Airplay functionality what is

In the latter half of , AirTunes was rebranded as AirPlay. The update allowed users to stream audio, video, and images to other Apple devices. Apple added screen mirroring in First announced in June of , AirPlay 2 had been slated to release alongside part of the iOS 11 launch in September of However, due to setbacks during development, it would not be released until June of It included support for multi-room audio built into the operating system.

Previously, iOS could only stream music to one speaker, while multi-speaker support was limited to macOS. It also integrated with HomeKit for the first time, allowing Siri to be used to play music on a specific speaker.

The update also included a shared "Up Next" option for collaborative playlists while listening with friends. Third-party apps were also able to tap into multi-room audio with a new API. Spotify backtracks, AirPlay 2 coming after all. Spotify abandons AirPlay 2 support [u]. What Apple didn't say about macOS Monterey.

Toggle navigation. AAPL: Apple A-Z » Apple Services. Let's break it down. AirPlay 2 has a number of different uses. You can use it to mirror an iPhone or Mac on another screen great for sharing video and pictures ; you can stream video from a compatible app to a TV Netflix, Hulu etc ; and you can stream audio to speakers.

Previously AirPlay was a one-to-one protocol, from your phone to a compatible speaker, AV receiver or other piece of gear. While this made it comparable to Bluetooth audio streaming, AirPlay also generally sounded better, thanks to the wider bandwidth that Wi-Fi provides.

From its inception Apple has maintained that AirPlay 2 would be "built throughout iOS," enabling users to play music from the Apple Music app as well as third-party apps. Not only that, but making music playback possible from wherever you are in the house. AirPlay 2 adds the ability to stream music to multiple audio devices all at the same time. You could use it to call up a song on your iPhone and play it in multiple rooms simultaneously, or pick and choose which AirPlay speaker to stream to.

Yep, AirPlay can finally party. Cybersecurity Mobile Policy Privacy Scooters. Phones Laptops Headphones Cameras. Tablets Smartwatches Speakers Drones. Accessories Buying Guides How-tos Deals. Health Energy Environment. YouTube Instagram Adobe. Kickstarter Tumblr Art Club. Film TV Games. Fortnite Game of Thrones Books. How to Connect AirPlay Devices " ". Click the AirPlay icon to select which devices you want to receive the signal.

You can use an Apple AirPort Express, a small portable wireless router designed to interconnect all your Apple devices whether or not you have an Internet connection. AirPort needs no additional equipment or setup in order to use AirPlay, and you can connect a stereo directly to the AirPort to use as either the source or receiver for an AirPlay audio stream.

Without AirPort Express, you can use an existing home network setup, such as a wireless router. If you already use a router to share a single Internet service among multiple computers in your home, then all you need to do is connect each AirPlay-enabled device to that same network. For more about setting up your home network, see our article How Home Networking Works. Image courtesy of Apple, Inc. When used with Apple TV, your Apple mobile device becomes a hand-held remote control for sharing music, movies and photos on your TV.

Even while streaming content from it, you can keep using your Apple mobile device for other things like checking e-mail, updating your Facebook status or playing "Angry Birds.

When you've enabled AirPlay on each of your devices, the system works without any complicated configuring. Multiple receivers streaming from the same application all play the same content. They cannot branch off to access separate content from that same source.

Only one app can use AirPlay at a time. Video sharing is only available to an Apple TV device. An Apple TV must have an Internet connection in order to play copy-protected video content.

WiFi network connections outperform Bluetooth connections, though the WiFi stream does tend to drop out occasionally while it's playing. Despite the efforts of other manufacturers to produce AirPlay-enabled devices, it's still primarily an Apple-only feature. First, ensure the devices you're using are connected to the same local network.

On a PC, open iTunes or the website of the app you want to stream from. If you're using an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, open the compatible app you want to use and find the video you want to stream. What devices can you AirPlay to? Which smart TVs are AirPlay 2 compatible? Check out this full list from Apple. Where do I find AirPlay on my iPhone?