Apple AirPlay is a convenient wireless protocol that every iPhone, iPad, and MacBook owner should know about. It is designed to let you stream photos, videos, and music from an Apple device to an AirPlay-enabled host. It can also be configured to mirror your Apple device’s screen to a TV or projector. AirPlay 2 is the latest version of the technology and is built into a handful of smart TVs. One of the few requirements for a successful AirPlay handshake is that your Apple device and your AirPlay host device must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
Fortunately, almost every TV manufacturer supports AirPlay in one way or another. Both Samsung and LG use their own smart TV software; the former runs Tizen OS with a custom One UI overlay, and the latter is powered by webOS. Luckily, AirPlay 2 is supported by both operating systems. Samsung TV owners may need to enable AirPlay first, and can do so by going to Settings, then Connection, then Apple AirPlay Settings, and sliding the switch to the on position.
The process is similar for LG webOS: press the Home button on your LG TV remote, then select AirPlay, then AirPlay & HomeKit Settings. Slide the toggle (if AirPlay isn’t already enabled), and that’s all there is to it. To test things out, grab your iPhone and open Control Center. Tap Screen Mirroring and your compatible Samsung or LG smart TV should be listed. Once you choose the device from your menu, you can start using AirPlay.
Google TV, Roku OS, and some Fire OS devices also support AirPlay
TV companies like Sony, Hisense, and TCL do not use proprietary software for smart TV features. Instead, these brands allow the use of other popular smart systems. One of the most popular third-party options is Google TV, which you’ll find built into many Sony, Hisense, and TCL TVs. The operating system is also built into a handful of streaming devices, including Google TV Streamer and Onn 4K Pro, and native AirPlay support is one of its features.
To access AirPlay settings on most Google TV devices, go to Settings, then System, then Apple AirPlay & HomeKit Settings, and enable AirPlay if it’s turned off. We’d also like to mention that Roku OS and Fire OS (Amazon’s version of Smart TV software) also support AirPlay. Amazon claims that not all of its Smart TV products are AirPlay compatible, so if you’re investing in Fire OS, read the full product specifications to see whether AirPlay is built-in or not.
We also have a finalist to discuss: Vizio. The budget TV brand isn’t as popular as it once was, but we’ve confirmed that Vizio OS – which is proprietary software, we might add – is compatible with AirPlay. One of the only downsides is that there aren’t as many Vizio TVs to choose from as in previous years, and you’ll only be able to find Vizio products at Walmart or Sam’s Club, as the Big W purchased Vizio in 2024.
