgrade your internet plan.
Check for AirPlay Compatibility
Sometimes, you cannot use AirPlay if the devices are incompatible with accessing the feature. Check whether your device meets the below requirements.
- The iPhone or iPad should be running on iOS 4.2 and above.
- For Mac, it should be running on Mojave 10.14 and later.
- The Apple TV should be running on tvOS 11.4 and above.
If your device satisfies the requirements but AirPlay still doesn’t work on Apple TV, try the next fix.
Make Sure the Devices are Closer
You may not be able to AirPlay if the devices involved in the AirPlay are placed too far from each other. It is necessary to keep your devices within a distance of fewer than 25 to 30 feet. If the devices are placed far from the recommended limit, then your iPhone, iPad, or Mac may not be able to detect the Apple TV. Also, ensure the devices are not far from the WiFi router since all the devices are connected to the same WiFi. You can also use the WiFi extender if you need to expand the range of the internet connection.
Unmute Apple TV or iOS devices
Sometimes, you may not be able to hear sounds on your Apple TV when any video content is mirrored from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. It can be due to an issue with the sender’s device, such as the audio may be muted on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV itself. Whatever the situation, unmute the device and try to AirPlay. If you still can’t hear any sound, then it is time to move on to the next fix.
Check the AirPlay Code
Entering the incorrect AirPlay Code may prevent both devices from using the AirPlay feature to transfer the video or audio content. You should enter the correct AirPlay code on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac on the receiving device. If you enter the wrong AirPlay code, you will get an error message. If the problem is not with the AirPlay code, you should try checking the AirPlay Settings.
Check the AirPlay Settings
Like enabling the AirPlay feature on Apple TV, you should also check the AirPlay Settings on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
On iPhone/iPad
1. On your iPhone, navigate to the Settings application.
2. Scroll down the options list and choose the General option.
![Select General to Fix AirPlay Not Working on Apple TV](https://www.appletvlearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Fix-AirPlay-Not-Working-on-Apple-TV-Select-General.jpg)
3. Choose AirPlay & Handoff from the General and tap Automatically AirPlay to TVs.
4. Select Automatic from the available options. Check now whether you can AirPlay on your Apple TV using an iPhone.
On Mac
1. Navigate to the System Settings and click on it.
2. Select the General option on the left side and choose AirPlay & Handoff.
3. Toggle the button near the AirPlay Receiver and click on Everyone.
If the problem is not with the AirPlay settings, it may be due to a VPN.
Disable the VPN
Using the VPN on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac may interrupt the AirPlay functionality. If you’re streaming the geo-restricted content by connecting the server to a non-compatible country, you cannot access the app on your device, and it will also not AirPlay the content. For example, If you are streaming Hulu from the UK and you have connected the VPN to an Indian server, it will automatically display you a black screen error or 404 error. So be sure to connect the VPN to the right country to access the media content via AirPlay without hassle.
Check Firewall Settings on the Mac
We have seen how the VPN disrupts AirPlay. Similarly, using the Firewall can also cause the Mac to be disconnected from AirPlay.Therefore, you must turn off the Firewall settings on your MacBook.
1. On the Mac, select the System Preference and open it.
2. Move to the Security and Privacy and hit the Firewall tab.
3. On the bottom of the screen, click the Lock icon and enter the necessary Mac credentials to unlock it.
4. Now click the Turn Off Firewall option and choose the Firewall Options.
![Change the Firewall settings on Mac](https://www.appletvlearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Fix-AirPlay-Not-Working-on-Apple-TV-Select-Firewall.jpg)
5. On the upcoming page, uncheck the Block all incoming connections and tap OK.
Turn on Bluetooth
To AirPlay content from iPhone or iPad to Apple TVs, you must turn on Bluetooth and WiFi on both devices. Having Bluetooth turned on will enable the devices to recognize each other. To turn on Bluetooth on your iPhone or iPad, you can toggle it on at the Control Center. For Apple TV, navigate to Settings, select Remotes and Devices, click Bluetooth, and turn it ON.
Enable and Disable the Airplane Mode
If your iPhone or iPad is in Airplane mode, you cannot connect the device to the WiFi, which is mandatory to proceed with the AirPlay. You should turn off the Airplane Mode to do so. To turn off the Airplane mode, you can go to the control center and toggle the AirPlay icon. On the other hand, you can navigate to Settings and search for the Airplane Mode. After that, you can turn off the Airplane Mode.
Restart the Apple TV
Some errors and bugs may cause the AirPlay feature to not work properly on your TV. In such cases, you can fix it by restarting the Apple TV. After restarting, connect both devices to the same WiFi and check if AirPlay works. If not, then proceed with the next fix to resolve the issue.
Restart the iPhone or iPad
Like Apple TV, restarting the iPhone or iPad you use for AirPlay will also provide positive results. Using the Assistive Touch, restart your Apple device. After it restarts, check if you can AirPlay on your Apple TV. If AirPlay fails to detect your Apple TV, your device’s firmware may be outdated. Try the next fix.
Update the Apple TV
Using the outdated device firmware may have bugs and cache files, or sometimes, this software version may be incompatible with AirPlay. Updating the Apple TV to its latest version may solve your AirPlay issue. Navigate to Settings on Apple TV → System → Software Updates → Update Software. If an update is available, click Download and Install. Keep your device powered on during the updation process.
Update iOS devices
After updating your Apple TV, you should also update your iPhone/iPad to the latest firmware for an uninterrupted AirPlay experience. To update your iPhone or iPad, navigate to settings, select General, and then update the software by clicking Software Update.
Reset Network Settings on iPhone
Sometimes, the problem may be with the Network settings on your Apple device. So, you have to reset the Network settings on your iPhone or iPad to fix the issue.
1. Visit Settings on your iPhone and select General from it.
2. You can choose the Transfer or Reset iPhone option from it.
![Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone on the General settings](https://www.appletvlearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Fix-AirPlay-Not-Working-on-Apple-TV-reset-network-settings-474x1024.png)
3. After that, click the Reset option on the upcoming screen.
4. Tap the Reset Network Settings option from the available options.
After resetting the iPhone Network settings, check if AirPlay works. If you still encounter a problem with AirPlay streaming, try resetting the Apple TV.
Reset the Apple TV
This should be the last solution, as resetting your Apple TV will erase almost all the user data, installed applications, and customized settings. But keep in mind that you have to set up your Apple TV from the start after the reset process. Once you complete the setup, check whether you can AirPlay videos or music on your Apple TV.
Contact Apple Customer Support
If AirPlay is not working on your Apple TV after trying these methods, the final solution is to contact Apple customer support. You can check the Apple communities to ask questions and get quick answers from users and technical agents. Optionally, you can install the Apple Support app on your iPhone or iPad to get personalized solutions for your Apple device.