AirPlay is, without a doubt, one of the features that makes the Apple ecosystem shine, as it allows you to seamlessly conduct the process of sharing content between devices, whether it’s photos, videos, or music, in a much more convenient and quick way than any other alternative.
That being said, just as with any technology, AirPlay is not entirely free of problems either, and as a result, technical issues can sometimes hinder the otherwise fantastic experience that it offers, requiring some troubleshooting before it’s working as intended again.
Today, our topic will be one particular problem that you can come across when using AirPlay to share a video where you can hear the audio through the device that you’re streaming the content to, but the video is nowhere to be seen.
So, what should you do if AirPlay only plays audio and doesn’t show video?
Below, you can find the solutions we recommend applying to fix the issue of AirPlay only playing audio without any video showing on the screen:
- Disconnect and reconnect AirPlay.
- Disconnect both devices you’re using for AirPlay from the wireless network and reconnect.
- Restart both of the devices you’re using for AirPlay.
- Update both devices to the newest version of the operating system.
- Utilize a different content source.
In the next section, we will have a more detailed troubleshooting guide dedicated to fixing the issue of AirPlay playing audio without any video, which we recommend following to resolve the problem quickly and efficiently.
How to Fix the Issue of AirPlay Only Playing Audio?
It can definitely be frustrating to find yourself in a situation where you can hear the audio coming from the device that you have shared a video to with AirPlay, but the video is nowhere to be found, especially considering that there won’t be any error message to tell you what exactly is wrong.
Below, you can find sub-sections that correspond to the solutions we recommend applying when AirPlay only plays audio despite you sharing a video, in which we will be going through the process of using each solution in detail and explaining how the fix can be helpful to resolve the problem.
Disconnect and Reconnect AirPlay
Disconnecting and reconnecting AirPlay on the devices that you’re experiencing the problem on is a simple solution that can help to resolve the issue you’re facing in some cases, as this will cause the AirPlay connection to be disconnected and re-established, fixing minor bugs in the process.
To disconnect the AirPlay connection, all you will need to do is to navigate to the AirPlay menu on the device you’re sharing the video from and choose the device itself from the list that appears.
For instance, if you’re sharing the video from your iPhone, you will need to open up the Control Center, press the AirPlay icon, and choose the iPhone entry that appears at the top of the list to remove the connection.
Once AirPlay is disconnected from the target device, you can again navigate to the AirPlay menu on the device you’re sharing the video from and choose the target device, just as you usually would.
Disconnect Both AirPlay Devices from the Wireless Network and Reconnect
As AirPlay primarily uses the wireless network that the devices are connected to for the purposes of transmitting the required data, it’s vital for both of the devices to have a stable connection to your home wireless network with a strong signal.
In most cases, disconnecting both devices from the wireless network and reconnecting them can resolve connectivity problems that can cause AirPlay not to operate as intended, as this process will cause the connection to be reset and re-established.
While it shouldn’t always be necessary, forgetting the home network and setting the connection up again can also be helpful in resolving connectivity problems, which is something we also recommend trying, especially considering that it’s a straightforward process.
Finally, when reconnecting the devices to the wireless network, we recommend checking the signal levels and ensuring that both devices are receiving a reliable signal to rule out the possibility of the issue stemming from a weak connection.
Restart Both AirPlay Devices
In some cases, solving a technical issue you’re facing can be as simple as restarting the affected devices, and the situation is no different in the case of AirPlay playing audio but not showing the video on the target device.
While the exact process of restarting varies across devices, the main idea behind this solution is to ensure that the device you’re restarting is fully powered off and powered back on, which will cause the AirPlay-related services of your devices to be reinitialized.
For instance, in the case of an iPhone, you will need to power the iPhone off completely by holding the Power button and sliding to power off, and in the case of a Mac, you will need to use the Shut Down option in the Apple menu.
Update Both AirPlay Devices to the Newest Version of the Operating System
Software updates are integral to ensure that all the features of your devices work as intended, as glitches and bugs that exist on one version of the operating system will most likely be fixed by Apple in the next one.
We highly recommend turning the automatic updates feature on to allow your devices to receive the latest software updates whenever available, which will guarantee that your devices always run on the newest operating system without the need for any manual input.
As these automatic updates will happen overnight while you’re not actively using your device, you won’t have to worry about your usage being interrupted by them either.
Utilize a Different Content Source
When all else fails, it’s time to put into consideration that the content source can be the problem rather than AirPlay itself, as some content providers (such as Netflix) don’t allow their content to be shared with AirPlay or similar features that enable casting from one device to another.
Our recommendation to rule out the possibility of the content source being the problem would be to AirPlay content from a source guaranteed not to have compatibility issues with AirPlay, such as YouTube, and see whether the problem persists.
If you’re able to successfully AirPlay a YouTube video from one device to the other, with both the video and the audio working as intended on the target device, you will need to find an alternative source for the content you were initially planning on AirPlaying, as it would mean that AirPlay is not supported for your intended source.
On the other hand, if you also ended up experiencing the same issue on YouTube, with the target AirPlay device only playing the audio but not the video, we recommend contacting Apple Support and explaining all the solutions you have tried so far.
Conclusion
While experiencing issues with AirPlay can definitely be frustrating, especially considering that the primary purpose of using AirPlay is to share media in a quick and convenient way, these issues can often be resolved with simple troubleshooting steps.
Here is a quick summary of the solutions we recommend utilizing to fix the issue of AirPlay only playing audio, which should restore video back to the screen:
- Disconnect and reconnect AirPlay to refresh the connection and resolve minor bugs.
- Disconnect both devices from the wireless network and reconnect them to resolve minor connectivity issues that can prevent AirPlay from working as intended.
- Restart both devices to reinitialize the AirPlay service.
- Update both devices to the latest operating system version to ensure they have access to the latest bug fixes.
- Utilize a different content source that allows the content to be shared through AirPlay.
In most cases, the solutions we have mentioned above should get your AirPlay to work as intended once again, allowing you to enjoy the content you have been planning to watch on any AirPlay-supported device of your choice.
Mark’s first real encounter with tech was when he had to format his computer with Windows 98 around the age of 6 to quickly get back to playing Heroes of Might and Magic III without having to send the computer in for a repair, which he strangely found to be rather enjoyable since it was a new challenge for him at the time.
While he has always been particularly interested in the software side of things, which eventually led to him becoming a software developer, he enjoys keeping up with the advancements in consumer electronics and smart home technology when he’s not busy coding.