How to stream media content from iPhone and iPad to Windows computer using AirPlay. How to enable AirPlay: tips and tricks

Apple, like no other company, stands up for wireless technology and cuts the wires at the first opportunity. One of the most important and promising steps towards this was the announcement of AirPlay. What is this? How it works? And what is it for? These and many other questions arise for everyone who is at least a little familiar with Apple devices. In this material we will try to answer most of them.

AirPlay: what is it?

AirPlay is a technology for transferring audio and video content from a computer, tablet or mobile phone to any external source, be it a TV screen or a stereo system. The technology was developed by Apple together with a team of developers from BridgeCo. The technology was presented in 2010 at an event in September. then said about AirPlay that it is the most accessible and simplest streaming technology currently existing.

AirPlay works automatically. To search for receivers and connect, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth is used (depending on the broadcasting device and receiver). The key device for working with AirPlay is Apple TV, but there are many other players that work with this technology.

How does AirPlay work on iOS?

Despite the simplest implementation of the function, many users still have questions about AirPlay. How can I enable it and in what modes does it work? On Apple mobile devices, the technology can operate in three different modes:

The first is showing an image from the screen. To enable this mode, you need to turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, then open the control center and select the AirPlay option. The device will go into search mode for receivers and show all available ones. In this way, you can broadcast games launched in And if the developer is concerned with full support for the technology, then you will have access to cooperative play and a modified interface.
The second mode is video demonstration on an external display. To do this, you will need to enable video on a mobile device that has built-in AirPlay support: iPhone or iPad. To get started, you should launch the video file on your phone or tablet, find the AirPlay logo at the bottom of the display, click on it and select the desired receiver.
The third mode is broadcasting audio to an external source. To do this, you need to open the control center, use a swipe gesture to go to the player screen, click on the AirPlay button and select the appropriate stereo system (the stereo system does not have to support AirPlay, Bluetooth version 4 is enough).

How does AirPlay work on Mac?

On a desktop system, AirPlay works according to the same principles, in the same modes:

The first is showing an image from the screen. To enable screen sharing, you need to click on the AirPlay logo at the top of the display in the toolbar and select the appropriate receiver (Apple TV third or fourth generation).
The second mode is video demonstration on an external display. To do this, you need to launch the video in a program or resource that supports AirPlay (most popular sites, such as YouTube, already support this feature). Then you need to find the AirPlay logo in the player and select the appropriate receiver.
The third mode is broadcasting audio to an external source. This requires a player that supports this option. The broadcast can be carried out to Apple TV or a compatible stereo system (the stereo system does not have to support this particular protocol; Bluetooth version 4 is sufficient).
The fourth mode is to use Apple TV as a second screen. After connecting to the TV, it can be configured as a second functional display, with its own desktops, “dock” and others like them.

AirPlay for Windows and Android

Apple developers do not like to share their technologies and very rarely open access to them. Fortunately, this does not apply to AirPlay technology. Such functions are alien to Windows, so you can only rely on third-party players. One of these is the PlayCast player, which works on both desktop and mobile Windows. The program is available in the Windows App Store and sells there for $4. Those who are not willing to pay can download the official version of iTunes from the Apple website and stream audio and video content to compatible receivers. There is an advanced solution for those who want to use Apple TV as a second display for Windows - the $13 AirParrot utility.

For Android, there are several successful programs for broadcasting media content via the AirPlay protocol. One of these is the free AllCast program.

Supported devices and software

To work with AirPlay, you need a mobile device (smartphone or tablet) running iOS 5 or later. Or computers:

iMac released in 2011 or later;
MacBook released no later than 2015;
MacBook Air released no later than 2011;
MacBook Pro released no later than 2011.

But any Windows-based computer that supports Wi-Fi wireless networks (with the appropriate software) will also work.

Instead of a conclusion

Now that you have information about how AirPlay works, what it is, what modes it works in and how to connect, you can seriously think about purchasing Apple TV or a compatible player. This option expands the capabilities of your computer and mobile device, and also helps to create a unified home multimedia system.

Are you facing AirPlay not working problem with your Apple devices or Mac? AirPlay not showing can certainly be tackled with a simple method.

AirPlay is a wonderful feature that lets you stream wirelessly all music files, videos, and photos from Apple devices including iPod Touch, iPad, and iPhone to your computer Apple TV or Mac. It is also possible to stream the files from the computer to Apple TV and to AirPlay receivers and speakers such as AirPort Express. While AirPlay is surely a great feature to have, sometimes it does not work properly, which can be very frustrating. Here is a detailed analysis of the issue, its causes, and possible fixes, when you have to deal with Airplay not working in your iDevices.

Part 1. Important reasons for AirPlay not working & showing

The reasons for AirPlay not showing are plenty. The major reason, however, is because the Apple device you are using has software that is outdated or old. Most often this causes the AirPlay icon to disappear.

What if you have the recently updated version of iOS? The reasons, in this case, would be problems with your internet connection.

Verify the internet settings in your device. Make sure the recording and mirroring devices are always linked to a single internet connection.

Poor connection to the internet is also another cause of Airplay icon not appearing on your device. Network errors can prevent easy access to the feature.

Another reason for the icon not appearing is a simple one. You may not have turned ON the AirPlay icon in your iPhone settings. You will learn how to use the ON/OFF feature for AirPlay in various different iDevices here.

Part 2. Several ways to fix the issue of “AirPlay Not Showing”

Method I: Use Update method to fix Airplay Not Working

When you find that the AirPlay icon in your iDevice is not showing, it indicates that the feature is not in working condition or there is some trouble with the device. Regardless of the implications, you have to correct the issue as soon as possible, if you want to enjoy the powerful streaming features of Airplay.

Here is a detailed method of fixing AirPlay not working fault by means of correcting the iDevice that is causing the issue.

Step #1.
Based on the type of Apple device you own, check the update for the software. This will help you identify the issue that is causing AirPlay not showing the problem.

If you are streaming to AirPlay from Apple TV, you can verify the updates for software by going to settings and clicking on the ‘Update Software’ option present under, ‘General’ feature.

In case of a recent update is present, a notification will be sent requesting permission to update the Apple TV. If there are no updates, it means that your device is using the most recent update only. You can now continue to the following update.

Step #2.
The second step is enabling AirPlay. For beginners, switching AirPlay Off and On can be an overwhelming task. Here is how to do it easily. For Apple TV, go to the Settings and switch Airplay feature to ON position.

For iPhone or iPad devices, you need to go to the ‘control settings’ option. Slide upward on the home screen to go to “control center”. You will find AirPlay in the control feature. Tap on it to enable it.

Step #3.
Now you need to switch on your Wi-Fi connection. It is necessary to have both devices connected to the same Wi-Fi network to solve the AirPlay not showing. If you use different Wi-Fi, it will hamper the connection.

To confirm whether you are using a single network on both devices, check the Wi-Fi network in the iDevice. For Apple TV, you can look for the Wi-Fi in the Network feature.

Verifying the above three steps should solve the AirPlay not working feature easily.

Method II: Use Dr. Fone – iOS Screen Recorder

Mirroring the gadget screen on the computer and Apple TV is a big craze among people now. The use of third-party programs hence has gained popularity recently. In all Apple devices, you will find AirPlay is presented as a feature with preinstalled mirroring capability.

This type of mirroring with third-party programming tools is also applied to Windows computers and Smart TVs. Of the various software programs, is highly popular software. It is very effective in screen mirroring. It is useful to mirror the iOS Screen not only in your iDevice but also on your system.

With AirPlay not working & showing on your device, it is not possible to mirror the screen and turning on AirPlay is not possible. Fortunately, with Dr. Fone software you can mirror the screen without having to worry about using AirPlay button.

Why is Dr.Fone – iOS Screen Recorder the best tool for AirPlay not working?

The program offers a seamless mirroring of iOS screen.
You can enable an Ads free HD mirroring.
It is easy to record all your favorite iPhone videos, games and much more by mirroring them on to a bigger screen.
The software is compatible with devices that are non-jail broken and jailbroken devices too.
The program supports iDevices including iPod touch, iPad and iPhone, which have iOS versions 7.1 to the latest iOS 12.
The program is available on Windows and comes with a 30-day money back offer.

How to mirror iPhone to a computer

Step #1.
The first step in the mirroring process is to download Dr.Fone software on your system. Launch it and select the More Tools feature. Now click on the iOS Screen Recorder option.

Step #2.
The next step is to connect the device and the computer to Wi-Fi network. Make sure both are linked to the same Wi-Fi network. The Internet should be on for both devices. When you have verified these two points, click the Screen Recorder feature on for the computer. You will see a pop-up window of the screen recorder for iOS

Step #3.
Next you need to launch the mirroring procedure.

Mirror the screen on your iOS device to the larger screen. If it is Apple TV you are doing the mirroring on, you need to select the AirPlay function and then choose Dr. Fone.

Using AirPlay mirror feature, it is possible to send wirelessly all the features on the display screen of your phone to the Apple TV.

Step #4.

Now you can view the mirrored iPhone screen on the computer. As mentioned before, you can also record the device screen with the program. You can choose to record or mirror the device as per your needs.

is a very powerful tool that lets you capture and enjoy all your precious moments. You can mirror the screen and also record the screen data via screenshot feature. Except that, you can also use it to do if you deleted important data on your iPhone by mistake or to do a to avoid any data loss.

Whenever you are faced with AirPlay not working, you can make use of Dr.Fone – screen recorder software for iOS. You can easily mirror or record your Apple device to a PC or Apple TV with the reliable software. And the process is also done in a short time that you can do away with the hassle of applying different or elaborate methods or steps needed to get rid of AirPlay not showing the problem.

And combines it into one multimedia system. It allows you to stream videos, music, photos, etc. from one device to another without using wires. Now, if you want to listen to music from your iPhone, it is possible to play it, for example, through a MacBook.

To stream multimedia from iPhone to MacBook, you will need to perform a number of steps:

To stop AirPlay, follow the same steps as described above.

Cast iPhone screen to MacBook

Airplay also provides the ability to broadcast your iPhone screen. The screen will be displayed maintaining the current orientation and aspect ratio. To do this, do the following:

Ready. As you can see, nothing complicated.

Applications for working with AirPlay

AirPlay technology has rapidly gained (and continues to gain) popularity. It's no surprise that a plethora of third-party apps have emerged to unlock the full potential of this technology. Let's talk about a few of the most popular ones.

A full-fledged player for the MacOS system. Among the advantages: the ability to download videos from YouTube, support for many formats, built-in web browser.

Externally a simple utility with a small number of settings. Allows you to print photos, documents, etc. directly from the screen of your smartphone. However, the printer must support AirPlay technology.

This application will allow you to use your MacBook as an AppleTV set-top box. There are few settings, but they are quite enough to optimize the program for yourself.

The only significant drawback is that this is commercial software, so you will have to fork out a certain amount.

ATTENTION. This is not a complete list of applications, but it clearly demonstrates how versatile the use of AirPlay technology can be.

What to do if there is no AirPlay icon

If you haven't found the icon, don't despair. We will tell you about several techniques that can help in such a situation.

First of all, make sure that your devices have the latest version of the software.
Some AirPlay-enabled devices have the ability to disable/enable this mode. Take a close look at the Settings menu and make sure the option is enabled.
Reboot all devices involved in the broadcast. The advice is banal, but, as a rule, many problems are solved by simply restarting the system.
Connect your iPhone and MacBook to the same router using wires. Turn on Wi-Fi from the same router your devices are connected to. Try activating AirPlay - the icon should appear.
Check if your MacBook supports connection using port 3689. This is what AirPlay technology uses to interact with other devices.

This concludes our article. We hope it helped you figure out how to use AirPlay technology.

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What is Apple AirPlay?

AirPlay is Apple's proprietary wireless streaming protocol that allows you to send video and audio from a Mac or iOS device to an AirPlay-enabled receiver such as an Apple TV (headphones, transmitter, etc.). This technology was first introduced as AirTunes for iTunes in 2004.

At that time, AirPlay's capabilities were limited to wireless audio transmission only, but in 2010, Apple added AirPlay support to iOS with the ability to stream video. A year later, the company implemented the “mirroring” function in AirPlay, and in May 2018 introduced a new version of the protocol - AirPlay 2.

What is “mirroring” (screen repeating, screen duplication, mirroring) AirPlay

AirPlay mirroring – the ability to duplicate the screen display of a Mac or iOS gadget to a receiver (Apple TV + TV) with AirPlay support. This functionality is supported by both iPhone and iPad, and Mac. Although mirroring can be used to send video and audio files, some content may be subject to restrictions due to the risk of copyright infringement. If you try to mirror your Mac's screen while playing protected iTunes content, for example, you'll see a gray window instead of the video. But displaying any video from movie sites on TV is no problem.

What is AirPlay 2?

Apple introduced a new version of the AirPlay protocol as part of a developer conference. The manufacturer planned to add support for AirPlay 2 in version 11 of iOS 11, but the technology became available only in May 2018 with the release of the iOS 11.4 update. In AirPlay 2, for the first time, support for multiroom mode appeared, thanks to which owners of Apple devices can use several gadgets to play music.

AirPlay 2 is also supported by Apple TV devices running tvOS 11.4 and later. Apple HomePod speakers update automatically. Legacy third-party devices may not be compatible with AirPlay 2; please check with your vendor for support.

How to use AirPlay to stream content or mirror

You can use the AirPlay feature to either stream content to the receiver (audio or video) or mirror the current device's screen (including audio) to it. Before using the feature, make sure Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections are active and Airplane mode is turned off on your device. The simplest method of working with AirPlay: click on the AirPlay icon and select the desired receiver from the list that appears.

1. Swipe up on the screen to call "Control Center". Owners of iPhone X, iPhone XS and iPhone XR need to swipe down from the top right corner.

2. Use 3D Touch gesture to launch screen "Complete" on the right side of the display.

3. Click on the wireless transmission icon (the icon with three circles and a triangle) next to the playback items.

4. Wait until the list of receivers appears on the screen.

5. Click on the desired receiver and start playing media content.

To stop streaming, repeat the process, but in step 5, select iPhone or iPad.

1. Open "Command centre".

2. Click "Screen repeat" on the left side of the screen.

3. Wait until the nearest AirPlay device appears on your display.

4. Select the receiver to which you want to display the image.

To stop streaming, repeat the process by selecting in step 4 "Stop screen repeating".

To connect your Mac to Apple TV, select the AirPlay icon in the menu bar, iTunes or QuickTime, or open "System Settings" → "Monitors" to detect an AirPlay screen (it will act as a wireless display connected to the Mac). We talked about how to broadcast (transmit) video from a Mac to a TV screen.

The easiest way to organize “mirroring” a Mac is through the icon on the menu bar. Tap the AirPlay icon in the top right corner of the screen, then select your desired receiver.

Once the connection is established, you can mirror the built-in display, mirror the Apple TV, or turn off the monitor and use the Apple TV as an external screen.

How to output videos, photos, audio from iPhone/iPad to Mac or Windows computer using AirPlay function

Despite the popularity of AirPlay among users, Apple does not allow Macs or Windows computers to be used as receivers. Fortunately, you can bypass Apple's ban using third-party emulators, such as AirServer or Reflector. The first one will cost $20. The application is available in versions for Mac and Windows and can work with Google Cast and Miracast. Users can try the program for free for 14 days. Reflector ($15) is a cheaper alternative to AirServer and also supports Google Cast and Miracast. A 7-day trial period is available.

Which is called Airplay. The developers indicate that it allows streaming media content, represented by music and video, between different devices of the same brand. However, most users did not even suspect the existence of such a “trick” until in iOS 7 it was moved to the main part of the control panel and made constantly visible to the device owner. To get the most out of your tablet, you should learn about Airplay on iPad and what you can do with it.

Airplay opens up more options for owners of multiple Apple devices

First, you should decide which devices the Airplay system can work with. For broadcasting, you can use an iPad of the second version and higher, an iPhone 4S or a model released later than indicated, as well as, except for Shuffle, which belong to the fifth and subsequent generations. But as a device to which media content will be broadcast, you can use:

Mac or MacBook;
Apple TV second or third generation;
branded multimedia centers that support Airplay;
Airport Extreme set-top box, which allows you to connect ordinary wired speakers to the broadcast.

Before you launch Airplay on your iPad, you need to make sure that both devices, including your tablet and the receiver, are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

By the way, if you want to broadcast from a computer to a large-sized TV, they can be connected to a regular local network using wired technologies. And to connect speakers, you can even connect a tablet, small player or phone to them via a USB cable. If everything is ready to go, then you can move on.

Turn on the application

You definitely won’t have to think about how to install Airplay on your iPad: starting with the seventh version of iOS, this function is already included in the standard menu. If your tablet has an older one, it is better to update it, since Airplay may not work correctly or cause significant inconvenience. Using the broadcast system is extremely simple - you just need to find the corresponding icon in the program that supports the data transfer function and click on it. A compact menu will appear on the screen in which you will need to select the connected device. What happens next depends on the program itself and the functions built into it by the developers. For example, iTunes, as well as the official Vimeo and YouTube applications, do not require any additional actions, while others may force you to configure video display or audio transmission.

Video about what Airplay is:

Only convenience, only Airplay