A surge in interest for “airplay to tv” searches reflects growing user demand for seamless streaming from Apple devices to television screens. As of late January 2026, Apple continues supporting AirPlay across iPhones, iPads, and Macs for mirroring and streaming to compatible TVs. Key updates include tvOS 18’s improvements in audio clarity and Spatial Audio via AirPlay (apple.com). Yet, security risks persist—experts warn of the “AirBorne” vulnerabilities affecting third-party AirPlay-enabled devices (wired.com). Troubleshooting remains common, with users frequently wrestling with connectivity issues across devices (reddit.com).
Why This Matters Now: The Surge in “airplay to tv”
Use of AirPlay continues rising as more users want to cast content from their iPhones, iPads, and Macs to larger screens. With tvOS 18 improving streaming quality and audio via features like Enhance Dialogue and Spatial Audio, the demand for reliable “airplay to tv” functionality has intensified (apple.com). However, the emergence of AirBorne security flaws reminds users that convenience must be balanced with safety—especially when third-party devices lag behind in security updates (wired.com).
How to Stream or Mirror to Your TV
Devices must be on the same Wi‑Fi network to connect. From iPhone or iPad, open Control Center, tap the AirPlay or Screen Mirroring icon, and select your TV (support.apple.com). Within video apps, tap the AirPlay button and choose the target device (support.apple.com).
From a Mac, use the Control Center or AirPlay icon in the menu bar to start mirroring or streaming (igeeksblog.com).
tvOS 18 Enhancements: Better Sound and Smarter Streaming
tvOS 18 delivers tangible improvements to AirPlay experience:
- Enhance Dialogue brings machine‑learning‑powered audio clarity across built‑in TV speakers, HomePods, and Bluetooth devices (apple.com).
- Spatial Audio support via AirPlay enables immersive sound, including Dolby Atmos, when streaming audio to compatible speakers (apple.com).
These updates directly impact AirPlay usage by elevating audio quality and user convenience.
Security Spotlight: The AirBorne Vulnerabilities
Security researchers from Oligo have identified 23 AirPlay-related vulnerabilities dubbed “AirBorne.” These flaws pose risks when attackers are on the same Wi‑Fi network as AirPlay-enabled devices. Apple has issued patches for its own hardware, but many third-party devices remain vulnerable due to delayed or absent updates (wired.com).
“Because AirPlay is supported in such a wide variety of devices, there are a lot that will take years to patch—or they will never be patched,” warned Gal Elbaz, CTO and co‑founder of Oligo (nypost.com).
Common Frictions: Troubleshooting Tips
Many users report issues with AirPlay connectivity. Common fixes include:
- Toggling AirPlay settings or restarting devices (reddit.com).
- Ensuring both devices use the same Wi‑Fi network and adjusting privacy settings like Local Network permissions (reddit.com).
- On Macs, enabling mirroring options in Displays prefs can improve recognition of Apple TVs (reddit.com).
Troubleshooting steps differ by device but often resolve connection hiccups.
What’s Next in the AirPlay Ecosystem
Looking ahead, Apple is laying groundwork for tvOS 26, which brings interface unification, enhanced AirPlay speaker support, and broader feature availability across Apple TV models (theverge.com). For now, monitoring tvOS updates and installing patches remains critical.
Key Takeaways
- AirPlay streaming and mirroring remain widely used for casting content from Apple devices to TVs.
- tvOS 18 enhances experience with audio upgrades like Spatial Audio and Enhance Dialogue.
- Major security flaws (AirBorne) affect third-party AirPlay devices, urging caution and updates.
- Troubleshooting remains necessary; network settings and UI toggles often resolve issues.
- Future updates like tvOS 26 promise expanded capabilities and improved AirPlay functionality.
Users keen on reliable “airplay to tv” performance should stay alert to system updates, maintain device security, and apply best practices when casting content.
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