How to Stop iPhone and iPad from Automatically Connecting to AirPlay TVs

With AirPlay, mirroring videos from iPhone to compatible devices like Apple TV is a seamless experience. While there are several third-party wireless streaming services in the market, none can compete with the repertoire of Apple’s media-streaming technology. The latest iteration of iOS enables iPhones to auto-connect to AirPlay TVs so that users can get started with binge-watching straightaway. Though it is a well-thought-out feature, I don’t think everyone is going to appreciate this behavior. Frankly speaking, I have found it a tad annoying. It’s not like that every time when I play videos on the iPhone, I want to send them right away on the big screen. Luckily, Apple has offered a way to stop the iPhone and iPad from automatically connecting to AirPlay TVs. Let me talk you through how it works!

Prevent iPhone and iPad from Auto-Connecting to AirPlay TVs

You guessed it. You can’t turn off this AirPlay feature without having to dive a little deep into the Settings – at least for now. One more thing worth keeping in mind is that your devices must be running iOS 13.2 and the equivalent version of iPadOS to take control of it. Else, the Automatic AirPlay option won’t show up.

1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. Then, tap on General. 

Launch Settings app and choose General

2. Next, tap on AirPlay & Handoff.

AirPlay & Handoff

3. Next up, tap on Automatically AirPlay to TVs.

Tap on Automatic AirPlay to TVs

4. On the next screen, you have three options:

Choose Never to stop your iOS device from connecting to AirPlay supported TVs automatically

  • Never: Choose it to prevent your iOS or iPadOS device from automatically sending videos to the AirPlay supported smart TVs.
  • Ask: Select it to get a prompt asking you to confirm before automatically connecting to the nearby AirPlay TVs when playing videos in the compatible apps. 
  • Automatic: It’s selected by default and allows you to automatically mirror the videos playing on your device. 

Select Never. If you ever wished to change this behavior and want to get back the default functionality, navigate to the same settings (mentioned above) and then choose Automatic in the end.

Stop Your iOS or iPadOS Device from Auto-Connecting to AirPlay TVs

Expanding the boundary of AirPlay beyond the Apple ecosystem is a part of the long-baked strategy to boost the growth of a series of Apple Services including the newly launched Apple TV+. With this media-streaming protocol finally going beyond the Apple ecosystem, it remains to be seen whether or not iMessage and AirDrop also get the much-awaited expansion. We hope that Apple is working to bring these features across platforms because they are really good. And finding iMessage alternatives or AirDrop alternatives might be a quick fix but not a real solution. How do you feel about this topic. Let us know in the comments section below.

comment Comments 5
  • my name is ruined says:

    A completely awful privacy breach that I cannot control nor disable because someone made a parental control of my identity and has restricted my phone and settings also !!! A family member or a sick clan that controls groups of targeted people ? which?
    After seeking help and turning off my wifi and internet my house was burglarized – thats some statement about hacker wolves who use devices to access information and block my trusted contacts or even put them in ( downtime contacts ) which I never did. Apple has destroyed itself by making their product controlled by them which is wrong – I own the product outright and should be able to control the product as the rightful owner and they took that right away from me.

  • I’ve turned off AirDrop and AirPlay and my phone is still connecting to my neighbors TV. Needless to say this is embarrassing. says:

    I’ve turned off AirDrop and AirPlay and my phone is still connecting to my neighbors TV. Needless to say this is embarrassing.

  • Patricia Statin says:

    Nope !

  • S. Sivad says:

    Just bought a new iPhone 12 and can’t use headphones because AirPlay is somehow going…..WTF?

  • Zt says:

    Airplay is a breach of privacy. Just bought a new 7 plus and watched porn on it for the first time. Little did I know that automatic air play was enabled, and my parents/in laws got a glimpse of what I am into sexually. Absolutely ridiculous that this is a default setting. I honestly feel like getting a lawyer and going to court for this. Embarrassing is a complete understatement!!

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