If you’re itching to have everyone watch your iPhone video on your Vizio TV, then AirPlay has got to be the best option to stream it. Plus, using the wireless protocol should be a breeze, as Apple is all about consumer satisfaction.
To turn on AirPlay on your Vizio TV, go to your remote and press the SmartCast (home) button. After which, select Extras, then AirPlay, and then toggle the Apple AirPlay settings to On.
After which, swipe down on your iPhone, tap the Screen Mirroring option, and choose your Vizio TV from the options presented.
Step 1: Tap your SmartCast Home button on your Vizio TV remote.  |
Step 2: Select Extras. |
Step 3: Choose Apple AirPlay and toggle it to on.  |
Step 4: Swipe down on your iPhone |
Step 4: Tap Screen Mirroring. |
Step 5: Select your Vizio TV. |
Note: Your Vizio TV and iOS device must be on the same WiFi network.
Which Vizio TV models support AirPlay?
Later models from 2016 up support AirPlay 2, allowing you to watch personal content on the broader screen; however, older ones may not have the wireless streaming feature. For a quick reference on particular models, check the table below.
| Vizio Smart TVs that Support AirPlay 2 | |
| Vizio Model Series | Year Manufactured |
| OLED | 2020 |
| V-Series | 2019 up |
| D-Series | 2018 up |
| P-Series | Quantum (2018 up)Quantum X (2019 up) |
| M-Series | 2016 up |
| E- Series | 2016 up |
With any of the smart Vizio TVs above, you can stream content from your iPhone, iPad, or even your Macbook and any Apple device. Even better, the latest Vizio TVs come with Homekit, allowing you to issue Siri voice commands to your TV.
“How would I know if my TV supports AirPlay?” you ask. It’s simple: Check for the AirPlay icon via your SmartCast Home.
| Step 1: Tap your SmartCast Home button on your Vizio TV remote. |
Step 2: Look for the AirPlay symbol beside the cast symbol in the upper right corner of your screen.  Note: Sometimes, the AirPlay symbol is located at the bottom of the screen, depending on the Vizio TV model. |
IMPORTANT: Your Apple device must have iOS version 12.4 at the very least. Also, make sure you have the updated version of your TV software, and if the AirPlay option is not in your settings, your Vizio may not support the feature.
How do I connect my iPhone to my Vizio TV?
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 4 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 30 to 60 seconds |
| Things Needed | A Vizio smart TV A Vizio TV remote control |
Before going any further, please remember that your Vizio TV and iPhone must be on the same WiFi network for AirPlay to work.
| Step 1: Go to the control center. Tap the top right-hand side of your iPhone and slide down. Note: For older iPhone models, the ones where there’s a physical home button, you don’t swipe down. Instead, you swipe from the bottom up.  |
Step 2: Once in the control center, tap Screen Mirroring.  |
Step 3: Select the Vizio TV in the option presented.  |
Step 4: Enter the Passcode presented on your Vizio TV on your iPhone. Tap OK.  Note: Set the Require Code option to First Time Only. This way, you won’t have to enter a code every time you use AirPlay. |
You should be able to stream and mirror personal content on your iPhone to your Vizio smart TV. Note, however, that the resulting image on your TV will look like a glorified version of your smartphone screen.
For pictures and videos, you can adjust your iPhone so your graphics occupy the whole screen of the Vizio TV — and that is to hold your device horizontally
How to Fix Vizio Airplay Not Working
If you’ve connected AirPlay to your Vizio seamlessly, congratulations. Chances are, however, you will encounter various issues down the road, so we recommend you take a good look at the three proven hacks below to get things going.
FIX 1. Power cycle your TV
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 4 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 90 to 120 seconds |
| Things Needed | A Vizio smart TV A Vizio TV remote control |
Power cycling your Vizio may look like a simplistic approach to an AirPlay issue on the smart TV brand, and there’s a chance some may feel it’s a bit dumb. But there’s a method to this simple approach and one that you shouldn’t ignore.
Power cycling, aka soft reboot, automatic reboot, power reset, and quick boot, goes beyond a simple power on-off routine we all do now and then. The difference lies in the time element in turning your TV back on.
So, what does power cycling do exactly?
Compared to a simple power reset that only deals with glitches, power cycling deals with software and hardware-related errors, such as the transistor and capacitor.
Excessive static charge can accumulate on the electronics when being used for a long period. This creates temporary memory files and performance issues in these devices.
Power cycling your TV allows you to counter all these. As a result, your TV:
- clears the RAM;
- loads back the unit’s core files; and
- drains all the electricity remaining in the internal circuit.
Here are ways to do it:
Step 1: Turn your TV off via remote.  |
Step 2: Unplug your TV from the wall.  Note: This is non-negotiable. Turning your TV off via remote is not enough and you should ensure the TV is plugged off the wall. |
Step 3: Wait for 60 seconds. In the meantime, press and hold the power button of your Vizio for about 15 seconds.  |
| Step 4: Power your TV back on. |
You should be able to power your TV back on without issue. Just do your usual routine to power it back up, and you should be good to go — with your Vizio TV AirPlay issue out of the way.
FIX 2. Power cycle your WiFi router
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 3 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 60 seconds |
| Things Needed | Vizio TV WiFi router |
You may be wondering why you should bother with the WiFi. The reason is simple: Apple AirPlay wireless technology works only with the internet.
With that said, you need to double-check your internet connection to make the most of AirPlay. The good news is power cycling the wireless router is one way to straighten things up.
Step 1: Unplug your WiFi router from the wall.  Note: Alternatively, you can unplug the power cord at the back of your router or turn off the power switch of your internet router. |
| Step 2: Wait for 30 seconds. |
Step 3: Turn your WiFi router back on.  Note: Make sure everything’s in order. You should see all the lights back on. |
| Reminder: You also need to power cycle your paired iOS device by turning it completely off and then waiting a minute or two before turning it back on. |
FIX 3. Update your Vizio TV system
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 4 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 10 minutes |
| Things Needed | A Vizio smart TV A Vizio TV remote control A working internet connection |
Updating your Vizio TV’s software is also essential if you’re encountering issues with AirPlay. Sometimes, there are new bugs in the system and Apple issues improvements in their updates.
With the latest software update, compatibility issues may get ironed out. Plus, getting the latest system update is also about security, which means you get the most potent protection against malicious hackers.
Step 1: Tap the Menu button on the Vizio TV remote control. |
Step 2: Select System. |
Step 3: Choose the Check for Updates option; then, click Yes to confirm.  Note: Let the system scan for updates. Ensure your internet connection is robust so you won’t miss system updates. |
| Step 4: Once updates are available, select Yes to install the latest. Just follow the prompt. Note: Ensure your TV has ample storage, or the updates won’t be installed. You can uninstall unimportant apps ahead of time. |
Another solution is to check your paired connection. You can do this simply by turning off your devices, both your TV and your iPhone, and then checking if the connection is established once back on.
If all else fails, you may have to factory reset your TV. Or let the pros in by checking things out with Vizio Support.
- 205-301-3729 (SMS/MMS only)
- 844-254-8087 (Canada & US)
- 844-324-5953 (Mexico)
One good thing about talking to Vizio experts is they know the product more than most. The downside is you may have to be patient, as there’s a good chance you’ll fall in line.
How do you screen mirror from iPhones to Vizio TVs?
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 3 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 15 to 30 seconds |
| Things Needed | A Vizio smart TV A Vizio TV remote control |
Once you know how to enable AirPlay on Vizio TV, then mirroring your iOS device on your TV should be a walk in the park. For one, the trick here is to use the Screen Mirroring feature on your Apple smartphone.
Again, make sure you’ve connected your devices to the same WiFi network before you proceed. After which, you need to pair your Vizio TV and your iPhone or for that matter, any iOS device (e.g., iPad, MacBook Air) as detailed in the steps earlier.
So, heads up. The steps below won’t work if you haven’t paired your Vizio and your iOS device ahead of time.
| Step 1: Access control center. Tap the top right-hand side of your iPhone and slide down. Note: For older iPhone models, the ones where there’s a physical home button, you don’t swipe down. Instead, you swipe from the bottom up. |
Step 2: Once in the control center, tap Screen Mirroring.  |
Step 3: Select your Vizio TV in the option presented.  |
Step 4: See your iPhone screen mirrored on your Vizio TV.  Note: To occupy the whole screen of your TV, you need to tilt your phone horizontally. |
To disable screen mirroring, go to the process above and toggle the Screen Mirror function off by tapping on it.
How to Airplay to Vizio TV without WiFi
Well, we’ve shown you how to enable AirPay on Vizio TV using the internet, but what if your WiFi is down? You might be surprised, but there are ways to use the Apple wireless service when you don’t have a signal.
We’re detailing here not one but two ways to use AirPlay even without WiFi.
FIX 1. Use wired connection
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 2 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 10 to 15 seconds |
| Things Needed | An iPhone Apple digital AV adapterHDMI cable |
Indeed, a wired connection is the obvious choice when you want to use AirPlay without using wireless internet. The trick here is to use a digital AV adapter; we recommend you use Apple’s digital AV adapter.
The AV adapter allows data to flow from your portable iPhone directly to your smart Vizio TV using an HDMI cable. The process of connecting both devices should be straightforward.
Step 1: Connect a digital AV adapter to your iPhone charging port.   |
Step 2: Connect your iPhone to the Vizio TV with an HDMI cable.   |
That should be quick if you have the AV adapter and HDMI cable at hand. Note that for older iPhones with a 30-pin cable, you may have to find appropriate AV adapters in Amazon or other online stores as the Lightning AV adapter won’t fit.
But if you hate using wires, the next solution should be timely.
FIX 2. Use Bluetooth
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 6 |
| Time to Perform Fix | 60 to 90 seconds |
| Things Needed | A iPhoneVizio TV Apple TV with remote |
Lastly, you can use Bluetooth technology to make the most of AirPlay without using the internet. It’s easy to think of these two short-range wireless technologies as competitors, but they can work hand in hand.
The advantages run aplenty: With Bluetooth and AirPlay working together, you can use Apple’s wireless technology anywhere. But you will use peer-to-peer AirPlay using Apple TV for this method to work.
The trick is ensuring you’ve logged out of any WiFi network and paired your Apple TV and iPhone using Bluetooth. Also, you need to enable operating with WiFi connectivity on your smartphone and your Apple TV for this to work.
Step 1: Using your Apple TV remote, get the latest Apple TV app updates. Go to System on your Apple TV.  |
Step 2: Select Software Updates and then choose Update Software.   |
Step 3: Disconnect Apple TV and iPhone from your current WiFi network.  Note: Do not turn off WiFi connectivity. You can check if it’s on if the WiFi icon on both your iPhone and Apple TV is there. |
| Step 4: Go to the control center of your iPhone. Tap the top right-hand side of your iPhone and slide down. Note: For older iPhone models, the ones where there’s a physical home button, you don’t swipe down. Instead, you swipe from the bottom up. |
Step 5: Tap Screen Mirroring on your iPhone.  |
Step 6: Tap and connect to your Apple TV once the options come.   |
