4 Handy Ways To AirPlay To Your Android TV

Do you hate fussing with wires and cables every time you want to connect your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to your Android TV? 

Are the necessary adapters slowing the signal or interrupting it completely? 

Do you wish there was a way to connect your Apple device to your Android TV completely wirelessly? Well, you’re in luck! 

We’ll walk you through four ways you can AirPlay content to your Android TV. No dangling cables required!

How can you AirPlay to your Android TV? 

Keep reading to find out! 

Using AirPlay on Your Android TV Quick Guide

1. Built-In AirPlay on Android TV 

Does your Android TV natively support AirPlay? If so, then you can connect your Apple device via your Android TV’s AirPlay feature. 

Step 1: Connect Your Android TV and Apple Device to the Same Network Connection

AirPlay works using Wi-Fi, so your Android TV and Apple device (e.g. iPhone, iPad, or Mac) must be connected to the same network. 

This network can be Wi-Fi or a hotspot. 

To check which network your Android TV is connected to, open Network under Settings. 

Check your Wi-Fi router’s LED indicator lights to see the signal strength. Too weak of a Wi-Fi connection can make it challenging for your devices to connect via AirPlay. 

Step 2: Enable AirPlay on Your Android TV

Now, you’re ready to configure and enable AirPlay on your Android TV. 

Click your remote’s Source button. Use the arrow keys to scroll and select the Edit option. 

Click on AirPlay from the selection of available input sources. 

Next, you must follow the Apple HomeKit instructions, which may be different depending on your TV’s make and model. 

Step 3: Cast Your Apple Device’s Content on Your Android TV 

You have several options when casting content from your Apple device to your Android TV depending on what you want to AirPlay and if you’re using an iPhone/iPad or a Mac. 

You can either AirPlay Videos, AirPlay Audio, Share specific pictures, or Screen Mirror your device’s entire screen. 

See the AirPlay Icons Summary Table for additional instructions. 

Watch the video below demonstrating how to cast content from your Apple device using your Android TV’s AirPlay feature. 

2. Apple TV Box

If your Android TV doesn’t have AirPlay, you can display content via an Apple TV box. 

Alternatively, you can use a 3rd Party AirPlay Receiver, like the Onkyo Audio and Video Receiver  following the same steps listed below. 

Let’s learn how to pair your Apple device to an Apple TV box via AirPlay! 

Step 1: Connect Your Apple TV Box to Your Android TV

Your Apple TV box must be connected to your TV with HDMI cable. 

Unfortunately, Apple TV boxes do not come with an HDMI cable, so if you don’t already have one at home, you’ll need to purchase it separately. 

If you’re looking for a high-quality HDMI cable, we recommend the LEADSTAR 4K 6 Foot HDMI Cable  available on Amazon. 

Plug the HDMI cable into the Apple TV and Android TV’s HDMI ports. 

Take note of which HDMI port you plug the cable into on your TV. 

Step 2: Change Your Android TV’s Input Source

Use your Android TV remote to change the source by clicking Source. 

Select the HDMI port from the list. Click on HDMI 1 or HDMI 2, depending on which port you plugged the cable into.

Step 3: Connect Your Apple TV Box and Apple Device to the Same Network

Your Apple TV box and Apple device must be connected to the same network. 

To see and change your Apple TV’s network connection, go to Settings and click on Network. 

Click on the Wi-Fi network or mobile hotspot you want to connect to, and you’re good to go! 

Step 4: Display Content on Your Apple TV 

There are different ways of casting content onto your Apple TV depending on the type of content you want to cast.

You can display videos using AirPlay Video or cast audio using AirPlay Audio. 

Alternatively, you can Share specific images or cast your device’s entire screen using Screen Mirroring. 

Refer to the AirPlay Icons Summary Table found at the bottom of the article for more information. 

Watch the video below demonstrating how to display content with AirPlay on your Apple TV following the steps above. 

3. Third Party AirPlay Android App

You have the option of displaying content via AirPlay by downloading a third-party Android app onto your Android TV. 

There are several apps that can be used for this purpose, such as AirPlayMirror and AirPin(PRO). 

However, the most popular of these AirPlay apps is AirScreen. So, let’s learn how to cast content onto your Android TV using AirScreen! 

Step 1: Download AirScreen on Your Android TV 

Download the AirScreen app onto your Android TV through the Google Play Store. 

The Google Play Store will be in the Apps section of your TV. 

AirScreen is free to install and use. 

Step 2: Pair Your Apple Device to AirScreen 

Open the AirScreen app. 

You will see a QR code on-screen. Scan it using your iPhone or iPad’s camera. 

A link will pop up on the top of the screen. Click on it to go to the AirScreen website and follow the instructions. 

Step 3: Display Content on Your Android TV 

Now you can choose how you would like to display the content on your Android TV. 

For this option, you will be unable to use AirPlay to cast content from your Mac since it cannot scan the app’s QR code on your TV. 

However, you can use AirPlay Video to cast content from your iPhone or iPad or use AirPlay Audio to play sound from the same devices. 

You can also Share pictures or videos, or Screen Mirror your Apple device’s screen. 

For more information on what these features do, how to use them, and what to look for, see our AirPlay Icons Summary Table at the end of this article. 

Watch the video below to learn how to display content via AirPlay using AirScreen. 

Note: Using third-party apps can pose certain challenges if the app is not updated or bug fixes are not resolved. This is especially common for free apps. This means that the app could suddenly be incompatible with your device’s iOS or iPadOS version. 

They can also be complicated to operate as they’re designed to be used for specific setups. So, they may not work for you depending on how your Android TV and Apple device are set up. 

4. Chromecast Built-in on Android TV

The last option you have is to play content on your TV using your TV’s built-in Chromecast feature. 

Don’t worry. You don’t need a Chromecast stick for this option, since your TV already supports Chromecast natively. 

This isn’t a great option if you’re trying to share pictures/videos from your camera roll or play audio from iMusic since they’re made by Apple and meant to be used with AirPlay. 

However, if you want to share content from streaming platform apps, Chromecast is an easy and effective way to do it! 

Let’s learn how! 

Step 1: Ensure Your Apple Device and Android TV are Connected to the Same Network

Make sure that your iPhone or iPad is connected to the same network as your Android TV, allowing them to pair. 

You can also connect via a mobile hotspot if desired.

Step 2: Open the App or Website You Want to Cast 

While not all apps available on iPhones/iPads support Chromecast, many do, such as Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime Video. 

See apps with Chromecast Support for a complete list of all the apps that can be cast using Chromecast. 

If a specific app you want to cast is not supported, we recommend using AirPlay instead. 

Step 3: Cast the Content on Your Android TV

Tap the Chromecast icon and click on your Android TV’s name from the list of available devices. 

If your TV does not appear on the list, check that it’s connected to the same network and consider moving your phone closer to it. 

See the video below demonstrating how to cast content from your iPhone/iPad to an Android TV using Chromecast. 

Note that the video mentions using a Chromecast device, which is not necessary since your TV has it built-in. 

AirPlay Icons Summary Table

*Note: If you don’t see these options on your Mac, go to System Preferences by clicking on the Apple icon. Then, click on Displays and check Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available.