Step 1: Check the receiver and network
Switch the television to the HDMI input used by the Apple TV hardware and wake the receiver. Connect the iPhone and receiver to the same home network for this workflow. If you have only the Apple TV app on a smart TV, check that television’s separate AirPlay support instead.
Apple documents screen mirroring in its Apple TV AirPlay guide. Sharing an Apple TV subscription is not what establishes this connection. Keep the remote nearby for receiver settings or any requested authorisation.
Step 2: Prepare your local file in Safari
Open Cast to Your TV on the iPhone, select one file and wait while it is inspected. Video preparation depends on the browser’s media APIs and the file’s codecs. A filename ending in MKV or MOV is not enough to guarantee playable tracks.
The preparation stays on the phone. Compatible large videos can use incremental reading; conversion and subtitle burn-in have separate limits. If needed, choose an audio track or quality through the gear menu and a caption through Subtitles. See file-format support and large videos before starting a long film.
Step 3: Choose Apple TV and press Play
- Tap the selected file’s Screen mirroring button.
- Open Control Centre → Screen Mirroring and choose your Apple TV receiver.
- Complete any passcode request shown by the system.
- Return to Safari and tap Play on this iPhone.
Keep the player visible and the phone unlocked. The mirrored display can include controls and notifications, so review what is on screen before sharing. The website controls local playback but cannot inspect the system’s receiver selection or confirm that your TV has sound.
Screen Mirroring and direct AirPlay are different
| Method | Use in this guide | Picture, audio and hardware |
|---|---|---|
| AirPlay Screen Mirroring | Shares this website’s local player display | Quality and delay depend on devices; needs the Apple TV receiver |
| An app’s AirPlay video control | A different playback path, when the source app supports it | Do not assume the mirrored player uses this transport |
| Google Cast | Not this website’s iPhone connection | Apple TV hardware is not a Google Cast receiver |
Even with an Apple TV 4K, a 4K film does not promise lossless mirroring, HDR passthrough or a fixed audio delay. Choose Original where compatible, then judge the picture on your actual television.
Troubleshooting, privacy and stopping
- Receiver missing: confirm it is awake and reachable. Guest Wi-Fi or client isolation may block devices; 2.4 GHz versus 5 GHz alone does not establish a fault. Temporarily test without a VPN that filters local traffic.
- Receiving restricted: follow Apple’s AirPlay checks, including restrictions in Home settings where applicable. Keep access controls appropriate for your household.
- Protected video black: use the streaming provider’s supported Apple TV app if it restricts mirroring. This site does not unlock DRM-protected content.
For a stopped picture, check the Safari player’s Play state before reconnecting. End the connection using Control Centre → Screen Mirroring → Stop Mirroring; pausing the website alone does not disconnect the receiver. The file is not uploaded to our service. Explore other device routes, including Roku AirPlay and compatible LG TVs, or compare them with the compatibility checker.
Ready when you are
Start with your file.
Open the player, choose one file, then use the casting option for your device. Any preparation stays on your device.
Open Cast to Your TV