Many Apple users might want to play the audio and video on their devices on a TV. And, they can make that happen using the AirPlay feature. This feature is available on the latest Apple smartphones, desktops, and laptops. You need to find a smart TV that supports this feature. So, you can cast your Apple device’s screen on an Apple TV using AirPlay.
You can enable or disable AirPlay in a few simple steps on your Apple devices. Here, we will see how to turn off AirPlay on your Mac, iPhone, and iPad devices. Read to know about other essential details regarding the use of Apple AirPlay.
Turning Off AirPlay on Your Mac
Are you running the AirPlay feature using a Mac device? Then, open the top menu bar on your computer. Click on the mirroring icon to access the option to disable or enable it.
If you do not know, the mirroring icon is a rectangle with a triangle at its bottom. Then, select the Turn Mirroring Off option when you see it on the new screen.
Add the Mirroring Option to the Menu Bar
The method above is the simplest one to disable AirPlay on your Mac. But, what if you are unable to find the mirroring icon on the top menu bar? In that case, you can add AirPlay to the menu bar through System Preferences. Find the ‘Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available’ option and check the box next to it.
This should add the mirroring icon to the menu bar at the top. You can then use the aforementioned steps to turn off AirPlay on your Mac.
Turning Off AirPlay on iPhone and iPad
The procedure to turn off AirPlay on iPhone and iPad differs slightly depending on the system version. But, you can accomplish this task quite easily on both devices. Proceed with one of the following methods depending on your system version:
On iOS 12, iPadOS 12 and Later Systems
Open the Control Center on your device and swipe down from the top-right corner. Are you playing music through the AirPlay feature? If yes, then click on the Music option on the new page. Otherwise, click on Screen Mirroring if you are playing a video file.
Then, click on the Stop Mirroring or Stop AirPlay option. This should disable AirPlay on your Apple device and stop sharing files.
On Older iOS and iPadOS Devices
As mentioned earlier, the steps for disabling AirPlay are quite similar in all Apple devices. You need to open the Control Center to do that on older devices. So, open this section on your iPhone or iPad and swipe up from the screen’s bottom.
Click on Music if you were using the AirPlay feature to share music files. If you were sharing the screen, you must click on Screen Mirroring.
Then, click on Stop AirPlay or Stop Mirroring to turn off AirPlay. This should stop your Apple device from sharing the screen or audio with other devices. You can then try out other apps for mirroring your screen or use the AirPlay feature later on.
How does Apple AirPlay Work?
It has been quite some time since Apple launched the AirPlay feature on their devices. And, it did not have the name ‘AirPlay’ in the beginning. Moreover, it also had fewer capabilities than it has now.
The latest AirPlay feature shares audio and video files through a WiFi network. So, you need to connect both devices to the same network. Then, you must enable AirPlay on the device from which you want to share the audio or video. This automatically connects it to AirPlay-supported devices.
Alternatively, you can also use the AirPort Express from Apple for this task. This device comes with AirPlay installed on it. And, it connects the two devices for sharing the screen or audio. So, you need not necessarily connect your Mac, iPhone or iPad directly to the smart TV for screen mirroring.
Which Devices can the AirPlay Mirror Your Screen On?
As we have seen, you need an AirPlay-compatible device to use the AirPlay feature. And, that includes a wide range of smart TVs, among other devices. So, here are the types of devices you can mirror your screen on using AirPlay:
Apple TV
Apple TVs are the most compatible with the AirPlay feature for obvious reasons. So, you can always mirror your Mac, iPhone or iPad’s screens on them without any issues. After all, the latest Apple TVs are compatible with the AirPlay feature.
AirPlay-Compatible Smart TVs
Apple TVs are not the only TVs compatible with AirPlay. Many other smart TVs from various brands support this feature as well. After all, AirPlay is quite a commonly used feature on Apple devices.
The latest smart TVs support various types of screen mirroring technologies. And luckily, that includes the AirPlay technology in many cases.
Windows PCs
Do you want to mirror your Apple device’s screen on your PC? In case you are wondering, that is indeed possible on Windows 10 computers. You can now get the AirPlay app on the latest Windows systems.
This app helps you to share your Apple device’s screen with your PC. However, you cannot use it to share your PC’s screen with your Apple devices.
Wireless Speakers
Many wireless speakers support the Apple AirPlay feature as well. And, that does not only include those made by Apple. But, you can share your Apple device’s audio with wireless speakers of other brands as well. And, that means you need not necessarily get an expensive Apple speaker to play the audio.
Try Some AirPlay Alternatives
Are you unable to use the AirPlay feature on your device? Then, there are many other third-party alternatives for this feature. They can offer you pretty much the same level of performance as AirPlay. So, you might want to give them a try for mirroring your screen on a smart TV.
