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iPad User Guide

Stream video and audio from your iPad with AirPlay

With AirPlay, you can stream video and audio from your iPad to a nearby Mac or TV. You can also mirror what’s on your iPad screen.

You can use AirPlay with your iPad and a Mac, an Apple TV 4K, or another TV.

Before you begin

Make sure of the following:

  • Both devices have Wi-Fi turned on and are connected to the same network.

  • If you’re streaming between your own Apple devices, it’s useful to sign in to the same Apple Account.

  • To use AirPlay to stream content to a Mac, both devices meet minimum system requirements.

  • To use AirPlay to stream content to a TV, make sure you’re using an Apple TV 4K or an AirPlay 2-enabled smart TV.

If you’re using a VPN, make sure its configuration doesn’t prevent local networking, as that may interfere with some Continuity features.

Set up a Mac to allow streaming from your iPad

  1. On a Mac, go to the System Settings app.

  2. Click General in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)

  3. Click AirDrop & Handoff, then turn on AirPlay Receiver.

    Note: If you’re using a Mac with macOS 12.5 or earlier, choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click Sharing, then turn on AirPlay receiver.

  4. Click the pop-up menu next to “Allow AirPlay for” and choose the devices that can use AirPlay to stream content to this Mac.

    • Allow only your devices: If you only want to allow AirPlay from devices where you’re signed in to the same Apple Account, select Current User.

    • Allow any device: Select “Anyone on the Same Network” or Everyone.

  5. To require a password to use AirPlay with the Mac, select the option, then enter a password.

Stream photos or videos from your iPad to a Mac or TV

You can stream photos and videos from your iPad to a Mac, an Apple TV 4K, or an AirPlay 2-enabled smart TV.

  1. On your iPad, find the photo or video that you want to stream.

  2. Tap 👁 the AirPlay button
    .

    Note: In some apps, you may need to tap a different button first, like 👁 the Share button
    .

    👁 A slideshow in the Photos app plays on an iPad. At the top right of the screen is a pop-up menu, with an option to choose AirPlay.

  3. Choose your Mac or TV from the list.

  4. Use the playback controls on your iPad.

  5. To stop streaming, on your iPad, tap 👁 the AirPlay button
    ,     then tap Turn Off AirPlay.

    Tip: You can set up your iPad to discover and automatically connect to any Apple TV 4K or smart TV that you use frequently when you play content from apps that you use regularly with AirPlay. To turn this feature on or off on your iPad, go to Settings 👁 Image
    > General > AirPlay & Continuity, tap the Automatically AirPlay pop-up menu, then choose Automatic, Never, or Ask.

Mirror your iPad on a Mac or TV

  1. Open Control Center on your iPad.

  2. Tap 👁 the Screen Mirroring button
    ,     then choose your Mac or TV as the playback destination.

To switch back, open Control Center, tap 👁 the Screen Mirroring button
, then tap Stop Mirroring.

Play audio from your iPad on a Mac or TV

You can use AirPlay to stream audio from your iPad to a Mac or TV. If you’re streaming to your Mac, make sure you’ve set up the Mac to allow streaming from another device first. See Allow streaming from another device.

  1. Go to an audio app, such as Podcasts 👁 Image
    or Music 👁 Image
    on your iPad, then choose an item to play.

  2. Tap 👁 the AirPlay button
    ,     then choose a playback destination.

You can also use AirPlay to stream audio from your iPad to a HomePod. To learn more, see Play audio on HomePod using an iOS or iPadOS device.

Use AirPlay in your hotel room

If you stay in a hotel room with a TV that supports AirPlay, you can use it to play movies, TV shows, music, and more from your iPad.

  1. Open Camera 👁 Image
    on your iPad.

  2. If it’s not already on, turn on the room’s TV and locate the AirPlay QR code.

  3. Scan the QR code with your iPad camera, then follow the onscreen instructions to connect to your hotel Wi-Fi (if you’re not already connected) and the room’s TV.

  4. Use your iPad to display content on the TV screen by streaming photos or video, mirroring your screen, or playing audio. Choose your hotel TV as the playback destination.

  5. To stop streaming or mirroring, tap the AirPlay or Screen Mirroring button (👁 the AirPlay button
    or 👁 the Screen Mirroring button
    )     on your iPad, then tap your iPad in the list or tap Stop Mirroring.

Note: AirPlay in hotels is available in certain countries and regions.

If AirPlay isn’t working

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