Roku TV AirPlay not working (Try this 1 Easy FIX First!)

Roku TV AirPlay won’t work for various reasons, and all supported models with AirPlay can be affected by this issue sooner or later.

If your TV experience this issue, it can be pretty frustrating, especially if you own a new model or your TV has served you well for a long time.

Do not worry; there are easy tricks you can do to solve those issues on your own, and based on feedback from other people, these steps can fix the problems with Roku TVs for which AirPlay is not working correctly.

Roku TV AirPlay

Roku TV AirPlay Not Working – How to Fix it?

If your Roku TV’s AirPlay is not working correctly, perform the following steps: Restart your Roku TV, make sure that your Apple Device and Roku TV are on the same WiFi network, enable AirPlay, disable Firewall, update Roku TV OS, use Roku TV remote instead of the app, reboot your router, reset paired devices and perform a factory reset.

It could be possible that your Roku TV might not support AirPlay technology. The issue is, in most cases, related to the older Roku TV models. If that’s not the case, follow the steps below.

1. Restart your Roku TV

Even if you have already tried to unplug your TV, ensure you follow the exact procedure. Without proper steps, this easiest step does not have to work, and your Roku TV won’t turn on.

Make sure you identified the correct cable which is coming from your TV. With TV, many other devices are plugged into the same socket or power cord, and you need to make sure you are disconnecting the correct cable.

Unplug a television from the wall socket

Once TV is disconnected, wait at least 60 seconds; in the meantime, you can search for the power button. Once 60 seconds are up, you can press and hold the power button for 30 seconds.

This procedure will ensure that all residual energy in your TV is gone and all parts of the TV are properly turned off.

While we are waiting, give it a try restarting your Apple device as well.

Many people do not realize that even when the TV seems to be off, some parts are always powered while the device is plugged into the socket.

Once you complete both steps, you can plug your TV back into the socket, turn on the TV, and Apple AirPlay should be working again.

Another option, restart your Roku TV and Roku Streaming stick while using the Settings menu.

To restart your Roku TV, follow these steps:

  • Press the Home button
  • Scroll down to the Settings section
  • Select System and select System restart

If you belong to a small group of people for which this procedure did not resolve the issue thoroughly, check the other fixes below.

2. Check if the Devices are Connected to the Same Network

You can make AirPlay working only for the devices connected to the same network.

Almost all new routers now have a feature called dual-band, which allows you to create two separate networks (either the 2.4 GHz or 5.0 GHz network)

Having two separate networks will increase your network stability and speed for the devices that support the higher frequency

However, one of your devices may be connected to a 2.4 GHz network while the other is connected to a 5.0 GHz network – therefore, the condition of being connected to the same network is not met.

It takes less time to thoroughly doublecheck that your devices are on the same network with the same name.

To check the WiFi connection on your Roku TV, press Home button on your Roku remote and go to:

  • Scroll and select Settings
  • Select Network and Check connection
Roku TV Network Settings

If following the steps above didn’t fix the issue, please continue further.

3. Check if Roku TV AirPlay is Enabled

It could happen that AirPlay is disabled on your device.

To check AirPlay enablement, press the HOME button on your Roku TV and then:

  • Open the Settings
  • Go to Apple AirPlay and Homekit
  • Make sure AirPlay is enabled (ON)
Roku TV AirPlay menu
Roku TV AirPlay menu

A Roku TV Factory reset might disable your AirPlay.

NOTE: You can also disable the require code option so you won’t need to enter your PIN every time you’ll use AirPlay.

If you don’t see the AirPlay option in the Roku TV’s settings, the feature might not be supported by your device.

4. Turn of Firewall on your Computer

If the firewall is enabled on the computer, it could affect connectivity to the other devices within the network. 

In the case of the AirPlay function, enabled firewall protection on your macOS (iOS) device might lead to your hosting device not being able to connect to your Roku TV.

In this scenario, you need to make sure to either disable firewall protection altogether or disable incoming connection traffic on your macOS (iOS) device.

To check your firewall configuration, go to:

  • System Preferences
  • Security and Privacy
  • click on the firewall tab
macOS Firewall settings

You’ll find the option to turn off the firewall entirely or to uncheck the option of blocking incoming connections.

5. Update Roku TV OS/Software

You could run into several issues if your Roku TV OS is not up to date. Therefore, it’s always recommended to keep your OS updated where applicable.

It’s possible to set it to download and install the updates automatically if your Roku TV is connected to the internet. 

Check Roku TV OS update by following the steps below:

  • Press the Home button on your remote
  • Scroll down and select System
  • Go to System update and update your Roku TV OS
Roku TV system update

It’s recommended to keep your device up to date; by doing that, you ensure that all your devices will remain compatible with your TV.

Check also the updates on your Apple device and update it if applicable.

6. Do not Use your Mobile Phone as a Remote Controller

Most Roku TVs will allow you to use your mobile phone as a controller while using specific applications. 

Some users faced an issue with AirPlay functionality while simultaneously controlling the Roku TV using the Roku app.

Use your original remote for the configuration while struggling with AirPlay connectivity. 

Another piece of advice, close your Roku TV application and re-check AirPlay connectivity.

7. Restart your WiFi Router

There might be a problem with your WiFi router, even if you have not noticed any issues.

I highly recommend you perform a quick restart of your WiFi router. 

Disconnect your router from the socket or power cordwait for about 60 seconds and plug the device back. Your Roku TV and Apple device will reconnect to the network automatically in a while. Once done, re-check your AirPlay functionality.

Since you are modifying your network configuration, consider resetting the network connection configuration on your Apple device. To do so, follow these steps:

  • Go to Settings
  • General
  • Transfer or Reset
  • Reset
  • Reset network settings

8. Reset Roku TV Network

When your Roku TV is still not connected to the AirPlay, follow these steps to reset your Roku TV’s network:

  • Press the Home button on your remote
  • Go to the Settings
  • Scroll down to the System
  • Select Advanced System Settings
  • Proceed with the Network Connection Reset option

Once you confirm Network Connection Reset, your Roku TV will restart. After the restart, connect your Roku TV to the WiFi network.

While doing the steps above, you can also reset the network on your Apple device by following the steps:

  • Go to the Settings
  • General
  • Transfer or Reset
  • Reset
  • Reset Network Settings

9. Reset Paired Devices

We will try one of the last options to reset your paired devices.

To reset your paired devices, just press the Home button on your remote and go to:

  • Settings
  • Apple AirPlay and HomeKit
  • Select Require Code option
  • Scroll down to Reset Paired Devices

By doing this, all the devices connected to your Roku TV will be forgotten, and you’ll need to reconnect them again.

10. Factory Reset your Roku TV

The last option, if all others fail, is to perform a factory reset of your Roku TV. Bear in mind that a factory reset will remove all your configuration changes as well as all the updates, and you’d need to install them again.

Try all the other options first since, while performing a factory reset, you must install all the applications and log into them again.

Factory reset:

  • Press the Home button on your Roku TV remote
  • Go to the Settings
  • Scroll down to the System
  • Select Advanced System Settings
  • Proceed with the Factory Reset

You must enter four digit code to proceed with Factory Reset and press OK. Your TV will restart, and the initial setup screen will appear.

Roku TV factory reset

Following the steps above, your TV has the same configuration as it had on the day you bought it.

Factory Reset your Roku TV without Remote Controller

If there is any reason you don’t have access to your Roku TV’s remote controller, don’t worry. There is an easy way to perform a factory reset of your Roku TV without needing a controller.

To do so, locate your TV’s reset button. The reset button’s location and availability depend on your specific model, but it can be found on the back of your Roku TV. 

While TV is turned on, press and hold the reset button for approx. 15 seconds. 

11. Your Roku TV is not Compatible with AirPlay

Sometimes, when your Roku TV is too old, it does not support AirPlay technology, even with the latest SW upgrades. Anyway, AirPlay is available on the majority of the most recent Roku TVs, which support 4K.

All Roku TVs with versions 8, 6, 5, 4, and 3 support AirPlay, but you may need to update your Roku TV software to run version 9.4. (or 10, could be depending on the device version) or higher.
Remember that your iOS device must be running iOS version 12.3 and higher.

If you don’t see the AirPlay option in your Roku TV’s settings, it could be caused by your TV not supporting AirPlay.

Check the vendor’s websites for your specific model to see more details. 

12. How to Setup AirPlay on your Roku TV

Using AirPlay to cast media or control your Roku TV is pretty handy.

You can easily configure Roku TV AirPlay by following these simple steps:

  • Make sure your devices are connected to the same network
  • Your Roku TV is running the most recent Roku TV OS version
  • Check if there is not any pending update for your Apple device

To enable AirPlay on your Roku TV:

  • Press the Home button on your Roku TV
  • Go to Settings
  • Select Apple AirPlay and Homekit
  • Toggle AirPlay feature ON

You can also adjust the security option by asking for a code connecting with the device. I recommend leaving it on First-time only.

Swipe down from the top menu on your Apple device and select the screen mirroring option. Your Roku TV device should appear in the list.

Now, with an AirPlay feature working correctly, you can cast any media from your Apple device and apps like Youtube, while the audio output will be directly used from your Roku TV.

To Sum Up …

Like any other electronics, Roku TVs can face issues with AirPlay not working. However, if you check all tips and guides on this page, there is a high chance you will resolve your problem with Roku TV.

It’s a good idea to start with the easiest stepunplug your device from the power cord or socket. That will restart your TV, which is the root cause of the issue in most cases.

If your TV is still facing an issue using AirPlay or doesn’t see the option correctly – and it should be supported based on your research, you should look for an expert to help you in this area. 

With some older models, buying a new TV can be a great idea. With a new TV, you can get significantly better value, including a full warranty, for a slightly higher price.

If your TV is new, check if you still have a warranty on your device and use that if possible.

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