What Is AirPlay?
AirPlay is a protocol that lets you wirelessly stream audio and video between your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and even Windows PC running iTunes. All you need to do from your phone is tap the AirPlay icon, then select the device you’d like to stream to. Unfortunately, one of the few platforms this protocol doesn’t support is Android. While you can cast from your iPhone to a Chromecast fairly easily, this doesn’t work in the other direction. The good news is that there are apps to help you stream from your Android to an Apple TV or other AirPlay device. The bad news is that in every case there’s some sort of catch.
1. LocalCast
You also get subtitle support for both Chromecast and Apple TV. However, you need to have Apple TV 4 in order to get subtitle support. Since the app is free, it does include ads. Buying the pro version gets rid of ads, unlocks video preview while seeking and more.
2. AirSync
If your Apple TV is the heart of your home entertainment system, including your music, AirSync may be perfect for you. The app is made by DoubleTwist, known for its Android music player. As a matter of fact, this app requires that you install that app. As you might guess, this app is focused 100 percent on music streaming. It found the Apple TV we were using quickly and played music to it without a hitch. Yes, it’s simple, but it’s one of the more solid experiences we’ve found.
3. AllCast
To use AllCast, you’ll need to install the app on both your Android device and the Apple TV. Otherwise, it will say it found your Apple TV, but you won’t be able to play anything. The free version of the app has a five-minute viewing limit on both videos and pictures. To remove this limit, you can upgrade to the premium version of the app for $5.
4. iMediaShare
iMediaShare app allows you to stream all of your Android content on the Apple TV via AirPlay. Just like every other app listed on this post, it also supports multiple players, such as XBox 360, Xbox One, DISH Hopper, and smart TVs like Samsung, Sony, Panasonic, LG, and Philips. You can stream your favorite music and show your photos and videos on the big screen. The connection is also pretty simple. You only need to choose the device you would like to stream on, and you are all set. Overall, it’s a nice, simple and easy-to-use app for streaming from Android to AirPlay.
5. Mirroring360 Sender
Mirroring360, as the name implies, is meant to mirror your screen over AirPlay. This app comes in two versions: the basic free version, Mirroring360 Sender Basic, and the premium version, which costs $5. You’re better off starting with the free version. We ran into issues trying to use the app, and other users have had similar reports. It’s worth a try, but don’t pay for it until you’re sure it works for you.
Wrapping Up
While there are plenty of options for streaming from Android to AirPlay, each one has some sort of caveat. If you’re looking to stream music, that is fairly simple. On the other hand, when it comes to video, you may be better off just using your Apple TV remote to find what you want to watch. If instead you’re an iPhone user looking to watch content on an Android TV, you can do that. There’s an app called AirScreen that is meant to do exactly this. We even mentioned it on our list of the best Android TV apps.
