AirPlay and screen mirroring are related, not competing Samsung TV modes. AirPlay is Apple’s way to send media to a compatible Samsung TV and, on an iPhone or iPad, the route used to mirror the whole screen. “Screen mirroring” describes what appears on the TV; Samsung Galaxy phones use Smart View to do that.
What’s the difference between AirPlay and screen mirroring?
AirPlay is Apple’s feature for sending selected audio, photos, and video from an Apple device to a compatible TV. It can also mirror an iPhone or iPad display. Screen mirroring means showing the device’s screen on the TV, rather than sending only a selected item.
- iPhone or iPad: Use Control Center’s Screen Mirroring control to show the full display, or use an app’s AirPlay or share control to send selected media.
- Samsung Galaxy phone: Use Smart View in Quick Settings to mirror the phone screen. Samsung says Smart View is integrated into Galaxy phones, not a separate app to download.
Samsung distinguishes both of these from app-level casting, which sends specific content from a supported app rather than mirroring the entire phone display. App and service restrictions can affect whether particular content can be mirrored or sent.
Which method should you use?
| What you want to do | Use | What appears on the TV |
|---|---|---|
| Show an iPhone or iPad screen | Control Center > Screen Mirroring | The device display |
| Play a selected photo or video from an Apple device | Photos > Share > AirPlay | The selected media |
| Send audio from an Apple device | AirPlay output control in the music player or Control Center | Audio output |
| Show a Galaxy phone screen | Quick Settings > Smart View | The device display |
| Send content from a supported app | The app’s casting or AirPlay control, if available | That app’s selected content |
Check whether your Samsung TV supports AirPlay
Do not rely on a single year cutoff. Samsung’s US support page says AirPlay is supported on Samsung Smart TVs released since 2018. Samsung’s UK AirPlay 2 page lists specific products and model families from 2018 onward, while a separate UK mirroring guide says AirPlay can be used on Samsung TVs manufactured after 2019. The difference means the market and exact model matter.
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On the TV, look for Apple AirPlay Settings under Settings > General. Samsung says that if this item is absent, the TV is not supported. Confirm using the full model number and the Samsung support page for your region rather than assuming every TV from a particular year qualifies. Samsung’s US phone-connection guide identifies Tizen-based Smart TVs released in 2015 or later for Smart View mirroring; it also notes a Samsung account requirement. Menu paths and functions can vary by TV and software version.
Mirror an iPhone or iPad to a Samsung TV
- Check that the TV model supports AirPlay and that Apple AirPlay Settings is enabled on the TV.
- Connect the Apple device and TV to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open Control Center on the iPhone or iPad and tap Screen Mirroring.
- Select the Samsung TV from the device list.
- If a code appears on the TV, enter it on the Apple device.
Send selected photos, video, or audio instead
Photos and video
Open Photos, select an item, tap Share, choose AirPlay, and select the TV. A code may be required.
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Audio
In the music player or Control Center, open the AirPlay output control and choose the TV. This sends audio without mirroring the whole phone screen.
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Mirror a Galaxy phone to a Samsung TV
- Open Quick Settings and tap Smart View.
- Select the TV.
- Tap Start now, then approve the TV’s access request or enter a PIN if prompted.
Fix common connection problems
- The TV does not appear: Confirm that the phone or tablet and TV are on the same Wi-Fi network, then verify that the exact TV model supports the feature you are trying to use.
- AirPlay will not start: Check that AirPlay is enabled in the TV’s Apple AirPlay Settings. Accept the connection request or enter the displayed code if prompted.
- The connection still fails: Check that mirroring is switched on and TV permission is granted. Samsung also recommends restarting the phone and TV; if devices still cannot find one another, restart the router or app.
- Wireless sharing is not workable: HDMI is a possible wired fallback if the device supports video output through a compatible adapter. Samsung describes a separately sold adapter for USB-C devices and says it cannot guarantee the performance of third-party adapters for older devices. Check the device’s port and video-output support before choosing an adapter.
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