AirPlay is one of those features that, once we discover it, completely changes how we use our devices. Thanks to this technology, we can stream audio, video, or even mirror our device’s screen in real time to other devices, such as an Apple TV or a HomePod. All of this happens wirelessly, conveniently, and with a level of quality that is genuinely impressive. Let’s look at how AirPlay helps us get more out of our devices by connecting them to one another.
What AirPlay Is and What We Need to Use It
AirPlay is Apple’s technology for wirelessly streaming content between devices. From music and presentations to videos and photos, AirPlay makes sharing content incredibly easy, although there are a few things we should keep in mind.
- The sending device and the receiving device usually need to be on the same Wi-Fi network. In some cases, AirPlay can be used peer-to-peer (for example, with an Apple TV) without both being on the same network, but in most situations they will need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi.
- Both devices must support AirPlay. On the receiving side, in addition to an Apple TV, a Mac or a HomePod, there are also smart TVs and soundbars with AirPlay support.
- If the devices are linked to our Apple Account, detection and connection are usually faster. And, if we configure it, we can also limit who is allowed to send us content.
How to Stream Video or Audio from Our iPhone, iPad, or Mac with AirPlay
To send a video to an Apple TV or a compatible television, we open the content in an app that supports AirPlay, such as Photos, Safari, or a streaming app, tap the AirPlay icon in the playback controls, and choose the destination device. In most cases, the iPhone or iPad acts as the controller while playback continues on the bigger screen.
If what we want is to send audio, the process is just as simple. From the Music or Podcasts app, or from others, we tap the AirPlay icon and select the speaker. We can do the same thing from Control Center: we press and hold the playback panel and choose the audio destination.
How to Mirror or Extend Our Screen with AirPlay on iPhone, iPad, or Mac
Besides sending a video or a song, AirPlay also allows us to mirror our screen, so to speak. It is a very useful feature that lets us see exactly what we are doing on the device on a larger display.
On iPhone or iPad, we open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, and choose the Apple TV or compatible television. In seconds, we will see the full interface reflected on the large screen, which is ideal for showing photos, browsing the internet, displaying a document, or playing a game.
On the Mac, the system is very similar: we go into Control Center, click Screen Mirroring, and select the destination. Depending on the receiving device and the settings, we will be able either to mirror exactly what we see or to use the television as an additional display. This option is especially useful for working with more space, since we can move one window to the TV while keeping the rest of our apps and information on the Mac.
When we are done, we simply turn off mirroring from the same Control Center to return to our own screen.
It is also worth mentioning that, if what we want is to mirror the screen of our iPhone or iPad on our Mac, we only need to configure the computer for it. We go to System Settings on the Mac, open General, and look for the options related to AirPlay and Handoff. There, we can enable the AirPlay Receiver and decide who can send us content: only us, anyone on our network, or any compatible device. We can also require a password to make sure that our Mac only receives authorized content.
Once this is done, we will be able to select it from our iPhone or iPad just as we saw a couple of paragraphs ago.
AirPlay is one of those features that can make a big difference. Being able to connect our devices directly and without cables is genuinely useful. Whether we want to watch a video from our iPhone on a TV, send music to a HomePod, mirror our iPad screen for a presentation, or use the Mac as a receiver, the process is as simple as pressing a button.
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