Fix Vizio AirPlay Not Working/Showing Up in 9 Solutions

Thanks to AIrPlay integrated into Vizio SmartCast TVs, the entertainment on these TVs has been enriched. For example, you are able to access local videos from your iOS devices on Vizio TV without any cables or external devices.

However, lots of Vizio TV users reported that the AirPlay feature on their TVs stopped working or didn’t show up. This post dives into the causes and troubleshooting workarounds of the Vizio AirPlay not working issue to help restore your entertainment on your Vizio TV.

Vizio TV AirPlay Not Working

Staring at the iPhone screen for long periods can cause eye fatigue; switching to a larger screen like a Vizio TV screen can alleviate this. Moreover, a larger screen provides an immersive watching experience. However, the screen switching from iPhone to Vizio TV fails due to AirPlay issues:

I used to be able to airplay Spotify (all applications on the phone or laptop) onto my Vizio TV without many issues. However, as of January 8, 2023, it no longer works. I even tried upgrading to iOS 16.2 from 15.6, but that made things worse: it did not fix anything and now I’m iOS 16. — from Reddit

Why is AirPlay on Vizio TV not working? How to fix the AirPlay issue on Vizio? Explore these questions with me.

Reasons for Vizio AirPlay Not Working/Showing Up

Generally, an issue may be fixed quickly as long as you see through the causes of the issue. Therefore, before rushing into the steps to fix Vizio TV AirPlay not working, you can explore the possible reasons for the Vizio AirPlay issue.

Why is AirPlay not working on Vizio? The dysfunctional AirPlay on Vizio TV can be blamed on various factors. They include AirPlay incompatibility, incorrect AirPlay settings, outdated firmware, technical glitches, network connectivity issues, interference from other devices, and hardware malfunctions.

• AirPlay incompatibility: Not all Vizio TVs have introduced the AirPlay feature; according to the official list of AirPlay-enabled TVs, the feature is available on the following Vizio TV models.
  • 2016: E-Series, M-Series, P-Series
  • 2017: E-Series, M-Series, P-Series
  • 2018: D-Series, E-Series, M-Series, P-Series, P-Series Quantum, V-Series
  • 2019: D-Series, M-Series, M-Series Quantum, P-Series, P-Series Quantum, P-Series Quantum X, V-Series
  • 2020: D-Series, M-Series, M-Series Quantum, OLED, P-Series, P-Series Quantum, P-Series Quantum X, V-Series
  • 2021: M-Series, M-Series Quantum, OLED, P-Series, P-Series Quantum, P-Series Quantum X, V-Series
  • 2022: M-Series, M-Series Quantum, OLED, P-Series, P-Series Quantum, P-Series Quantum X, V-Series
  • 2023: M-Series, M-Series Quantum, V-Series
• Outdated firmware: Outdated SmartCast OS and iOS may lead to compatibility issues, which prevent AirPlay from working.
• Incorrect AirPlay settings: When AirPlay refuses to work, incorrect AirPlay settings may have been set on your Vizio TV; if AirPlay doesn’t show up, it may have been disabled on your Vizio TV or on the device you’re attempting to AirPlay from.
• Network connectivity issues: AirPlay relies on a stable network to stream content between compatible devices, and it should be noted that the network connection on the compatible devices should be the same, including the frequency band.
• Temporary glitches: Temporary glitches in Vizio TV’s software or the AirPlay protocol itself can cause AirPlay malfunction.
• Interference from other devices: Other electronic devices or nearby wireless networks may cause interference, disrupting the communication between the AirPlay sender and receiver.
• Hardware malfunctions: For instance, issues with the TV’s wireless network adapter can also cause AirPlay issues.

How to Fix Vizio AirPlay Not Working/Showing Up?

Here are the steps to troubleshoot and potentially fix issues with AirPlay not working on Vizio TV. If you have issues with Vizio AirPlay not showing up, the following fixes can be also beneficial.

Fix 1. Check AirPlay Compatibility on Vizio TV

First and foremost, determine if your Vizio TV supports AirPlay. To do so, you can perform the following steps.

Step 1. Press the Menu button on your Vizio TV remote.

Step 2. On the TV home menu, navigate to the Extras tab.

Step 3. Find and choose Smart Home Settings and browse the list to see if there is an option labeled AirPlay.

Is AirPlay available on your Vizio TV? If yes, your Vizio TV does support AirPlay, the AirPlay malfunction may be underlying another issue, and you can try the solutions below to uncover it.

If AirPlay is unavailable on your Vizio TV, you need to try a different method to stream the content from your iOS device to the TV. It is shared in Fix 9, and you can directly skip to it.

Fix 2. Enable or Re-enable AirPlay on Vizio TV

To use Vizio AirPlay, you need to ensure that AirPlay is enabled on your Vizio TV. Press the V or Home button on your Vizio TV remote, go to Extras > Smart Home Settings > AirPlay, and turn on AirPlay.

If AirPlay has been enabled on your Vizio TV but works with issues, please re-enable it. Switch it to the Off state, then the On state.

Then, try AirPlay from an iOS device to Vizio TV again. If things don’t turn around, continue with the troubleshooting process,

Fix 3. Reset Paired Devices on Vizio TV

Now try resetting your paired devices to your Vizio TV. This attempt will disconnect them from the TV to resolve potential compatibility issues. Doing so by choosing Extras > Smart Home Settings > AirPlay > Require Code > Reset Paired Devices.

Additionally, before trying AirPlay to Vizio TV, remove other wireless devices away from your Vizio TV and move your iOS device closer to the TV for a solid connection.

Fix 4. Check Network Connection

If AirPlay is still not working on your Vizio TV, check if your Vizio TV and iPhone are connected to the same network.

Another point that needs to be noticed is the Wi-Fi frequency band: 2.4GHz and 5GHz. The 2.4GHz band sacrifices speed but provides internet to a larger area, while the opposite is true for the 5GHz band.

Nowadays, many homes have a dual-band Wi-Fi router. The two frequency bands are combined on the same Wi-Fi network name, while sometimes they can be set up with a unique Wi-Fi network name, such as mywifi_2.4G and mywifi_5G.

Generally, a Wi-Fi network’s name is followed by 2.4G or 2.4GHz or without any suffix, then the network adopts 2.4GHz.

So, here you need to check if your Vizio TV and iOS device are connected to the same network that uses the same frequency band.

• Check the network connection on your iOS device (here, take an iPhone for example)

Step 1. Open the Settings app on the iPhone.

Step 2. Tap the Wi-Fi option and check the information of the network the iPhone is using.

• Check the network connection on your Vizio TV:

Step 1. Press the V or Home button on the remote to access the SmartCast menu.

Step 2. Choose the Network icon and press OK to display the Network Connection screen.

Step 3. Check the connected network. If it is different from the network your iOS device is connected to, then make the network connection the same on both devices.

Once you eliminate the differences in network connection, try streaming content from your iOS device to Vizio TV over AirPlay again.

Fix 5. Restart the Router

If AirPlay issues persist on your Vizio TV, continue to restart your router. A restart can remove the underlying network connectivity issues.

Remove the Ethernet cables from your router and unplug the device from the power source. Then, wait 2-3 minutes to let the system complete the shutdown process. Next, reconnect the power and the Ethernet cables. Lastly, wait for your devices to set up the internet connection.

Now enable AirPlay on your iOS device, choose your Vizio TV as the target device, and see if the streaming process will be set up successfully.

Fix 6. Restart Vizio TV and iOS Device

The next solution is to restart your Vizio TV and iOS device. This can remove the accumulated cache files and temporary files that trigger various issues including AirPlay on Vizio TV not working.

The steps you need to perform on your Vizio TV are as follows:

Step 1. Press the Power button on the remote to turn off your Vizio TV and unplug the device for a minute.

Step 2. While the TV is unplugged, press and hold the Power button on the TV to drain the residual power.

Step 3. Replug the Vizio TV and turn it on.

Continue to restart your iOS device. For example, to restart an iPhone, press and hold the power button on the side of the device until the restart option appears, choose the restart option, and wait for the device to reboot.

Fix 7. Update Vizio TV and iOS Device

Keeping your Vizio TV and iOS device up to date could fix bugs, avoid software compatibility issues, and enhance performance and security. So, check if your devices are up to date when you run into Vizio AirPlay issues.

To update your Vizio TV, you need to:

1. Press the Menu button on the TV remote.
2. Inside the home menu, choose the System option.
3. Go into the Check for Updates option.
4. If the TV finds an update, it will be downloaded and installed on the TV. Then, wait patiently for your TV to go through the update process.

Note: During the update process, don’t press any button on your remote if unnecessary and turn off your TV.

To update your iOS device, you should:

1. Back up your device in case of data loss and plug it into power.
2. Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
3. If your device finds more than updates, choose the one that you want to install.
4. Tap Download and Install, enter the passcode, and tap Install Now.

Now your Vizio TV’s and iOS device’s firmware are updated, you can attempt to start streaming content between the two devices over AirPlay again.

Fix 8. Factory Reset Vizio TV

Performing a factory reset on your Vizio TV will restore all settings to their default state, potentially solving the stubborn Vizio AirPlay not working issue.

However, note that this attempt will erase any personalized settings or configurations you’ve made.

Step 1. Press the Menu button on the remote.

Step 2. Go to System > Rest & Admin > Reset TV to Factory Defaults.

Step 3. Enter your parental lock mode when prompted. The default one is 000.

Step 4. Choose Reset to confirm.

Step 5. Wait until the TV completes the resetting process.

Step 6. Set up your Vizio TV again and reconnect it to the network your iOS device is connected to.

Can you AirPlay to Vizio TV now? If you fail again, please consult Vizio Support.

Fix 9. Use a Screen Mirroring App

Take it easy. You can stream content from an iOS device to your Vizio TV even without AirPlay. BoostVision provides you with a replacement for AirPlay.

BoostVision, a professional mirroring and casting application developer, has launched different solutions to stream different types of media files from Android or iOS devices to mainstream smart televisions, and the Smart TV Cast app is one of them.

With the third-party app, you can find it super easy to mirror the iOS device screen to your TV and cast content from YouTube, Google Photos, local albums, and other platforms.

Step 1. Make sure that your Vizio TV and iOS device are connected to the same network.

Step 2. Launch the app on your iOS device and click the Tap to connect zone.

Step 3. Choose your Vizio TV from the device list and wait for the connection to be set up between the two devices.

Step 4. Enable one of the functions displayed on the app home interface and follow the onscreen instructions to stream the content to the Vizio TV.

Conclusion

The Airplay on Vizio TV not working issue does ruin the mood when you sit down well on a sofa with a bowl of popcorn. But stop indulging in a bad mood as the issue is not difficult to fix.

First, ensure that your Vizio TV does support the feature. If yes, go on with the troubleshooting process displayed above to rule out the potential causes. If you are still unable to AirPlay to Vizio TV, try the third-party Smart TV Cast app to have a better entertainment experience.

If you think this post could help those who have Vizio AirPlay issues, please share it.

Vizio AirPlay Not Working FAQ

Q: Why isn’t AirPlay working on my VIZIO TV?

The issue is always related to AirPlay incompatibility, incorrect AirPlay settings, outdated firmware, technical glitches, network connectivity issues, interference from other devices, and hardware malfunctions.

Q: How can I mirror my iPhone to VIZIO Smart TV?

If your Vizio Smart TV is AirPlay-supported, you can mirror your iPhone to the TV through AirPlay. First, enable AirPlay on the TV. Secondly, enable AirPlay on your iPhone and choose to connect to the TV. Lastly, wait for the connection to be established.

Q: How do I connect my iPhone to my Smart TV without AirPlay?

There are many ways to connect an iPhone to a smart TV if AirPlay is inaccessible. You can perform a traditional workaround: use an HDMI cable to set up the connection between both devices. You can also install a screen mirroring app on your iPhone to establish the connection. Certainly, if you have a Chromecast, plug it into your TV and launch a Chromecast-compatible app on the iPhone to stream content.

Q: How do I make my Vizio TV discoverable for casting?

Make sure the TV is connected to the network the device that you want to cast from uses.