How to stop your iPhone and iPad from automatically connecting to AirPlay TVs

AirPlay smart TVs

AirPlay makes it simple to stream content from your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch to a compatible TV. Maybe a bit too easy. AirPlay can automatically play video on nearby TVs, but that’s not always the behavior you might want. Learn how to stop your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch from automatically playing video on any frequently used AirPlay TVs in your household.

AirPlay and smart TVs

AirPlay is Apple’s device-to-device media streaming technology. It works wirelessly between compatible devices that sit on the same local network. You can use AirPlay to send video, audio or anything displayed on your iPhone, iPad or Mac to your Apple TV in mirrored or extended display mode. It also works with smart TVs that support the AirPlay 2 protocol.

TUTORIAL: How to use all the new iPhone and iPad features in iOS 13.2

If you have the iOS 13.2 software or later installed on your device and own an AirPlay 2-enabled smart television set, you’ll notice that your iPhone or iPad might automatically AirPlay video to your smart TV. This is by design: the iOS operating system learns about your nearby smart TV sets that you frequently use with AirPlay, then automatically plays video on them.

The good news is, you can prevent this from happening by flipping a switch in Settings.

AirPlay TVs
Don’t worry, you can easily stop iOS from auto-connecting to your AirPlay TVs.

Follow along with iDownloadBlog’s step-by-step tutorial included right ahead to learn how you can easily stop your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch from automatically connecting to and playing video on your frequently used smart TVs when using apps with AirPlay support.

How to stop iPhone from auto-connecting to AirPlay TVs

Do this to stop your iOS device from auto-connecting to your AirPlay compatible TVs.

1) Open Settings on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with iOS 13.2 or later.

2) Choose General from the root list.

3) Tap AirPlay & Handoff.

NOTE: You won’t see this new section unless you have iOS 13.2 or later.

4) Tap Automatically AirPlay to TVs.

5) Select Never to stop the device form automatically sending video to compatible smart TVs.

AirPlay TVs

For the sake of completeness, these are the choices at your disposal that control this behavior:

  • Never: Stop your iOS device from automatically sending video from AirPlay apps to your compatible smart TV sets that are connected to the same local Wi-Fi network.
  • Ask: You’ll be asked whether the iOS device should automatically connect to your AirPlay TVs when playing video in apps the support the AirPlay protocol.
  • Automatic: This is the default setting that prompts your iOS device to always send AirPlay video to your frequently used smart TVs, without asking.

As a quick reminder, you can add, remove and manage all your compatible TV sets and AirPlay 2-enabled wireless speakers in the Home app. And if you’re in the market for a smart TV set, Apple maintains a handy list of AirPlay smart TVs on its website.

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