AirPlay is an extremely convenient feature on most Apple devices that allows you to instantly send a picture, video, or audio over to another device with AirPlay functionality. What many users don’t know is that their Roku actually also has this AirPlay functionality. So how do you send media to your Roku through AirPlay?
To send various media to your Roku through AirPlay, you first need to turn the feature on in your Roku’s settings. Open the settings, select Apple AirPlay and HomeKit, and then turn AirPlay on. After this, hit your phone’s AirPlay icon on the media you want to send, and you can select your Roku.
After reading this, you may still have some other questions. For example, which Roku models are compatible with AirPlay in the first place? Let’s break down this topic so that you can easily connect your phone and your Roku.
What is Airplay?
AirPlay is a wireless technology developed by Apple Inc. that enables audio and video content to be streamed wirelessly between Apple devices, as well as to compatible third-party devices, such as speakers, televisions, and receivers.
AirPlay makes it easy for users to share and enjoy their favorite music, movies, TV shows, photos, and other media across a wide range of devices, without the need for cables or complicated setups.
AirPlay uses a combination of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology to establish a direct wireless connection between devices, allowing them to communicate with each other and stream media seamlessly.
Users can initiate an AirPlay session from their iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, or Mac, by selecting the AirPlay icon and choosing the target device they want to stream to.
AirPlay supports both audio-only and video streaming, and allows for high-quality playback with minimal latency and loss of fidelity. It also supports multi-room audio, enabling users to stream the same audio content to multiple devices simultaneously, or different content to different devices, depending on their preferences.
AirPlay has become an increasingly popular technology among Apple users, as it offers a convenient and flexible way to enjoy their media content across a wide range of devices, without the need for wires or complicated setups.
As more third-party manufacturers adopt AirPlay into their devices, the technology is poised to become an indispensable part of the Apple ecosystem.
Which Roku Models Are Compatible With AirPlay?
Currently, the Roku devices that are compatible with AirPlay 2 are the Roku Ultra, Roku Streambar Pro, Roku Streambar, Roku Smart Soundbar, and the Roku TV models released in 2020 or later.
These models have been updated to support AirPlay 2, which allows you to stream content from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac directly to your Roku device.
To use AirPlay with your Roku device, you'll need to ensure that both your Roku device and your Apple device are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
Once connected, you can easily mirror your screen or stream content from your favorite apps, such as Apple Music, Apple TV+, or YouTube to your Roku device using AirPlay.
It's important to note that earlier Roku models may not be compatible with AirPlay, as they lack the necessary hardware to support this feature. If you're unsure which Roku device you have or whether it supports AirPlay, you can check the Roku website for more information.
If you're looking to stream content from your Apple device to your Roku, you'll need to ensure that you have a compatible Roku device with AirPlay 2 support. With this feature, you can easily enjoy your favorite content on the big screen and take advantage of the high-quality streaming capabilities of your Roku device.
How Do I Enable AirPlay on My Roku?
Before you can start using AirPlay to stream content on your Roku, there are a couple of settings that you need to change. The first of these is to enable AirPlay entirely.
To enable AirPlay on your Roku, you first need to turn on the device and open the Settings. Here, you should see and select a category called “Apple AirPlay and HomeKit.” Next, select the setting that says “AirPlay” and make sure it is set to “On.”
If you want to be able to connect to your Roku through AirPlay even when the Roku is turned off, you’ll need to turn on a setting called Fast Start. This will make it so that your Roku is connected to the internet even when it is turned off. To do this, you just need to follow these steps:
- Press the home button on your Roku remote and select Settings.
- In the settings menu, select System and then Power.
- After this, select Fast TV start.
- Finally, check the box that says “Enable Fast TV Start.”
One important thing to note is that turning on this setting will cause your Roku to use more power than usual.
How to Use AirPlay
You can use AirPlay to connect your Roku to both your iPhone and your MacBook. However, the steps to do this will change slightly depending on what device you are trying to connect. Let’s go through both of them so that you can get your devices properly connected.
On an iPhone
The Roku’s AirPlay feature was actually built with iPhones specifically in mind. That means this process is actually extremely simple and is much easier than mirroring your phone’s screen entirely. To send something to your Roku device through AirPlay, you just need to follow these steps:
- Begin by opening either a video, song, podcast, or photo that you would like to send.
- Once the media is open on your phone, select the AirPlay icon (it looks like a screen with a triangle pointing at it) and a list of available devices should appear.
- Pick your Roku device from the list.
After this, your media should begin playing on your TV through your Roku. While this is going on, you can use your phone to start and stop the media, and even fast forward and rewind.
Once you are done, just press the home button on your Roku remote and the connection will be terminated.
On a MacBook
Connecting a MacBook to your Roku through AirPlay is actually very similar to connecting an iPhone. Thankfully, this means that the process is extremely easy. To do this, just follow these steps:
- Begin by opening either a video, song, podcast, or photo on your MacBook that you would like to send.
- Once the media is open on your computer, select the AirPlay icon (it looks like a screen with a triangle pointing at it) and a list of available devices should appear.
- Pick the name of your Roku device from the list.
After this, your media should begin playing on your TV through your Roku. While this is going on, you can use your MacBook to start and stop the media, and even fast forward and rewind. Just like with your phone, once you are done, just press the home button on your Roku remote and the connection will be terminated.
