To AirPlay a Plex movie from an iPhone to an Apple TV, make sure both are on the same Wi-Fi network, open the Plex app, swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center, tap the AirPlay icon on the Now Playing block, and choose your Apple TV. Then start the movie in Plex and it plays on your TV.
These steps follow Plex’s Chromecast, AirPlay, and Casting article (for the Plex mobile app version 2025.10 and newer) and Apple’s Wirelessly stream videos and photos to Apple TV guide for iOS 27.
What You Need
- The Plex app on your iPhone, signed in to the account that can access your Plex Media Server.
- An Apple TV or another AirPlay-compatible TV.
- Your iPhone and Apple TV on the same Wi-Fi network. Apple says this is required to stream video to Apple TV.
- Your Plex Media Server running on a computer or other device.
How to AirPlay a Plex Movie to Apple TV
- Open the Plex app on your iPhone.
- Before or during playback, swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen to open Control Center.
- Tap the AirPlay icon on the Now Playing block.
- Choose your Apple TV.
- If an AirPlay passcode appears on the TV, enter it on your iPhone.
- Return to Plex and play the movie.
Result: The movie plays on your Apple TV, and your iPhone acts as the remote.
Using the AirPlay button in the video player
Apple’s guide also describes tapping the screen during playback in a supported video app to show the controls, then tapping the AirPlay button and choosing your Apple TV. If you don’t see that button in Plex, use the Control Center method above, which is the one Plex documents.
How to Control Playback
Plex says that after you start playing, you can open Control Center again and tap the Now Playing block to use it as a remote.
To move playback back to your iPhone, or to a different TV, open the AirPlay options again and choose a different destination. AirPlay is not limited to video, so you can also use AirPlay to show iPhone pictures on your Apple TV.
Watching Away From Home
AirPlay itself needs your iPhone and Apple TV on the same Wi-Fi network. Separately, Plex has requirements for streaming from your server when you’re not on the same local network. Since April 29, 2025, Plex says remote video playback from a Plex Media Server in its new apps needs one of these:
- An active Plex Pass on the server owner’s account
- An active Plex Pass on your account
- An active Remote Watch Pass on your account
The server also needs Remote Access turned on. These requirements don’t apply when your iPhone and the server are on the same home network.
Alternatives to AirPlay
- Use the Plex app on Apple TV. Installing Plex directly on the Apple TV lets you browse and play without your iPhone.
- Cast to Chromecast. Plex’s mobile app can also cast to Chromecast devices and TVs with Chromecast built in, using the cast icon in the top right of the app.
For other ways to send content to the TV, see how to play Spotify on other devices. If you type a lot on your Apple TV, you can also use a Bluetooth keyboard with Apple TV.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don’t I see my Apple TV in the AirPlay list?
Make sure your iPhone and Apple TV are on the same Wi-Fi network and that the Apple TV is turned on.
Is the Plex app free on iPhone?
Plex says its iOS app is free to download from the App Store. Some features, like remote streaming of your own videos, require a Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass.
Can I control the volume from my iPhone?
Plex notes that, depending on the audio format and setup, it isn’t always possible to control the TV’s volume from the mobile app when casting.
Want to send YouTube videos the same way? See how to watch YouTube on the Apple TV with an iPhone.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.