Can You Airplay To An Insignia TV?

When you are looking at your iPhone, and a brand new memory video pops up thanks to Apple, it is exciting to watch it and reminisce. Sometimes these videos are so touching that you want to share them with your friends and family on your Insignia TV. Before you do it, though, you need to know, can you Airplay to an Insignia TV?

Yes, you can Airplay to an Insignia TV. New model Insignia Fire TVs have built-in capability to use Airplay while older versions need additional apps or tools to use Airplay.

Using Airplay on an Insignia TV can be frustrating. It is not as straightforward as it is on other brands of TV. Do not give up, instead read on to learn how to get Airplay to work with your version of Insignia TV.

Determine Your TV Version

The first thing you should do is determine whether or not your TV was manufactured before or after 2020. 

All new Insignia Fire TVs come with Apple Homekit capabilities. This means you can use Airplay with them by connecting your TV to the Homekit on your phone.

All older versions of the TV do not have the innate ability to connect to the Apple Homekit. Although this will make things a little trickier, they can still use Apple Airplay if they are willing to download an additional app, buy a streaming device, and use an HDMI cable.

Buy a Roku Streaming Streaming Stick

In order to get your Airplay working on your Insignia TV, you need to purchase a Roku Streaming Stick. Any streaming stick will do, whether it is the Roku Streaming Stick 4k 2021 or the Roku Streaming Stick+. Once you have purchased a Roku Streaming Stick, follow these steps to begin using Airplay:

1. Open your new Roku Stick. Plug it into your TV and set it up. It should be on and running for this to work.
2. Hit the home button on your Roku remote if you are not already on the home screen.
3. Select ‘Settings’
4. Select ‘Apple Airplay and Homekit’
5. On the next screen, ensure the word ‘On’ appears next to the words ‘AirPlay.’ If it says ‘Off’, change this setting to say ‘On.’
6. Next, ensure that the section that says ‘Require Code’ is set to your preferred setting. ‘First Time Only’ pops up a security code the first time you use AirPlay. ‘Always’ pops up a security code every time, and ‘Password’ requires you to use a password whenever you want to use the function.
7. Take out your iPhone.
8. Navigate to the WiFi settings on your phone. Make sure your iPhone and Roku are connected to the same WiFi connection, or this process will not work.
9. Swipe down at the top right corner of your iPhone until your utility menu pops up.
10. Go to the section that says ‘Screen Mirroring’ and tap on it. It will pop up a passcode. Use the code that appears on your Roku to get past this screen.
11. A menu will pop up to show your screen mirroring options. You should see the same menu on your phone and TV. You can now close the menu and start mirroring your phone to your TV. When you are done, swipe back to your menu and select ‘Stop Mirroring.

Buy an Apple TV 4K

If you want to use AirPlay and do not want to buy a Roku Streaming Stick because you are a huge Apple fan and only buy Apple products, there is a solution. If you purchase an Apple TV 4K device, you can Airplay to your Insignia TV. Here is how it works:

1. Set up your Apple TV 4K device as per the instructions it comes with. You can easily find the MAC address to set up your Apple TV.
2. Using the Apple TV remote control, go to the ‘Settings’ icon and select it. It looks like gray gear.
3. Scroll down to ‘Airplay and Homekit’ and select it.
4. Make sure that your AirPlay status is turned to ‘On.’
5. Go back to the home screen.
6. On your iPhone, swipe down on the right top corner to pull up the menu.
7. Select ‘Screen Mirroring.’
8. The Apple TV 4K will automatically recognize that your iPhone is close to your TV and begin the process to start AirPlay.

My Insignia Fire TV is New

If your Insignia TV is newer and has the AirPlay and Homekit capability, you do not need to buy a streaming device to mirror your iPhone. Instead, you need to follow these steps to have the same successful results:

1. Go to the ‘Settings’ menu on your TV and select it.
2. Select the ‘Displays and  Sounds’ icon on the next page.
3. Scroll down to ‘Apple AirPlay & Homekit’ and select this option.
4. On your iPhone, navigate to the WiFi settings on your phone. Ensure your iPhone and Insignia are connected to the same WiFi connection, or this process will not work.
5. Swipe down at the top right corner of your iPhone until your utility menu pops up.
6. Go to the section that says ‘Screen Mirroring’ and tap on it. It will pop up a passcode. Use the code that appears on your Insignia to get past this screen.
7. A menu will pop up to show your screen mirroring options. You should see the same menu on your phone and TV. You can now close the menu and start mirroring your phone to your TV. When you are done, swipe back to your menu and select ‘Stop Mirroring.

Share Your Favorite Content

In general, Apple AirPlay and screen mirroring are helpful avenues for users to navigate to share their favorite videos, GIFs, and websites without huddling around a tiny screen. Next time you have your friends and family over, use one of these tips to share your favorite content.