Easily Disconnect Your iPhone from Apple TV

Connecting your iPhone to your Apple TV is a great way to stream your favorite movies and TV shows while controlling what you watch from your phone’s screen. However, you likely do not want to stay connected to your Apple TV indefinitely. 

You can easily disconnect your iPhone from Apple TV by disabling AirPlay:

• Swipe down on the top right corner of your iPhone to open the Control Center.
• Find the AirPlay icon.
• Switch AirPlay off or select “Stop Mirroring.”

How to Disconnect Your iPhone from Apple TV

There are several ways to disconnect your iPhone from Apple TV, depending on how you connected it originally. 

But, disconnecting your iPhone from your Apple TV is simple, no matter how you go about it. 

You can disconnect your iPhone from Apple TV in the following ways:

• Disable Screen Mirroring
• Turn off Apple AirPlay
• Disconnect in the iTunes Remote app
• Remove iPhone from Apple TV
• Disconnect via Apple TV

Regardless of the type of connection between your iPhone and Apple TV, another easy way to disconnect from Apple TV is to remove it from your iPhone’s list of devices. 

Disable Screen Mirroring or Turn off AirPlay

To disconnect your iPhone from Apple TV after Screen Mirroring, swipe up on your iPhone from the bottom center portion of your screen to open the Control Center. 

If you have a newer model iPhone without a home button, swipe down from the upper-right corner.

Find the Screen Mirroring icon and turn it off. The icon will either be two uneven rectangles or a rectangle with a small triangle at the bottom.

This will turn off AirPlay and stop Screen Mirroring, meaning your iPhone’s screen will no longer be displayed on your TV.

Disconnect in the iTunes Remote App

One of Apple’s most convenient innovations is the ability to control Apple TV from your phone. 

With the iTunes Remote app, you can log into your Apple TV account and navigate your screen from your iPhone.

To disconnect your iPhone from Apple TV on the iTunes Remote app, follow the steps below:

• Open the iTunes Remote app.
• Locate “Settings”
• Find the connection between your iPhone and your Apple TV account.
• Switch the connection off or remove your device from Apple TV.

This allows you to disconnect the Remote app temporarily or remove the connection indefinitely.

Remove Apple TV from Your iPhone

If you want to remove your iPhone as a recognized device from your Apple TV rather than disconnect for a short time, the process is still easy.

Open your iPhone’s Bluetooth settings, then find your Apple TV in the list of devices. Press the “i” icon and select “Forget This Device.” This will remove the connection between your iPhone and your Apple TV.

This will cause your iPhone to “forget” the connection. If you want to connect your iPhone to Apple TV in the future, you will have to restart the connection sequence.

Disconnect via Apple TV

You can also disconnect your iPhone from Apple TV from the TV itself. While it may not be as quick or efficient as doing so from your iPhone, it is just as easy.

To disconnect your iPhone from Apple TV through your TV, follow the steps below:

• Open the Apple TV home screen.
• Open your Settings, or press the “Menu” button on your remote to open the Quick Access menu.
• Locate “AirPlay” and switch it off.

Keep in mind that disconnecting your iPhone from Apple TV via your TV sometimes makes the devices forget each other.

If you want to connect them again in the future, you may have to start the pairing process over.

Can Your iPhone Disconnect from Apple TV Automatically?

You might notice that your iPhone automatically disconnects from Apple TV. While this can be convenient if you intend to disconnect, it may be a nuisance if you are trying to use Apple TV.

Your iPhone may disconnect from Apple TV on its own for several reasons:

• WiFi turned off
• Unstable WiFi or Bluetooth connection
• iPhone out of range
• Required software update on your TV

Whether you are using WiFi, Bluetooth, or a hotspot to connect your iPhone to your Apple TV via AirPlay, a poor network can interfere with your connection.

If your iPhone is too far from your Apple TV or you have an unstable connection, Apple TV may not be able to recognize your device and will either disconnect or not connect initially.

Just like a typical WiFi or Bluetooth connection, your iPhone will not automatically disconnect from Apple TV just because you are not using it. 

Unless your iPhone is completely shut down, it should stay connected to Apple TV if the connection is stable.

If you leave your home with your iPhone, it will disconnect from Apple TV automatically, but when you return, it will likely reconnect on its own.

Your iPhone might also disconnect from Apple TV if your TV needs an update. As with restrictions on iPhones that need an update, Apple TV may not function properly if it is not up to date.