If you have an Apple device, such as an iPhone, an iPad or an iPod Touch, you definitely have to know what it is and how to use AirPlay and AirPlay 2, this technology that allows you to send music, movies and more from your device to a speaker or a television; you can even share all the content on your screen, if you want. Here’s everything you need to know about these powerful features.
What is Airplay?
AirPlay, and its more advanced successor, AirPlay 2, are Apple technologies to enable wireless streaming of audio and video from iOS devices to speakers and displays. The iOS device is considered the “sender” of AirPlay and the speaker or television is considered the “receiver”. If you have an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch, with iOS 4.2 or later you already have AirPlay. Think of AirPlay as an invisible cable that connects your iOS device to the device on which you want to view or listen to content.
There are two different ways to use AirPlay: to stream audio and video, or to share the entire screen of your device.
What is the difference between Airplay and Airplay 2?
AirPlay 2 offers a few more options for where and how you stream your content. Some features, such as creating a stereo pair from two wireless speakers, are only possible using AirPlay 2.
While AirPlay is already in use in many third-party wireless speakers, in the coming months and years, you can expect them to feature AirPlay. 2 streaming video and audio to multiple smart TVs and third party streaming devices. We have a regularly updated list of smart TVs that have or will receive AirPlay 2, and here is a list of companies that have incorporated the technology into their wireless speakers, AV receivers, and more.
Is it only for IOS devices?
No. Any second generation Intel Core (or newer) Mac or laptop running OS X Mountain Lion or later can use AirPlay to mirror the screen. Any computer, Mac or PC, can use AirPlay to stream music if you have Apple’s free iTunes software installed. And if iTunes goes with MacOS Catalina, we hope that the functionality will be embedded in the applications that will replace it. Apple TV and Apple TV 4K devices also support AirPlay, although they are special in the AirPlay world as they are receivers and senders.
If you do a search on Google, you will find a large community of hardware and software developers who have discovered ingenious ways to use AirPlay with other devices, but Apple does not officially support these, so your results may vary if you choose those alternatives.
What things can I do with Airplay?
Talking about streaming audio and video can get a bit vague, so here are some specific examples of what you can do with AirPlay:
- Watching Netflix : When you watch a movie or TV show in the Netflix app on your iOS device, you can play the audio and video on your TV using an Apple TV receiver.
- Enhance sound for YouTube: When watching a video in the YouTube app, you can play just the audio on a set of wireless speakers for a much more immersive experience, instead of listening to the built-in speaker on your iPhone or iPad.
- Sailing together : Let’s say you’re planning a road trip with friends. Instead of everyone hopping around a 13-inch laptop to look at a map, with Airplay you can mirror your screen to a 65-inch TV, through an Apple TV (or directly if your TV has AirPlay 2 built in) .
- Multi-room party : Open the Spotify app and choose your favorite playlist. AirPlay will broadcast these tracks to all the wireless speakers in your home, without delay or annoying echoes.
How to use Airplay and Airplay 2 on iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch?
Using AirPlay couldn’t be easier, but you will need at least three things:
- Your iOS device (obviously).
- A Wi-Fi network (AirPlay requires Wi-Fi, unlike Wi-Fi Direct).
- An AirPlay or AirPlay 2 compatible receiving device, such as a wireless speaker, Apple TV, or Smart TV.
Example 1: Share your iPhone screen on a TV via Apple TV
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to see the iOS Control Center.
- Tap the Screen Mirroring button.
- In the next window, select the target device, which in this case would be an Apple TV.
- That’s it – your iPhone screen should now appear on your TV
Pro Tip: If you don’t like the way it looks upright, just flip the phone over and the image on your TV will do the same.
Example 2: Listen to Apple Music on a wireless speaker
- Open the Apple Music app.
- Choose a song, album, or playlist.
- On the Now Playing screen, tap the AirPlay Audio icon.
- In the next window, choose your audio device where you will play the content.
- Tap anywhere outside the window to return to the Apple Music app.
- Now you will see that the AirPlay Audio icon shows that you are connected to Dining Room, as we show you in the example in the image above.
- Hit the Play button, and that’s it.
Pro Tip: You can swipe up from the bottom of the screen whenever you’re playing audio on your iOS device to access AirPlay Audio control.
Example 3: Watch a YouTube video on your iPad while playing the audio through your wireless speakers
- Open the YouTube app.
- Choose a video to play.
- Tap the AirPlay Video icon in the lower right corner of the video window.
- In the next menu, select the device where you want to play the audio.
- Audio will begin to play on the selected speaker.
- You can also do this by swiping up at any time from the bottom of the screen to access the Control Center and select your speaker (or TV) from the list.
How to use Airplay and Airplay 2 from an Apple TV?
Apple TV and Apple TV 4K are already configured to act as AirPlay receivers for audio and video, but they can also be used as emitters, albeit only for audio. You may want to do this if you don’t have a soundbar or AV receiver, but you do have AirPlay 2-compatible speakers, like Apple’s HomePod.
To stream the audio of a movie or show you are watching:
- While watching, slide down on the remote for your Apple TV.
- Select Audio .
- Select the speakers or TV you want to send the audio to.
To stream the audio of the music you are listening to:
- Slide down on the remote for your Apple TV.
- Select the AirPlay Audio button.
- Select the speakers or TV you want to send the audio to.
Pro Tip : You can also press and hold your Apple TV remote and select a speaker.
What else can Airplay do?
With Apple open to AV products developed by other manufacturers with AirPlay 2, this technology is becoming an efficient and fast way to manage multiple A / V devices in the home. We will update this article regularly as new features are added, and new products join the AirPlay family.