How to Use AirPlay on the iPad

Turn on AirPlay and stream music and video to your TV

by
Daniel Nations
Daniel Nations
Writer
Daniel Nations has been a tech journalist since 1994. His work has appeared in Computer Currents, The Examiner, The Spruce, and other publications.
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Daniel Nations
Updated on December 13, 2020
reviewed by
Christine Baker
Lifewire Tech Review Board Member
Christine Baker is a marketing consultant with experience working for a variety of clients. Her expertise includes social media, web development, and graphic design.
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Article reviewed on Jul 12, 2020
Christine Baker

What to Know

  • On your iPad, go to Control Center > Screen Mirroring and tap the appropriate device.
  • To turn off AirPlay, go to Control Center > Screen Mirroring > Stop Mirroring.

This article covers using AirPlay on devices running iOS 7 and later.

How to Use AirPlay

To use AirPlay to display the iPad screen on a TV:

  1. Open the Control Center. Swipe down from the upper-right corner of the Home screen.

    Opening the control panel on iPad

  2. Tap Screen Mirroring.

    Airplay on iPad

  3. All devices available for AirPlay appear in this menu.

    AirPlay on iPad

  4. Tap the name of the device you want to connect to your iPad.

    If this is the first time using the iPad with Apple TV, you may be asked to enter a code from the TV screen to pair the devices.

  5. The iPad display appears on the TV.

  6. To turn off AirPlay, go to the Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, then tap Stop Mirroring.

What to Do If the Screen Mirroring Button Doesn't Appear

AirPlay should work the first time you try it. But if it doesn't, here's how to troubleshoot it.

  • Check the power: The iPad can connect to an Apple TV that's asleep but not to one that's powered off.
  • Check the Wi-Fi connection: Make sure both devices are connected and that they're on the same network. If you use Wi-Fi extenders or a dual-band router, you may have multiple Wi-Fi networks in your house.
  • Reboot the iPad and TV: If everything checks out, but the AirPlay button doesn't appear, reboot both devices one at a time. First, restart Apple TV and wait several seconds for it to establish an internet connection, then check to see if AirPlay is working. If not, reboot your iPad and try again after the iPad powers back on.
  • Contact support: If you still cannot get it to work, contact Apple Support.

About AirPlay

AirPlay is the best way to mirror the iPad display on a TV using Apple TV. If you watch streaming videos or use apps built for AirPlay, the iPad can send full-screen video to your TV. AirPlay also works with compatible speakers to wirelessly stream your music. This is similar to Bluetooth, but because it uses a Wi-Fi network, you can stream from longer distances.

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