ESPN is one of the most popular sports streaming services, offering live and on-demand access to events like NFL, NBA, MLB, Soccer, Golf, and more. With an ESPN+ subscription, you can watch thousands of live games and shows.
The problem is that the ESPN app does not natively support streaming to your TV. You’ll need to use AirPlay, which allows you to wirelessly stream content from your iPhone, iPad or Mac to an AirPlay compatible TV.
Let’s dive in!
What You Need to AirPlay ESPN
To AirPlay ESPN, you’ll need:
- An iPhone, iPad or Mac – The device you’ll stream ESPN from
- The ESPN app installed on your iPhone, iPad or accessed on your Mac. You can also watch ESPN on other devices like Roku, Apple TV and Chromecast.
- An active ESPN+ subscription
- An AirPlay compatible TV:
- An Apple TV (2nd gen or later)
- An AirPlay 2 supported Smart TV (LG, Samsung, VIZIO, Sony etc.)
- Learn how to set up AirPlay on various smart TV brands:
- AirPlay on Vizio TV
- AirPlay on Roku TV
- AirPlay on TCL TV
- AirPlay on Insignia TV
- A TV connected to an AirPlay compatible streaming device (Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast)
- All devices connected to the same WiFi network
If your TV is not AirPlay compatible, you can also use an HDMI cable and adapter to mirror your iPhone or Mac’s screen.
Now let’s go through how to actually AirPlay ESPN.
How to AirPlay ESPN from iPhone & iPad
AirPlaying ESPN from your iPhone or iPad to your TV is quick and easy:
- Install the ESPN App from the App Store
- Sign in with your ESPN+ account credentials
- Browse and select a live game or video to watch
- Tap the AirPlay icon in the app’s media player
- Select your AirPlay compatible TV from the list
- Allow access if a prompt appears on your TV
And that’s it! The video will now stream directly to your TV via AirPlay, rather than only being viewable on your iPhone or iPad screen.
Pro Tip: Make sure both devices are on the same WiFi or you won’t be able to discover and connect to your TV.
When done streaming, you can exit AirPlay to disconnect your iPhone from the TV. Enjoy!
How to AirPlay ESPN from Mac
Using your Mac, you can AirPlay ESPN.com streams in Safari or from ESPN’s macOS app:
AirPlay ESPN from Safari
- Go to ESPN.com on your Mac
- Sign in with your ESPN+ account
- Play a video
- Expand the Control Center and select Screen Mirroring
- Choose your TV from the list of AirPlay devices
- The video will now play directly on your TV
AirPlay From ESPN’s Mac App
- Download ESPN from the Mac App Store
- Sign in with your ESPN+ account credentials
- Select and play a video
- Click the AirPlay icon in the player
- Pick your compatible TV to stream to
And you’re all set! When finished streaming to your TV, you can disconnect AirPlay in the Control Center.
Other Apps & Services You Can AirPlay
In addition to ESPN, there are many other popular apps and services you can AirPlay from your iOS or macOS devices to TV:
How to AirPlay Without WiFi Using HDMI Cable
If your WiFi is spotty, you can opt for a wired connection to mirror ESPN from your iPhone or iPad to TV:
What you need:
- Lightning or USB-C Digital AV adapter: Available for iPhone and iPad
- HDMI cable: Connects adapter to TV
Steps
- Connect the AV adapter to your iPhone or iPad charging port
- Connect the adapter to your TV’s HDMI port using an HDMI cable
- Launch ESPN and play a video
- Enable screen mirroring if prompted on your device
- Change TV input to view mirrored content
And now ESPN streams directly to your TV screen via the HDMI cable without any need for WiFi!
Fixing ESPN AirPlay Not Working
Sometimes AirPlay fails to work properly with the ESPN app. Here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Reconnect both devices to the same WiFi network
- Update the ESPN app in your device’s app store
- Restart your WiFi router to refresh connections
- Check server status at downdetector.com for any ESPN outages
- Try uninstalling and reinstalling the ESPN app
- Reset network settings on your iPhone/iPad
- As a last resort, factory reset your Apple TV or Smart TV
If issues persist, contact ESPN customer support who can further troubleshoot and resolve AirPlay problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I AirPlay ESPN+?
Yes! ESPN+ fullly supports AirPlay so you can stream thousands of live games, events and shows to your compatible TV.
Does ESPN+ work on Apple TV?
The latest 4th and 5th generation Apple TV boxes have a native ESPN app allowing you to sign in and stream ESPN+. For earlier Apple TV models, use AirPlay to mirror ESPN from your iPhone, iPad or Mac.
Why does ESPN AirPlay keep disconnecting?
Frequent disconnects are usually due to network connectivity problems or app issues. Ensure your WiFI signal strength is strong in the room and update the ESPN app. Reinstalling the app can also resolve software bugs causing crashes.
Does ESPN work with Chromecast?
While ESPN doesn’t directly integrate Chromecast streaming, you can cast an entire iPhone or iPad screen mirror to Chromecast. Open the ESPN app, play video and tap the Google Home app to select your Chromecast target.
Wrap Up
And there you have it! With AirPlay, you can now easily stream all your favorite ESPN sports content from your iPhone, iPad or Mac to the big screen TV.
No more squinting at a tiny mobile screen when you can watch that nail-biting match or game-winning goal happen live on your television.
Just connect to the same WiFi network, mirror with AirPlay and enjoy thousands of live events and shows with ESPN and ESPN+!
I hope this guide has helped explain exactly how to stream ESPN using AirPlay. Let me know if you have any other questions!
