AirPlay lets you wirelessly stream or mirror content from your Apple devices to your LG TV. It provides an easy way to view photos, videos, music, games, and more on your big screen. However, sometimes AirPlay may stop working properly on LG TVs, leading to issues like content not showing up or frequent disconnections. In this guide, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of troubleshooting and fixing AirPlay not working problems on your LG smart TV.
Some Prerequisites Before Actual Fixing Steps
1. Make Sure Your LG TV Supports AirPlay
Most modern LG TVs have built-in support for AirPlay, but some older models may not. Refer to your TV’s specifications or manual to confirm.
AirPlay 2 capability was only introduced to LG TVs starting in 2018. Specifically, the following LG TV models are guaranteed to work with AirPlay as per the official Apple compatibility list:
- LG FHD (2022, 2023)
- LG Life Style (2021, 2022, 2023)
- LG Micro LED (2022, 2023)
- LG NanoCell 4K (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
- LG NanoCell 8K (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)
- LG OLED 4K (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
- LG OLED 8K (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
- LG QNED 4K (2021, 2022, 2023)
- LG QNED 8K (2021, 2022, 2023)
- LG UHD (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
For recent LG TV models not in the list above, double-check whether the AirPlay option appears in your TV settings. If AirPlay does not show up at all, your TV likely does not have official support.
2. Enable AirPlay on your LG TV Settings
Next, you must ensure AirPlay is enabled on your compatible LG TV. AirPlay may have gotten disabled, so you must turn it back on.
Follow these steps:
- Press the Home button on your LG TV remote and select the Home Dashboard icon.
- In the Home Dashboard menu, scroll down and select the “AirPlay and HomeKit” option.
- Turn on AirPlay support using the toggle switch in the next Settings screen.
Once enabled, your LG TV name should now appear as an available AirPlay device on your iPhone/iPad/Mac.
3. Connectivity of Network
Your Apple device (iPhone, iPad, or Mac) should be on the same wireless network as your LG TV. For AirPlay to work seamlessly, all devices should be connected to the same WiFi router or extender.
4. Software Updates
Keep your TV and Apple device updated with the latest software updates available. Older software versions could sometimes be the culprit behind AirPlay issues.
What to Do if AirPlay is Not Working on LG TV?
Step 1 – Restart Your Devices
As silly as it may sound, restarting all devices involved is one of the simplest but most effective troubleshooting steps. Here’s what you need to do:
- First, restart your LG TV by pressing and holding the power button on your remote and choosing the Restart option.
- Restart your iPhone/iPad from Settings > General > Shut Down. Wait for 30 seconds before powering back on.
- For Mac users, go to the Apple Menu > Restart to reboot your machine.
After the restart, reopen the AirPlay-enabled apps and try casting content to your TV again. Many minor glitches are automatically resolved with a fresh restart.
Step 2 – Check if Other Devices Can AirPlay
Determine if the problem is with your Apple device or a general AirPlay issue with your LG TV. If you have multiple Apple devices at home, you can easily do that by trying to cast content from another iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
- If other devices can connect over AirPlay without issues, it indicates your original device was the problematic one. Move over to fixing device-specific problems in Step 4.
- However, if other devices also face the same AirPlay problems, it confirms some issue with your LG TV needs addressing.
Step 3 – Troubleshoot Network Connectivity
Network issues are the most common reasons behind AirPlay difficulties. Both your TV and Apple devices need steady WiFi access for smooth streaming. Some ways to troubleshoot include:
- Reset Network Settings
Go to Settings > General > Reset on your iPhone/iPad. Choose Reset Network Settings to give your device a clean slate. Configure WiFi from scratch again.
- Change WiFi Channel
There could be interference if too many home devices use the same WiFi channel. Log into your router admin console and try changing the channel manually. Monitor if that helps resolve AirPlay problems.
- Update Router Firmware
Check your router manufacturer’s website and update to the latest firmware if available. Keeping the software updated fixes security issues and boosts performance.
- Move Devices Closer
For the best AirPlay reception, ensure your room setup meets official guidelines. Keep the iPhone/iPad within 30 feet and without more than 2 walls between them and the LG TV.
If network connectivity checks out fine but issues persist, we can isolate the problem to your Apple device.
Step 4 – Identify & Fix Device-Specific Issues
The next step involves repairing any iPhone, iPad, or Mac-related AirPlay problems:
- Force Close and Reopen Apps
Double tap the Home button and swipe up on the app preview to force close any AirPlay-enabled apps like Photos, YouTube, or Safari. Reopen and retry casting content.
- Disable and Reenable AirPlay
Swipe open Control Center on your iOS device or Menu Bar on Mac > Tap the AirPlay icon > Choose an alternative like TV Speaker > Re-enable AirPlay and select your LG TV.
- Check App Permissions
Ensure essential permissions like WiFi and Bluetooth are enabled for media apps like Photos or streaming platforms like Netflix. Disable battery-saver mode for uninterrupted streaming.
- Update Apps & iOS/iPadOS/macOS
Keep first- and third-party apps updated while running the latest operating system version. Outdated apps/OS could sometimes corrupt AirPlay components.
- Factory Reset as Last Resort
Back up your device and perform a factory reset if nothing else helps. Wipe your device completely clean and test AirPlay again from scratch.
These steps will help troubleshoot most problems arising from your iPhone, iPad, or Macbook itself. The issue may lie with your LG TV if they don’t work.
Step 5 – Troubleshoot LG TV-Specific Problems
There can also be some LG TV-specific problems inhibiting AirPlay streaming. Let’s go through options to fix those:
- Reboot WiFi Card
Press Settings on your LG TV remote > All Settings > Support > Signal Test > WiFi Test to reboot just the internet connectivity components of your TV.
- LG TV Software Update
Navigate to Settings > All Settings > General > About This TV > CHECK FOR UPDATE to manually check and install the latest LG webOS update, which may contain AirPlay bug fixes.
- Reset TV to Factory Settings
Back up your custom settings before initiating. On your remote press Settings > All Settings > General > Reset to Factory > continue through the prompts to erase all stored data and reset your LG TV as if brand new. Reconfigure AirPlay from scratch.
- Contact LG Support
If you have persistently faced AirPlay disconnections only on your LG TV, your set may need inspection even after trying everything. Contact LG support online or call the toll-free helpline number for further troubleshooting or service requests.
We are nearing the final steps of this troubleshooting guide. If AirPlay works easily after the TV reboot but starts acting up after a period of time, there may be some settings still causing conflicts.
Step 6 – Resolve AirPlay Settings Conflicts
Prevent conflicts with these last troubleshooting settings tweaks on your LG smart TV:
- Set AirPlay Audio Mode to Auto
Navigate to Settings > Sound > Additional Settings > AirPlay Audio Mode and select Auto instead of Passthrough. This prevents audio codec-related conflicts.
- Disable Surround Sound Modes
Sound modes like surround sound and equalizers can sometimes disrupt the AirPlay audio stream. Turn off all audio enhancements for conflict-free streaming.
- Set Screensaver to Off
Any screensaver kicking in on top of your AirPlay streaming can cause playback interruptions. Set Screensaver to Off under Settings > General.
- Disconnect All Other Cast Devices
If other casting devices like Chromecast or Roku are paired to your LG TV, temporarily disconnect them under Settings > General > Devices > Cast Device Manager. Eliminate conflicts.
Conclusion
That concludes this step-by-step troubleshooting guide to fix any and all AirPlay issues you may face on your LG smart TV models. We have covered all bases, from basic restarts to complex network settings tweaks and factory resets if required. Follow through each step at a time in the sequence outlined here. Hopefully, you’ll have a perfectly functional AirPlay experience by the end. Reach out in the comments if any issues persist so we can provide more targeted assistance!
