Troubleshooting Black Screen Problems on AirPlay

If you encounter a black screen on the TV while streaming via AirPlay, you may wonder what causes it. At that point, you can only hear the audio of a media file and can’t see the video source. It is one of the frustrating issues most Apple device users experience. In this guide, we have explained workarounds to fix the black screen issue on AirPlay so you can enjoy flawless wireless streaming.

Quick Fixes to Solve Black Screen Issues on AirPlay

To assist you in a better way, we have sorted out troubleshooting methods from basic to advanced.

DRM Restrictions by Apps

Many streaming apps, including Netflix, Disney+, MLB.tv, Peacock TV, Now TV, and DirecTV Stream, don’t support AirPlay. Even if you screen mirror your Apple device to an AirPlay-compatible TV, the content associated with the app won’t appear on the TV. Since those apps use Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology, the screen mirroring will be blocked, and you can only see a black screen. Instead of wireless streaming, you can install those apps on your TV directly and use them.

Test the Internet Speed

If your wireless connection is weak and unstable, your device may show a black screen on AirPlay. Check if you have an average internet speed of 25 Mbps or higher, especially when streaming 4K videos. Before initiating wireless streaming, you can visit any internet speed test online to ensure it is enough.

If your WiFi network keeps disconnecting, simply restart your router and try again. Sometimes, the issue might occur if your WiFi network has an outage, congested traffic, packet loss, or issues with the ISP. Contact your ISP and check if a problem is with their side and has been rectified.

Later, connect your device and AirPlay receiver to the same WiFi and start AirPlay. If you still get a black screen, you can troubleshoot it using the next method.

Enable AirPlay Settings

If you can’t AirPlay to a Mac, it means that the AirPlay receiver has not been activated yet. To fix this, go to the General settings on the Mac and click AirPlay & Handoff. In the respective section, click AirPlay Receiver and turn it ON.

If necessary, you can change the Allow AirPlay setting to your preference. Similarly, turn on AirPlay settings on your AirPlay-compatible TV and Apple TV to avoid getting a black screen when streaming wirelessly.

Check the Video Format

Another possible reason for black screen occurrence is an unsupported video format. Basically, AirPlay supports playing video formats, such as MP4, M4V, and MOV. So, it won’t play videos in other formats on your AirPlay receiver. We recommend updating your Apple device and the corresponding receiver regularly to get new features and compatibility support.

Restart and Update Devices

Updating the app and device is the best solution for all kinds of AirPlay problems. Visit the respective appstore on your TV and Apple device to update them to the latest version. After updating, restart both devices to refresh their function. Doing so will improve the device’s performance and remove unknown glitches that might be responsible for showing a black screen on AirPlay.

FAQ