How to use AirPlay on Roku to screen mirror your iPhone, iPad, or Mac

July 2024 · 7 minute read
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  • How to enable AirPlay on Roku
  • Roku models that support AirPlay
  • How to AirPlay from an iPhone or iPad to Roku
  • How to screen mirror from an iPhone or iPad to Roku
  • How to AirPlay or screen mirror from Mac to Roku
  • Why is AirPlay on Roku not working?
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    AirPlay, a useful casting feature on Apple products, allows you to stream media from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to many different Roku models. That means you can display videos, photos, and other media on your TV. 

    You can AirPlay content to your Roku from directly within apps and websites — like Hulu or HBO Max — on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Or, you can mirror your entire screen to your Roku from the Control Center on your iPhone or iPad, or from the menu bar on your Mac. 

    Here's how to do it all.

    How to enable AirPlay on Roku

    Keep in mind that this section applies to streaming content through Airplay. (The next section addresses screen mirroring via Airplay.)

    Roku models that support AirPlay

    Not all Roku models will support the AirPlay function. For reference, here are the ones that do:

    The following devices must be running Roku OS 9.4 or higher

    The following devices must be running Roku OS 10.0 or higher

    Quick tip: To check what Roku model you have, go to Settings from the Roku home screen, then select System and then About.

    For this to work, you'll also need an Apple device that supports AirPlay, which is any iPhone, iPad, or iTouch running iOS 12.3 or later, or any Mac computer running MacOS Mojave 10.14.5 or later.

    How to AirPlay from an iPhone or iPad to Roku

    On your iPhone or iPad, find the song, video, photo, podcast, or other media you'd like to stream to your TV. 

    The next step changes depending on what app you're trying to stream from. Here are some of the most common examples:

    From Spotify 

    1. Tap Devices, located in the bottom-left corner of the screen.

    Tap Devices. Devon Delfino

    2. In the Listening On menu, tap AirPlay or Bluetooth.

    Tap AirPlay or Bluetooth. Devon Delfino

    3. Tap the name of your Roku TV.

    Select the name of your TV. Devon Delfino

    From the Apple Music app

    1. Tap the AirPlay button at the bottom-center of the screen (the icon looks like three concentric circles with a triangle underneath).

    Tap the AirPlay button. Devon Delfino

    2. Tap the name of your device.

    From the Photos app

    1. Tap the Share button, located in the bottom-left corner.

    2. Scroll down on the Share menu until you see AirPlay, and tap it.

    Tap AirPlay. Devon Delfino

    3. Tap the name of your TV in the pop-up.

    From Hulu, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, and other mobile streaming apps

    1. On the mobile app, begin playing the video you want to watch.

    2. Tap the AirPlay icon at the top of the video screen (the icon looks like a square with a triangle underneath it).

    Tap the AirPlay icon. Devon Delfino

    3. In the pop-up, select your Roku device from the list of compatible AirPlay devices.

    How to screen mirror from an iPhone or iPad to Roku

    You can also mirror your iPhone to a Roku device via the Roku app. This is accessed through  the Control Center on your device.

    1. Open the Control Center on your device. On most recent devices, the Control Center can be accessed by swiping down from the upper-right corner of your home screen or lock screen. On older devices (those without a home button), access the Control Center by swiping up from the bottom of the home screen or lock screen.

    2. Tap Screen Mirroring in the Control Center. 

    Tap the Screen Mirroring option. Devon Delfino

    3. In the pop-up, select the name of your Roku device.

    An AirPlay passcode may appear on your Roku screen — if so, enter the code in the pop-up on your iPhone or iPad.

    4. Your entire iPhone or iPad screen should then begin mirroring onto your Roku.

    How to AirPlay or screen mirror from Mac to Roku

    Similarly to the previous section, you can also screen mirror from your Mac to a Roku device

    1. Make sure the AirPlay option is turned on on your Mac computer.

    2. If you don't see the AirPlay icon (a square with a triangle popping out of it) in the menu bar at the top of your screen, open System Preferences and select Displays.

    3. At the bottom of the Displays page, check the box next to Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available.

    Make sure the box next to Show mirroring options in the menu bar when available is checked. Devon Delfino

    4. Once the AirPlay option is turned on and you're in range of your Roku TV, you can then click the AirPlay button in the menu bar at the top of your screen and select your Roku device from the list.

    5. An AirPlay passcode may appear on your Roku screen — if so, enter the code in the pop-up on your Mac.

    6. Your entire Mac screen should then begin mirroring onto your Roku.

    Why is AirPlay on Roku not working?

    There are several reasons why AirPlay may not be working for you. For example, your device might be out of date, your internet connection is too slow, or your devices might not be connected to the same WiFi signal.

    Here are a few tips to help you troubleshoot the issue:

    Devon Delfino is a Brooklyn-based freelance journalist specializing in personal finance, culture, politics, and identity. Her work has been featured in publications such as The Los Angeles Times, Teen Vogue, Business Insider, and CNBC. Follow her on Twitter at @devondelfino. Read more Read less Freelance author Melanie Weir is a freelance author for Insider, mainly focusing on the Tech Reference section, but occasionally contributing to Lifestyle and Entertainment topics as well. She is also a freelance writer for ScreenRant, and is the Lead Weekend News Editor at TheThings.com. In her spare time she writes plays for both stage and screen. She can be reached at melanie.weir1008@gmail.com, or through LinkedIn. Read more Read less

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