LG TV AirPlay Not Working: 7 Proven Fixes for 2026

AirPlay stopped working on your LG TV. You’re not alone. I’ve tested AirPlay across six LG models from 2019 to 2025, and the same handful of problems cause failures on almost every one. This guide walks through each fix in order of likelihood, starting with the most common culprit.

#Is Your LG TV Compatible With AirPlay 2?

According to LG’s support page, AirPlay 2 requires webOS 4.0 or higher. That means your LG TV needs to be a 2018 model or newer. Here’s a quick breakdown by series:

• LG OLED (C8, B8, and newer from 2018+)
• LG NanoCell SM, SK, and NANO series (2018+)
• LG QNED series (2021+)
• LG UHD UM, UN, UP, UQ, and UT series (2018+)

Find your model number on the sticker behind the TV. The digits after the screen size indicate the year.

If your TV predates 2018, AirPlay won’t work regardless of settings. An Apple TV 4K streaming box ($129) is the most reliable alternative for older LG sets. For other LG TV issues, see our guide on LG TV not connecting to Wi-Fi.

#How Do You Power Cycle for AirPlay Issues?

A proper power cycle clears the TV’s RAM cache and resets the network stack. This fixes roughly half of AirPlay failures I’ve encountered during testing on my 2023 LG C3.

1. Turn off the LG TV using the remote.
2. Unplug the power cord from the wall outlet. Wait 60 full seconds.
3. While the TV is unplugged, press and hold the physical power button on the TV for 10 seconds to drain residual charge.
4. Unplug your Wi-Fi router, wait 15 seconds, then plug it back in. Give it 2-3 minutes to fully boot.
5. Plug the TV back in and turn it on.
6. On your iPhone or iPad, toggle Airplane Mode on, wait 5 seconds, then toggle it off.
7. Try AirPlay again once both devices reconnect to Wi-Fi.

The key here is unplugging from the wall, not just using the remote. Standby mode keeps webOS partially running, so a remote power-off won’t clear cached errors.

#Update Firmware on Both Devices

Outdated firmware is the second most common cause. Apple recommends keeping all devices updated for AirPlay stability, and LG regularly patches AirPlay bugs in webOS releases. After updating my LG C2 from webOS 22 to the January 2025 patch, AirPlay reconnection time dropped from 12 seconds to under 3.

On your LG TV:

1. Press the Settings gear icon on your remote.
2. Go to All Settings > General > About This TV.
3. Select Check for Updates.
4. Install any available update and let the TV restart.

For step-by-step instructions, see our LG TV firmware update guide.

On iPhone or iPad:

1. Open Settings > General > Software Update.
2. Tap Download and Install if an update appears.

On Mac:

1. Click the Apple menu, then System Settings > General > Software Update.
2. Install any pending update.

#Verify AirPlay Is Enabled in TV Settings

AirPlay can get turned off during a firmware update or if someone else changed the settings. Here’s how to check:

1. Press the Home button on your LG remote.
2. Open the Home Dashboard.
3. Select AirPlay.
4. Tap AirPlay & HomeKit Settings.
5. Make sure the AirPlay toggle is set to On.

While you’re there, check the “Require Code” setting. If it’s set to “Every Time,” your iPhone will prompt for a PIN displayed on the TV screen each time you connect. Set it to “First Time Only” for a smoother experience. You can learn more about AirPlay setup for other brands in our guide on fixing AirPlay not showing.

#Disable VPN and Fix Wi-Fi Settings

Turn off any VPN on your iPhone first. A VPN prevents local device discovery.

Also verify both devices are on the exact same Wi-Fi band. Some routers split 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz into separate network names. If your phone is on “HomeWifi_5G” and the TV is on “HomeWifi,” they can’t see each other.

To check your LG TV’s Wi-Fi connection: go to Settings > All Settings > Connection > Wi-Fi Connection and confirm the network name matches your phone’s. If your TV supports it, enable IPv6 under Advanced Wi-Fi Settings on that same screen. Apple confirms that AirPlay requires Bonjour for device discovery, and enabling IPv6 improves Bonjour reliability on LG TVs.

Bluetooth interference matters too. Toggle off Bluetooth on your iPhone (Settings > Bluetooth) and test AirPlay again. I’ve seen this fix the issue on three separate occasions with LG NanoCell TVs, and you can re-enable Bluetooth afterward if AirPlay starts working.

If your LG TV keeps dropping Wi-Fi entirely, that’s a separate issue. Check our guide on LG TV keeps restarting for potential hardware causes.

#Reset AirPlay and HomeKit on LG TV

Before doing a full factory reset, try resetting just the AirPlay configuration. This clears paired device data without erasing your other TV settings.

1. Press Home on the remote.
2. Open Home Dashboard > AirPlay > AirPlay & HomeKit Settings.
3. Scroll down and select Reset AirPlay and HomeKit.
4. Confirm the reset.
5. After the reset, try connecting from your Apple device again. You’ll need to re-pair.

This option exists on webOS 5.0 and later (2020+ models). On older webOS 4.0 TVs, skip this step and go directly to the factory reset below.

#Factory Reset Your LG TV as a Last Resort

If nothing else has worked, a full factory reset will wipe the TV clean and reinstall webOS from scratch. This resolves persistent AirPlay pairing corruption that survives power cycles and firmware updates.

1. Press the Settings button on your remote.
2. Go to All Settings > General > Reset to Initial Settings.
3. Enter the PIN (default is 0000).
4. Confirm the reset.
5. The TV restarts and walks you through initial setup.
6. Reconnect to Wi-Fi, then re-enable AirPlay in the Home Dashboard.

Test AirPlay before reinstalling any apps. If it works, a corrupted setting was the cause. For full reset instructions, visit our LG TV factory reset guide.

#Bottom Line

Start with the compatibility check: your LG TV must be a 2018 or newer model. Power cycle it by unplugging for 60 seconds, then update firmware on both the TV and your Apple device. Verify AirPlay is enabled and both devices share the same Wi-Fi network with no active VPN.

Reset AirPlay and HomeKit settings before resorting to a factory reset.

If none of these steps work, contact LG Support directly. There may be a hardware-level Wi-Fi module issue that requires professional diagnosis. LG offers phone, chat, and in-home service depending on your warranty status and TV model year, and their technicians can run remote diagnostics on webOS 5.0+ TVs.

For AirPlay problems on other TV brands, see our guides on Samsung TV AirPlay issues and Hisense TV AirPlay not working.

#Frequently Asked Questions

#Why is AirPlay not showing up on my LG TV?

Your TV probably doesn’t support AirPlay 2. Only 2018+ LG models have it. Check Home Dashboard > AirPlay to confirm the toggle is on.

#Can I AirPlay Netflix to my LG TV?

No. Netflix pulled AirPlay support in April 2019, so use the built-in Netflix app on your LG TV instead. It supports 4K Dolby Vision on 2018+ models and doesn’t rely on AirPlay at all. If the app crashes, delete it and reinstall from the LG Content Store.

#How do I fix AirPlay audio but no video on my LG TV?

Switch the TV input to the Home Dashboard before starting AirPlay. If the TV is set to an HDMI input, AirPlay audio may play but the video won’t appear. Also check that your TV’s HDMI-CEC (SimpLink) settings aren’t forcing an input switch. Disable SimpLink temporarily under Settings > All Settings > Connection > Device Connector > SimpLink.

#Does AirPlay work over Ethernet on LG TV?

Yes, and it’s actually the most reliable setup for 4K streaming. Connect the LG TV via Ethernet and keep your iPhone on the same router’s Wi-Fi.

#Why does AirPlay keep disconnecting from my LG TV?

Weak Wi-Fi signal is the most common cause. Move your router closer to the TV or connect the TV via Ethernet cable. Restarting both devices and your router often stabilizes the connection.

#What should I do if AirPlay worked before but suddenly stopped?

A firmware update probably reset your AirPlay toggle. Power cycle the TV by unplugging it for 60 seconds, then go to Home Dashboard > AirPlay and confirm the toggle is still on. LG’s webOS updates occasionally reset this setting to off without warning, which catches many users off guard. If the toggle was already on, try the full “Reset AirPlay and HomeKit” option in the same menu to clear stale pairing data.

#Can I use screen mirroring instead of AirPlay on an older LG TV?

LG TVs from 2013-2017 have Screen Share, which uses Miracast. It works with Android but not iPhones. For Apple devices on a pre-2018 LG TV, get an Apple TV 4K box ($129) or use a USB-C to HDMI adapter for a wired connection. Miracast quality is also noticeably lower than AirPlay, so the Apple TV 4K is the better long-term investment if you stream regularly from Apple devices.

#Does a Wi-Fi extender cause AirPlay problems on LG TV?

Yes, frequently. Wi-Fi extenders create a separate network segment. If your TV is on the extender and your phone is on the main router, AirPlay can’t find the TV. Switch to a mesh Wi-Fi system instead.