AirPlay(formerly calledAirTunes ) is Apple ’s technology for streaming media over a local ( usually in - home ) web . It let you stream sound from any Mac or iOS twist to any AirPlay - enable audio frequency arrangement , or video from a Mac ( of recent vintage ) or an iOS gadget to an Apple TV ( also of late vintage ) .
AirPlay works over any modern ethernet or Wi - Fi connection ( for telecasting over Wi - Fi , that ideally means a fast connection using 802.11n engineering science ) . The sending and receiving devices also need to be compatible with AirPlay .
How you set up and use AirPlay depends on the devices involve and on whether you ’re stream audio or telecasting . Here ’s how you’re able to get up and run .
( take note that these instruction put on AirPlay and your local connection are working correctly . If not , Appleprovides AirPlay troubleshooting info ) .
The basics
At its simplest , AirPlay is a convenient style to get audio from your Mac or iOS gimmick to a speaker across the room — or across the house .
Though most masses imagine of AirPlay as a wireless engineering , you’re able to also stream audio over a pumped-up internet , or between pumped-up and wireless devices — for example , from an iPhone to an ethernet - join AirPlay receiver . But AirPlay is also a relatively cheap direction to set up awhole - house audio frequency system — at least when compared with a custom - installed setup or something like a multiroom Sonos arrangement .
equate with Bluetooth ‚ the much more common glide path to wireless - sound recording cyclosis ‚ AirPlay has a telephone number of advantage . For starter , Bluetooth useslossy densification , while AirPlay is lossless , so , assuming that you ’re streaming high - lineament audio to begin with , AirPlay offers skillful sound tone . And while Bluetooth audio cyclosis is limit to gimmick no more than about 30 meters aside , AirPlay have you swarm from as far away as your Wi - Fi or wired web can reach . Finally , while Bluetooth let you to stream to only a unmarried Bluetooth telephone receiver , AirPlay let you stream audio to multiple speakers or receivers simultaneously .
AirPlay does have a couple drawback : For one matter , streaming is limited to Macs and iOS devices — very few non - Apple gimmick can transmit over AirPlay ( at least not without employing third - political party software or hack ) ; and for another , AirPlay gear tends to be more expensive than the Bluetooth counterparts .
Audio options
Streaming sound recording over AirPlay call for a Mac or an iOS gadget on one end , and an AirPlay - compatible telephone receiver on the other . The simplest AirPlay recipient is a consecrated AirPlay - enabled verbalizer system . These speakers have web capacity — usually Wi - Fi and ethernet — progress in , along with limited circuitry that allows the speakers to get AirPlay - audio signaling . likewise , some recent home - theater liquidator have AirPlay built in .
or else , you may use Apple’sAirPort Expressas an AirPlay pass receiver . The Express will take any AirPlay signal it pick up and send out that audio through the unit ’s output jack ‚ and , from there , to any speaker scheme or other audio component connected to that gob . ( The Express can output either an analog- or digital - audio signal . ) For model , you could tie in a curing of powered computer speakers or studio monitors directly to an AirPort Express .
Another possibility is to connect an Express to your existing stereo system of rules ; you may evenbuild your own AirPlay audio systemusing a compendious amplifier or anamp / digital - to - parallel converter ( DAC)and a set of unpowered speakers .
Finally , if you already have anApple TV(second generation or later ) hooked up to your home - amusement system , that Apple TV can serve double - tariff as an AirPlay - audio receiver . One caution , though : The Apple TV can output only a digital sound recording signal .
Make the audio connection
Before you may swarm audio to an AirPlay destination , you must configure your AirPlay receiver . How you do so depends on the kind of telephone receiver you have .
AirPlay - enable utterer system : Most dedicated AirPlay speakers are well-situated to set up . Often , you just connect an iOS gadget to the verbaliser via a USB transmission line , and then use a dedicated Io app to configure the speaker system to join your local internet . Other modelling make their own Wi - Fi internet ; you link that meshing on your iOS equipment or computer , connect to a built - in WWW server on the loudspeaker , and then reconfigure the loudspeaker system to join your internet . In either guinea pig , the talker will come with a setup pathfinder for performing this function . ( During this process , you could also — and plausibly should — give the speaker a useful name , such as Kitchen Speaker ; this name is how you ’ll discover the speaker when using other equipment on the web . )
AirPort ExpressConfiguring an AirPort Express as an AirPlay telephone receiver is a bit more involved , but it ’s still fairly easy . If the Express is already a part of your internet , you launch AirPort Utility , select the Express , and click Edit . Next , snap the AirPlay lozenge , ascertain the Enable AirPlay box , give the Express a useful name , and then click Update .
If you ’re setting up a fresh Express unit , you ’ll first postulate to follow the setup genius to configure the Express to unite ( or extend ) your be internet , and then you ’ll perform the same steps for enabling AirPlay .
In either case , you’re able to also enable a password so that anyone who want to stream audio recording to the AirPort Express must provide that password . If your AirPort Express is on a connection accessible by other people , a password is a wise estimate . Once you ’ve dress up the Express , you ’ll then need to connect it to your audio recording system using an analog- or a digital - sound recording cable .
Apple TVSee “ Streaming video , ” below .
Streaming audio
To stream sound , you should first turn on your audio recording arrangement and ensure it ’s congeal to the correct input ( if it has more than one ) . Your next steps will then depend on the type of transmit machine .
iOS : Apps with AirPlay control : Under Io 4.3 or later , apps can supply an AirPlay - selection control right in the app . This button , which front like the AirPlay icon , is commonly found next to the app ’s loudness - level luger . When you exploit the button , you ’ll see a tilt of all AirPlay receiving system on your local mesh ; tap one of those receivers , and after a few secondment of connection time , the app ’s audio recording will begin playing through your AirPlay speakers . take note that when streaming audio frequency from an iOS app , you could choose only a single AirPlay address at any one time .
iOS : Other apps and systemwide sound recording : Some apps do n’t provide an AirPlay - option ascendency ; or perhaps you want to stream all of your iOS gimmick ’s audio recording , regardless of the app . In this vitrine , you’re able to take advantage of iOS ’s systemwide AirPlay control . Double - closet the home plate clitoris to reach the job whipper , and then abstract to the right until you get hold of the volume yellow-bellied terrapin ; next to the slider is the standard AirPlay push button . Tap it , and then tip the want AirPlay destination .
Mac : iTunes sound recording : To stream your iTunes euphony , just come home the AirPlay button near the top left of the iTunes windowpane ( next to the intensity slider ) , and then pick out the desired AirPort name and address . To broadcast sound recording to multiple AirPlay - equipped devices at the same time , click Multiple and then select the speakers you require to stream to ; you may control the loudness level of each loudspeaker system independently in this menu .
Mac : stream all audio : If you need to stream all of your Mac ’s audio recording ‚ not just iTunes ‚ to a exclusive AirPlay destination , open up the Sound pane of System Preferences , switch to the Output screen , and then choose your AirPlay destination in the list ; after a few bit , audio should stop play through your Mac and bug out playing over AirPlay .
( Alternatively , you could press selection and get through the systemwide bulk icon in your Mac ’s card bar . This will unveil a list of output and input options ; you could pick out your AirPlay destination under Output machine . )
A distich caveats here : First , because of slight transmission system delays , you may find that audio frequency and video are out of sync if you ’re watching video recording on your Mac while listening to the audio for that video recording over AirPlay . secondly , whenever your Mac is n’t actively streaming audio recording , the AirPlay link log Z’s ; once you set about pour audio again , it can take a few minute to reconnect .
Mac : Other case-by-case appsIf you need to stream audio from an app other than iTunes — say , an net - radio broadcast you ’re listen to in Safari — but you do n’t want to stream all your Mac ’s audio , you ’ll need to turn to third - party software . Rogue Amoeba ’s $ 25Airfoil for Maclets you choose any currently running app on your Mac ; that app ’s audio recording is then teem to the AirPlay destination(s ) of your choosing . The let in Airfoil Video Player even allow you to stream a video ’s sound while retain that sound in sync with the video playing on your Mac .
Video options and setup
If you have a late Apple TV , you’re able to also streamvideoover AirPlay from a recent Mac or iOS equipment . Specifically , you want a second- or third - propagation Apple TV ( one of the diminished , black models ) . However , the requirements for your Mac or iOS machine disagree count on the eccentric of video streaming you ’re doing — I cover these necessary in “ Streaming video , ” below .
To enable AirPlay ( for television or audio ) on your Apple TV , navigate to the configurations screen , select AirPlay , and then make certain that the AirPlay is set to On . To keep just anyone from hijacking your Apple goggle box , you could opt between an onscreen code ( which think that anyone who wants to stream to your Apple television must first embark a code that appears on the television receiver silver screen ) or a traditional parole .
If you ’d care to give your Apple telecasting a descriptive name , go back to the main configurations sieve , choice General , and then select Name . Choose one of the default option names , or take Custom to accede a custom name .
Streaming video
When you require to stream video to your television , you should first turn on your television system and check that it ’s position to the appropriate stimulant for your Apple video . Then use the procedure below that correspond to your video root .
iOS : Video from private appsMany TV - oriented apps , such asNetflix , YouTube , and Apple ’s own Videos app , allow you to post the app ’s video to an Apple TV . While a video recording is play , just tap the AirPlay push ( usually locate next to the playback control ) and select your Apple TV .
Alternatively , on any iOS gadget that supports AirPlay mirroring ( see the next token ) , some apps — higher - oddment racing apps are a sound exercise — can use AirPlay to display chief television on your TV while showing a secondary screen on your iOS gadget . Many of these games have an option in the app ’s scope sort to enable AirPlay .
Whichever method the app uses , switching to your iOS twist ’s home base screen or to another app commonly stops pour .
iOS : Mirroring the gadget ’s screen : If you have an iPhone 4S or afterward , an iPad 2 or afterward ( include the iPad mini ) , or an iPod jot ( fifth propagation or after ) ‚ and you ’re hunt down at least iOS 5 ‚ you’re able to instead mirror your gimmick ’s screen on your TV using AirPlay . When mirroring , everything you see on the gimmick ’s screen will appear on your TV , including the Home cover and any apps you ’re using . This lineament is more useful when your iOS equipment is in landscape orientation , as a landscape painting - orientation course screen is a good couple for today ’s widescreen TVs .
To enable mirroring on an eligible iOS machine , you double - wardrobe the Home clit to reach the iOS task switcher , then swipe to the rightfulness until you see the AirPlay push next to the volume skidder . rap the button , choose the desired Apple TV , and , in the end , switch the Mirroring option to On .
Mac : Streaming video from iTunesMost Macs that can track down iTunes 10.2 or later back up streaming iTunes - host video to an Apple TV . Just click the AirPlay clit ( in the upper left box of the iTunes window , adjacent to the volume slider ) , and then choose the trust Apple television . Now any video you bet in iTunes will be shown on your TV instead of on your Mac ; if a video recording is already act in iTunes when you enable AirPlay , the video will stop over act in iTunes and , after a few - second delay , start play on your video .
Mac : Streaming video outside iTunesIf you want to swarm non - iTunes video — say , flick in formats that iTunes does n’t support , or videos you do n’t desire to add to your iTunes Library — you have two options : video mirroring ( see the next item ) or third - political party utilities . Beamer($15 ) is a undecomposed option for the latter . When you launch Beamer , it asks you to take which Apple TV to stream to ; then you knock off any supported video data file ( AVI , FLV , M4V , MKV , MOV , MP4 , WMV , or VOB files ) onto Beamer to start pullulate it .
In summation to letting you stream video that resides outside of iTunes , Beamer is also utile for well out video from older Macs that formally do n’t hold AirPlay for video . Beamer even streams caption and 5.1 sound recording .
Mac : mirror the Mac ’s displayAs with late iOS devices , you may mirror your Mac ’s entire showing to your TV over AirPlay , provided you ’re running OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion on a compatible Mac : a mid-2011 or newer iMac , Mac miniskirt , or MacBook Air ; or an early-2011 or newer MacBook Pro .
On any of these Macs , whenever OS 10 observe a compatible Apple TV on your local web , a new AirPlay menu appears in the menu bar , and an AirPlay Mirroring dad - up card appears in the Displays pane of System Preferences . From either fare , choose your Apple TV to start mirror ; while mirror , the icon for the systemwide AirPlay menu glows blue .
When mirroring your Mac ’s display to an Apple TV , you’re able to choose the resolving power of your display ‚ and , thus , of the mirrored signal sent to your boob tube . Choose Best For Display ( in System Preferences ) or This Mac ( from the systemwide AirPlay menu ) , and your Mac ’s presentation remains at its aboriginal resolution . This background will make for the near appearing on your Mac , though the mirrored range of a function may not occupy your TV screen . select Best For AirPlay ( in System Preferences ) or Apple TV ( from the AirPlay bill of fare ) , and your Mac ’s showing resolving power changes to a 16:9 proportion that good matches your television ’s native answer . This is the style to go when you want to have the sharpest image on your TV .
System Preferences also offers a Scaled choice , which allow you take any non - native resolution that ’s keep going by your Mac ’s display , though this option often result in a blurry figure on both your Mac and your television receiver .
Do n’t have a Mac that supports AirPlay mirroring ? AirParrot is a $ 10 utility that let you mirror an older Mac ’s cover to an Apple TV . On both older and new Macs , AirParrot also allow you to utilise your TV as a second show for your Mac .
Stopping the stream
Whichever eccentric of streaming you ’re doing , with whichever gimmick , you may block up streaming by using the same AirPlay control or menu through which you originally get your streaming : Just switch the selected output or name and address back to your iOS machine or Mac . When mirroring a Mac ’s display , just prefer Turn Off AirPlay Mirroring ( from the systemwide AirPlay menu ) or Off ( in System Preferences ) .
or else , if you ’re streaming from a particular app , step down that app normally stops streaming . at long last , when streaming to an Apple TV , you may usually stop well out or mirroring by pressing the Menu button on your Apple TV ’s remote .
Updated 5/29/2013 , 12:15pm to summate reference of AirPlay - fit out home - dramatic art receivers .
