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Stay with us until the end of the article to learn more about how to Fix ‘Missing AirPlay Icon’ issue on Mac, iPhone and iPad. Apple AirPlay is its own wireless streaming technology that lets devices like iOS, MacOS, Apple TV, and other Apple hardware send audio and video content to other compatible devices. It can show anything on a big screen from any Apple device. Mac users can share music, photos, and videos by using AirPlay.
It can even mirror the whole screen so you can make big presentations or just share content on a bigger screen. The Control Center on Apple devices makes it easy to use AirPlay (In Control Center & Menu Bar). Some users can’t use this feature because their iPhone or Mac doesn’t have the Airplay icon. If you ran into the same problem, the answer in this article would help you. Here are seven ways how to Fix ‘Missing AirPlay Icon’ issue on Mac, iPhone and iPad.
What is AirPlay?
AirPlay is a wireless media streaming and mirroring technology that only Apple has built in. AirPlay lets you stream audio, video, images, and whatever is on your screen between Apple devices, speakers that support AirPlay, and other devices that are compatible. AirPlay makes it possible for two or more devices that are compatible to talk to each other using Apple’s streaming protocol.
But not all devices can use AirPlay, so for media casting to work, both devices must be able to use AirPlay. On the one hand, this direct peer-to-peer connection lets supported devices share media without using a Wi-Fi network with internet access. AirPlay, on the other hand, uses Bluetooth to connect the devices that are sending and receiving data, but it does not use Bluetooth to send data between them.
What are the causes of the missing AirPlay icon issue?
- Network Connectivity Issues: If your device is not connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the AirPlay-enabled device, the icon may not appear.
- Device Compatibility: Not all devices are compatible with AirPlay. Both the sender (your device) and the receiver (AirPlay-enabled device like Apple TV) need to support AirPlay.
- Software or Firmware Issues: Outdated software or firmware on either your device or the AirPlay-enabled device can lead to compatibility problems.
- Network Firewall or Router Settings: Network settings or firewalls might block the communication needed for AirPlay.
- Bluetooth Interference: Bluetooth devices can interfere with AirPlay functionality, causing the icon not to show up.
- AirPlay Restrictions: If AirPlay has been restricted in your device’s settings, you won’t see the icon.
- Temporary Glitches: Sometimes, temporary glitches in software can cause the AirPlay icon to disappear.
Fix ‘Missing AirPlay Icon’ issue on Mac, iPhone and iPad
Restart your Device
On iPhone/iPad
- Press and hold the Power button and any of the volume rockers for a few seconds.
- Slide the power switch to turn your device off.
- Wait 60 seconds, and then turn your iPhone back on.
On Mac
- Menubar of Mac, click on Apple logo.
- Given list to choose from.
- Use drop-down menu to find “Restart” option and click.
Update Software on Apple Devices
On iPhone/iPad
- Click on Settings.
- Select the “General” option.
- Look for and click on “Software Updates.”
- Your system will check to see if there are any new updates. If it says there is an update, you need to download it and put it on your iPhone or iPad.
On Mac
- Mac’s home screen, click Apple logo.
- Choose option “About this Mac.”
- Mac will look for software updates and install them if any are available.
- Check box next to Automatically to make sure Mac is always up-to-date.
Enable the AirPlay Indicator in the Status Bar
On Mac
- Click the Apple icon at the top of the menu bar.
- Go to System Preferences and click on the Dock & Menu Bar option.
- Choose the option to mirror the screen on the left.
- Check the box next to the option “Show in the menu bar.”
On iPhone/iPad
- iPhone or iPad: Open Settings app.
- Select “General.”
- Find AirPlay & Handoff and tap it.
- Tap “Automatically AirPlay to TVs,” and then choose “Automatic” from the menu that appears.
Troubleshoot WiFi Connectivity
- Ensure Apple and AirPlay-compatible devices are connected to stable WiFi network.
- Turn off Wi-Fi on Apple device, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.
- Turn WiFi router on again. Unplug power cord and wired connections from router. Wait 20 to 60 seconds, then turn it back on.
- Check WiFi router’s firmware. After software update, router’s firmware settings may revert. Allow Apple devices to stream content wirelessly.
- Turn off other WiFi sources to prevent automatic connections.
Conclusion
AirPlay is a feature that comes with the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. It lets you stream videos, photos, and music from your iOS device or Mac to your Apple TV or other AirPlay-enabled devices. Also, you can use AirPlay Mirroring to show the whole screen of your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac on your Apple TV in real time. This makes using Apple products on a big screen in high definition even more fun.
Questions and Answers
Make sure that all of your devices that can work with AirPlay are on and close to each other. Make sure that the software on all of the devices is up to date and that they are all on the same Wi-Fi network. Start up the devices you want to use with AirPlay or screen mirroring.
If you open the app or a video in the app and see an AirPlay button that looks like a rectangle with an arrow pointing up at the bottom, tap on that to use AirPlay. For example, in the bottom right corner of the video in the YouTube app for iPad, there is an AirPlay button.
Screen mirroring will show what’s on your iPhone’s screen on your TV, so you can see everything you do on your phone on the big screen. When you use AirPlay, you can send media from your phone to your TV without showing what’s on your phone’s screen.
This means that if you want to use AirPlay, you must have a device made by Apple. Users of Android, BlackBerry, Amazon, Windows, and other platforms can’t use this service. Devices with AirPlay-enabled apps have a “two-tap” system that sends local content to the Apple TV with just two taps.