For those who have an Apple device, you may have at least one or a few more Apple devices. Apple has a strong and well integrated ecosystem. It is the one that makes it possible for you to carry an iPhone and work on Mac or read news on iPad and watch movies with Apple TV. All the things that you do will be synced through iCloud and they will become available on all devices.
One of the most important features on Apple with such a description is called AirPlay. AirPlay is the one that allows you to play any media content from one Apple device and remotely stream it to another. Since years ago, it has been used to mean streaming music from your iPhone to a HomePod or to mean streaming movies from your Mac to Apple TV. Now, it is even possible for you to use a Mac as a receiving device. For instance, if there is an iMac, you can start a movie on your iPhone and then stream it to the Apple TV.
Aside from that, one of the most common uses of AirPlay is screen mirroring, which is usually between your Mac and a larger screen like an AirPlay 2 enabled smart TV. Rather than showing the content, screen mirroring means showing every single thing that you do on your Mac. If you are an employee, a teacher, a student, or someone who does presentations a lot, it is perfect for you. Not only that, it is also the perfect option for collaborative work.
How do you use AirPlay on Apple devices? One of the good things about AirPlay is the fact that it does not need any additional software to run. All the things that you need to prepare are just your Apple devices, the ones that are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Apparently, the AirPlay option shows up automatically in every app such as Music, Photos, and Safari, and all the devices via the Share menu. Besides, you are also able to find AirPlay options on Mac in the Control Center. If you are not familiar with the Control Center, it is the one that is found in the menu bar. This one lists every available screen mirroring display and every AirPlay device for music and video.
If you want to start content streaming, the first thing that you have to do is to play a video or music on one device such as an iPhone. Then, choose the AirPlay icon. After that, choose an AirPlay compatible device as the output. Feel free to choose Mac or Apple TV. For those who want to stop streaming, all that you have to do is to switch your AirPlay streaming back to the original device.
Usually, the AirPlay works well and the process works smoothly. However, there might be a case when it is not showing up on a Mac, it is lagging or freezing for no specific reason, or if it fails to connect on the other devices. Then, what should you do if you are in this kind of situation?
If you are in the situation when your AirPlay is lagging or freezing for no certain reason, there is a chance that it is caused by one of your devices. Apart from that, it is also possible due to the connection between them. The good news is that it can be fixed. Then, what are the methods to fix the issue?
There are a few methods to fix your AirPlay lagging or freezing issue. These methods include:
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- Making sure both of your Apple devices are on and unlocked
- Restarting your Wi-Fi router and Apple devices
- Checking that your devices share the same Wi-Fi network
- Updating your devices to the newest compatible version of macOS
- Checking your firewall or parental controls restrictions if applicable
In case no one of these methods works, you are recommended to go through every one of your devices, such as iPhone, Mac, and Apple TV. Please do it one by one and check if it fixes the issue.
Apparently, the issue mentioned above is not the only one that usually happens to AirPlay. Aside from that, one of the most common ones is not working on Mac. If you have tried the tips above on your Mac and you find AirPlay is still not working, you are suggested to add some other more specific troubleshooting actions.
You can try to turn your Wi-Fi off. After turning it off, the next thing that you have to do is to turn it on from the Control Center. Then, try to update the firmware on your router. If you see a new macOS update in your System Preferences à Software Update, do not miss a chance to install it right away.
The unstable internet connection is one of the most common things that cause the Apple TV or screen mirroring not working. Usually, it is the kind of thing that is not easy for you to fix by yourself. It explains why Wi-Fi Explorer and NetSpot are needed.
After fixing your Wi-Fi, it is better for you to check your firewall settings by following the following guide:
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- First of all, open System Preferences.
- When it opens, go to Security & Privacy à Firewall.
- If you see that the firewall is off, there is no need for you to do something. If it is on, please click the padlock icon and then enter the password.
- The next thing is to open Firewall Options.
- Make sure that “Block incoming connections” is not checked.
- Besides, you also have to make sure that “automatically allow built-in software to receive incoming connections” is checked.
If restarting your Mac is not helpful, try to do it while holding Option + ⌘ + P + R keys to reset your NVRAM and reset various settings from display resolution to volume. Please do it until you hear a chime.
AUTHOR BIO
On my daily job, I am a software engineer, programmer & computer technician. My passion is assembling PC hardware, studying Operating System and all things related to computers technology. I also love to make short films for YouTube as a producer. More at about me…
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