How to use Airplay on Mac computer

Apple AirPlay has been developed to transmit audio, video, documents, photos, and other files quickly and easily among Apple devices. When you enable AirPlay on your device, you can broadcast the screen of your iPhone, iPad, iPod or Mac directly to Apple TV or smart TV in real-time. Although AirPlay has great potential, it is not that popular yet. The reason is partly that not many users are familiar with its capability. In this article, we will tell you more about this unique technology and how to use AirPlay.

How does AirPlay work?

The first thing you should know is that AirPlay is not Bluetooth, even though Airplay can also send audio streams through the traditional local network. While Bluetooth compresses the audio stream transmission, AirPlay maintains the file’s original quality. In addition, while Bluetooth’s operating range is limited to 30 meters, AirPlay’s range can be as wide as your Wi-Fi network. And, finally, Bluetooth can interact with only one device at a time, while AirPlay is able to send signals to several receivers at the same time.

All these advantages make AirPlay an ideal choice to create a home multimedia system. There are some analogs, but they require special devices for streaming or expensive receivers that support AirPlay technology. In short, Apple AirPlay makes it easy to view images, watch movies, enjoy your favorite games, or listen to music directly from your TV or Mac.

How to turn on AirPlay

Firstly, you should know which devices are capable of working with the AirPlay system:
Devices from which you can broadcast using AirPlay:

  • iPad 2 and higher versions
  • iPhone 4S and higher models
  • iPod touch
  • Mac or MacBook
  • Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD

Devices to which you can broadcast using AirPlay:

  • HomePod
  • Apple TV 4K, Apple TV HD, and Apple TV second or third generation
  • Speakers connected to the Audio Out port on AirPort Express or those that indicate that they work with Apple AirPlay

Devices from which you can broadcast audio using AirPlay 2:

  • iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 11.4 or later
  • Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD with tvOS 11.4 or later2
  • HomePod with iOS 11.4 or later
  • Mac with iTunes 12.8 or later

Devices from which you can broadcast video using AirPlay 2:

  • iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iOS 12.2 or later
  • Mac with macOS 10.14.5 or later

Devices to which you can broadcast using AirPlay 2:

  • Apple TV 4K, Apple TV HD with tvOS 11.4 or later
  • HomePod with iOS 11.4 or later
  • Speakers connected to the Audio Out port on AirPort Express 802.11n (second Generation) with the latest firmware update
  • AirPlay 2-compatible smart TVs with the label “Works with Apple AirPlay”
  • Speakers and receivers with the label “Works with Apple AirPlay”

Before you enable AirPlay on these devices, make sure they are all connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Now you are ready to proceed to the next step.