To watch an iPad movie on your TV without cables, play the movie, tap the screen, tap the AirPlay button, and choose your Apple TV or AirPlay 2-enabled smart TV. Both must be on the same Wi-Fi network. To use a cable instead, connect a USB-C (or Lightning) adapter and an HDMI cable.
This guide covers iPad with the current iPadOS. It follows Apple’s Wirelessly stream videos and photos to Apple TV 4K or a smart TV and Connect iPad to a display with a cable guides, plus Apple’s AirPlay support article.
How to AirPlay a Movie From iPad to Your TV
- Connect your iPad and your Apple TV 4K or smart TV to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Start the movie in the Apple TV app or another supported video app.
- Tap the screen to show the controls.
- Tap the AirPlay button.
- Choose your Apple TV 4K or AirPlay 2-enabled smart TV.
- If an AirPlay passcode appears on the TV, type it on your iPad.
Result: The movie plays on your TV. To stop, Apple says to tap the AirPlay button in the app and choose your iPad from the list.
Apple notes that some video apps might not support AirPlay. If yours doesn’t, check the App Store on your Apple TV to see if the app is available there.
How to Mirror Your Whole iPad Screen
- Swipe down from the upper-right corner of the screen to open Control Center.
- Tap the Screen Mirroring button.
- Choose your Apple TV 4K or smart TV.
- If a passcode appears on the TV, enter it on your iPad.
Result: Everything on your iPad screen shows on the TV. To stop, open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, and tap Stop Mirroring. Apple says you can also press the Menu button on your Apple TV Remote.
How to Make iPad Connect to Your TV Automatically
Go to Settings > General > AirPlay & Continuity > Automatically AirPlay and choose a setting:
- Never: you pick a device every time.
- Ask: your iPad suggests a TV you use often, and you tap the notification to connect.
- Automatic: your iPad connects to a TV you use often on its own. Tap undo to disconnect and pick a different device.
Apple says automatic and suggested connections need both devices on the same Wi-Fi network. For an Apple TV, you also need to be signed in to the same iCloud account on both.
How to Connect iPad to a TV With a Cable
- Plug the right adapter into your iPad’s charging port: a USB-C Display AV Adapter for iPads with USB-C, or a Lightning Digital AV Adapter for iPads with Lightning.
- Connect an HDMI cable to the adapter.
- Plug the other end into your TV.
- Switch your TV to that HDMI input.
Result: Your iPad screen appears on the TV. If it doesn’t, Apple says to unplug the display from your iPad and plug it back in, then try unplugging the TV from power. On a Lightning adapter, you can plug your charge cable into the extra port to charge while you watch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an Apple TV to AirPlay from iPad?
No. Apple says you can AirPlay to an Apple TV 4K or an AirPlay 2-enabled smart TV. Apple keeps a list of AirPlay 2-enabled TVs on its Home accessories website.
What’s the difference between AirPlay and screen mirroring?
Apple describes AirPlay from a video app as streaming that video to your TV. Screen mirroring shows exactly what’s on your iPad screen, so anything else you open on the iPad appears on the TV too. To show photos instead of a movie, see how to use AirPlay to view an iPhone picture on an Apple TV.
Related Guides
- How to re-download purchased movies on iPad
- How to watch Netflix on iPad
- How to watch HBO Max on iPad
- How to stream Apple Music to an Apple TV
Have an older TV without an HDMI port? See how to connect an Apple TV to a TV without HDMI using a converter. To send Yahoo news or finance clips to the TV, see how to watch Yahoo video on an Apple TV.
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.