Ever thought how cool it’d be to cast your smartphone screen directly on your LG TV, especially when you’re hanging out with buddies in the same room?
That’s exactly what AirPlay on LG TVs can help you do!
If you’re an Apple user, AirPlay lets you easily broadcast videos and photos from your iPhone or MacBook directly onto your smart TV. Sounds awesome, right?
But, just like any other technology, there can be hiccups. Several users, including me, have reported that AirPlay sometimes doesn’t work with their LG TVs.
Let me share my experience. We have an LG TV in our office, and we often use AirPlay to share slideshows, photos, and videos from our mobile devices with the team.
But there was this one time when my iPhone just wouldn’t connect to the LG TV through AirPlay. I tried to find a solution by scouring through Google, YouTube, and various forums. I even reached out to LG TV support.
Eventually, I managed to figure out the issue and resolve it. The experience taught me a lot about AirPlay and LG TVs.
I thought it’d be helpful if I shared my findings, considering I wasn’t the only one facing this problem. So, here’s a guide explaining why AirPlay might not work on your LG TV and the steps that might help you fix it.
The Clever Fix
Ensure that both your TV and Apple device are connected to the same network and Wi-Fi frequency (either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz).
Why is AirPlay not working on my LG TV?
Primarily, it’s because your Apple device and LG TV need to be on the same Wi-Fi network. If they aren’t, your connection is likely to fail.
But that’s not the only reason. Software glitches, outdated firmware, firewall settings, Bluetooth interference, or even router issues can also cause AirPlay to not work on your LG TV.
How do I troubleshoot AirPlay not working on my LG TV?
Don’t jump straight to the fixes. Instead, start by identifying if there’s an issue at all.
First, check if your LG TV supports AirPlay (a list of compatible LG TVs is provided below).
Next, make sure you’ve enabled AirPlay on your LG TV.
Just press the home button on your LG remote, navigate to the Home Dashboard, and select AirPlay. From there, go to AirPlay & HomeKit Settings, and verify if AirPlay is turned on.
If you’ve gone through all the checks and yet AirPlay isn’t working on your LG TV, don’t stress. There’s still hope – it can generally be fixed with ease.
Which LG TVs are compatible with AirPlay?
To check if your LG TV supports AirPlay, refer to the following list of compatible models.
| Model Year | OS Version | Model Series |
| 2020 | 5.0 | OLED: BX, CX, GX, WX, ZX, RX UHD: UN Series, NANA Series |
| 2019 | 4.5 | OLED: B9, C9, E9, W9, Z9 UHD: UM Series, SM Series |
| 2018 | 4.0 | OLED: B8, C8, E8, W8, Z8 UHD: UK Series, SK Series |
Even if your newer LG TV model isn’t listed, it might still support AirPlay.
Look for a “Works with Apple AirPlay” logo on your TV’s packaging or in the user manual.
You can also check if your TV supports AirPlay by navigating through the settings (Home Dashboard > AirPlay > AirPlay & HomeKit Settings > Turn AirPlay on).
If your LG TV is listed and still doesn’t seem to work with AirPlay, don’t fret! There are a number of tried and tested ways to troubleshoot and solve the issue.
How do I fix AirPlay not working on my LG TV?
1. Connect the devices to the same network
The first step to take if AirPlay isn’t working on your LG TV is to make sure both your TV and Apple device are connected to the same wireless network. Head to the Network Settings on both your LG TV and Apple device to verify this. Furthermore, ensure they’re both on the same Wi-Fi frequency. It’s a simple step but can often solve the problem!
Just remember that AirPlay won’t work if your Apple device and LG TV are connected to separate networks.
Sometimes, when you’re in a large area like an office, there may be multiple wireless networks, and your devices might not auto-connect to the closest router. So, it’s worth double-checking.
Moreover, even if both devices are on the same network, they could be using different Wi-Fi frequencies.
Most modern routers are dual-band and offer 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies. The 5 GHz option is zippier but its range is limited. On the contrary, the 2.4 GHz frequency might be slower but it covers more ground.
If your LG TV and Apple device aren’t on the same Wi-Fi frequency, AirPlay might not work.
I would suggest you go with the 2.4 GHz frequency. It’s quite handy, especially if your devices are some distance away from the router.
If at all feasible, turn off the 5 GHz on your router. This way, you’ll “force” all devices to connect on the same frequency, which should make AirPlay work smoothly.
2. Power cycle your LG TV
So, if you’ve ensured your LG TV and Apple device are connected to the same Wi-Fi network and frequency, and AirPlay still isn’t working, it’s time to try a different tack: power cycling your LG TV.
You might be wondering, “Why would AirPlay stop working due to bugs or glitches in my LG TV?”
Well, believe it or not, a key cause might be that you haven’t unplugged your LG TV in a while. Yes, you heard that right!
Here’s the thing: when you switch off your LG TV without unplugging it, it doesn’t completely shut down. Instead, it goes into standby mode, making it easy for you to power it back on.
However, this means your LG TV doesn’t get to fully reboot. Over time, this can lead to a build-up of residual electrical charge, and voila — you find yourself dealing with odd bugs and glitches, including AirPlay not working as it should.
If AirPlay is still not working, it’s time for a power cycle, also known as a “soft reset” or “cold boot”. This simple process drains any lingering electrical charge and resets your LG TV’s main board, effectively eliminating any bugs or glitches.
Here’s how you can perform a power cycle on your LG TV:
- Unplug your LG TV from the power outlet.
- Wait for at least one minute.
- While waiting, press and hold your LG TV’s power button for 30 seconds.
- After a minute, plug your LG TV back in and turn it on.
(Note: It might also be helpful to reset your Apple device.)
Once you’ve completed the power cycle on your LG TV and rebooted your Apple device, it’s time to give AirPlay another shot. But before you do, there’s one more step you should consider.
3. Reset paired devices
After power cycling your LG TV and restarting your Apple device, it’s a good idea to reset the pairing in the AirPlay settings of your LG TV.
- Press the Home button on your LG TV.
- Go to Home Dashboard, then AirPlay.
- Select AirPlay & HomeKit Settings.
- Scroll down to Require Code.
- Select Reset Paired Devices.
This action will unpair all previously connected Apple devices from your LG TV. Now, you’re all set to start afresh!
After resetting the paired devices, you should give the pairing process another go with your Apple device to see if AirPlay is now running smoothly.
4. Update your LG TV’s software
Have you checked if your LG TV’s software is up to date?
LG periodically releases new software versions for their smart TVs to introduce new features, squash bugs, and improve overall performance.
If your software is outdated, it could be the reason why AirPlay isn’t cooperating.
For instance, if Apple tweaks anything related to AirPlay, LG might release a patch in their next software update to keep everything running smoothly. If such an update occurs and you haven’t updated your LG TV, chances are AirPlay might not work.
Usually, these updates are automatic, especially if your LG TV is connected to the internet. But sometimes, you may need to do it manually. Here’s how:
- Go to Settings > All Settings > Support.
- Choose Software Update.
- Select Check for Updates, then Download and Install.
After downloading the latest version, turn off your LG TV and wait for about 10 seconds before turning it back on to complete the installation.
Once the update is installed, give AirPlay another shot.
5. Stop using the ThinQ app as a remote
ThinQ is LG’s hub app that lets you manage and control LG smart appliances, including LG smart TVs.
It’s pretty nifty, but some LG users have reported that AirPlay tends to be fussy when the ThinQ app is up and running as a TV remote.
This might be because the ThinQ app’s Bluetooth use interferes with the Wi-Fi required by AirPlay, owing to both signals operating at the same frequency.
So, if you’re keen on using AirPlay, take a break from the ThinQ app for a while and stick to your physical LG TV remote.
If required, remove your TV from the ThinQ app (Settings > Delete Product), then give AirPlay another try on your LG TV.
6. Restart your router
Believe it or not, sometimes the issue isn’t with your LG TV or Apple device at all. There are instances when AirPlay might be on the fritz because of a glitch in your router.
Just like your TV, your router can accumulate residual electrical charge over time, causing quirky glitches to pop up.
The good news is, you can usually fix these glitches by simply restarting your router. But rather than just turning it off and back on, you’ll want to perform a full reboot.
Switch off your router, unplug it from the power source, and wait for at least a minute. After that, plug it back in and turn it on.
It might take a few minutes for your router to boot up and for your devices to reconnect. Once they’re connected, see if AirPlay now works on your LG TV.
7. Adjust your Mac’s firewall settings
If you’re using a MacBook, the firewall settings on your machine could be barring your Apple device from connecting to your LG TV via AirPlay.
A firewall is a safety net that prevents unauthorized access to a network. When it’s enabled on your Mac, unauthorized apps or programs are blocked from accepting connections.
It’s an essential security feature, so I won’t recommend you turn it off just for AirPlay to work (that’s just too risky for my taste).
Instead, adjust your Mac’s firewall settings to allow AirPlay. If you’re using macOS Ventura, follow these steps:
- Open your Mac’s System Settings.
- Select Network.
- Select Firewall.
- Click on Options.
- Turn the Block all incoming connections toggle off.
- Turn the Automatically allow built-in software to receive incoming connections toggle on.
Now, you’ve paved the way for AirPlay to function correctly.
8. Factory reset your LG TV
Well, if we’ve come this far and AirPlay is still not working on your LG TV, a factory reset might be the last resort.
A factory reset brings your TV back to its original settings, as it was when you first unboxed it, eradicating any bugs or glitches.
A factory reset can solve a variety of LG TV issues, such as not connecting to Wi-Fi or crashing apps.
However, it does come with a word of caution: a factory reset will also erase any adjustments you’ve made to the settings, remove any apps you’ve installed, and wipe out all your personal data.
This is why you should only resort to it when all else fails. You don’t want to reinstall apps and readjust your settings whenever AirPlay doesn’t work on your LG TV.
To factory reset your LG TV:
- Press your LG TV remote’s Smart button.
- Navigate to Settings (gear icon).
- Go to General > Reset to Initial Settings.
Your LG TV will automatically restart. Remember not to unplug it and wait for the setup screen to pop up after the reboot.
Final thoughts
It can be quite a bummer when AirPlay doesn’t work on your LG TV, especially when you’re all set to share images or videos with your friends, family, or coworkers. Thankfully, there are several straightforward solutions to this problem.
If AirPlay isn’t working on your LG TV, first make sure both the TV and your Apple device are on the same network.
Double-check the Network Settings on each device, and ensure they’re both operating on the same Wi-Fi frequency (either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz).
If that doesn’t do the trick, don’t lose hope. You can still:
- Power cycle your LG TV (and reset your Apple device).
- Reset the paired devices on your LG TV’s AirPlay settings.
- Update your LG TV’s software.
- Stop using the ThinQ app.
- Restart your router.
- Adjust your firewall settings (if you’re using a Mac).
- Factory reset your LG TV.
By the end of this guide, I hope AirPlay is now humming along nicely on your LG TV!