How to Enable AirPlay for iPhone

Turn on AirPlay to beam music, photos, and videos to other devices

iPad connected to a projector via Apple TV. Airplay feature.

 Yosomono / Flickr

by Mark Harris
Brings music expertise, including a background as a music producer and composer, to digital music articles.
Updated August 19, 2019

Enable AirPlay on your iPhone to stream data, or even the entire screen, wirelessly between your phone and other compatible devices on the same Wi-Fi network.

Using AirPlay on your iPhone requires an AirPlay receiver. This can be a third-party AirPlay-compatible speaker system, Apple TV, or an Airport Express hub, for example.

How to Configure AirPlay on an iPhone

Setting up AirPlay on an iPhone only takes a few taps on the screen.

These instructions apply to devices running iOS 11 or later.

  1. Make sure that both the iPhone and AirPlay receiver are powered on and connected to the same wireless network.

  2. Open Control Center by swiping up from the bottom of the screen.

  3. Tap and hold the music control area, and then tap the AirPlay button on the upper right-hand corner of the new menu.

    If you have an iPhone 6s or later, use 3D Touch by pressing on the Music section.

  4. Tap a device to connect to it over AirPlay.

    If you're connecting to an Apple TV that isn't on the same Wi-Fi network as your iPhone, enter into your phone the code displayed on the TV.

    Opening AirPlay options on an iPhone

  5. On some devices, you might need to tap Done to establish the connection.

Mirroring the iPhone Display

With AirPlay enabled, and with the iPhone's built-in Screen Mirroring feature, you can show your phone's screen on your Apple TV.

  1. Open Control Center.

  2. Tap Screen Mirroring or AirPlay Mirroring, depending on the iOS version that's running.

  3. Select your Apple TV.

    Screen Mirroring settings on an iPhone

  4. Enter into your iPhone the AirPlay passcode displayed on your TV, if you see one.