Skip to main content

Netflix for iOS suddenly stops working with Apple AirPlay after 6 years

Netflix fans have suddenly found themselves unable to get the streaming service’s app for iPhones and iPads working with Apple’s AirPlay.

AirPlay is a feature that allows users to play media such as videos and music from iOS devices on Apple TV- and AirPlay-enabled TVs and smart speakers. It allowed people watching Netflix on their iPhones and iPads to instantly play the content on their TVs.

However, in an unexpected move, Netflix for iOS dropped support for AirPlay, which it had supported since 2013.

“Airplay is no longer supported for use with Netflix due to technical limitations,” according to a support page on Netflix’s official website, leaving only built-in Chromecast, the Netflix 2nd Screen feature, and external cables as the only ways to connect Netflix for iOS to a TV. The AirPlay icon is no longer seen on the iOS app. Attempts to activate AirPlay through the Control Center will be met with an error message that says “Cannot play title. Please try again later.”

“We want to make sure our members have a great Netflix experience on any device they use. With AirPlay support rolling out to third-party devices, there isn’t a way for us to distinguish between devices (what is an Apple TV versus what isn’t) or certify these experiences. Therefore, we have decided to discontinue Netflix AirPlay support to ensure our standard of quality for viewing is being met. Members can continue to access Netflix on the built-in app across Apple TV and other devices,” a spokesperson for the streaming service wrote in a statement .

The spokesperson also clarified that Apple will remain as a “valued partner,” and that the dropped AirPlay support is not due to the competition between the companies’ businesses.

People will still be able to watch shows from the streaming service on their TVs through versions of its app for Apple TV, smart TVs, video game consoles, and other platforms. Bad news, though, for the times when AirPlay made things more convenient, such as when a person watching on their iPhone or iPads moves to a room where they can play the content on the TV.

The decision for the iOS app to drop AirPlay support may be part of a broader disagreement between Netflix and Apple, as the latter is preparing to launch a competitor in the streaming service space.

Apple recently unveiled Apple TV Plus, an ad-free, subscription-based streaming service that will launch this fall. Apple also announced a redesigned Apple TV app that will provide a unified experience for watching TV shows, movies, and third-party services across iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs, Mac computers, smart TVs, and other streaming devices. The updated app, expected to launch in May, will sell a-la-carte subscriptions to services such as HBO, Showtime, Stars, and others, but not including Netflix.

Updated April 6, 2019: Added clarifying statement from Netflix. 

Editors' Recommendations

Aaron Mamiit
Aaron received a NES and a copy of Super Mario Bros. for Christmas when he was 4 years old, and he has been fascinated with…
Apple finally fixed my biggest problem with the iPhone 14 Pro Max
apple fixed my biggest problem with iphone 14 pro max 1443

Good battery life is a well-known trait of the iPhone. As a battery-anxious person, it's one of the reasons why I shifted to iOS. The iPhone 13 Pro Max took it to the next level with excellent battery optimization that would see the phone last me an entire day with ease – no matter how heavy the usage. The same didn’t happen when I shifted to the iPhone 14 Pro Max. And it was primarily due to iOS 16. The initial versions, up until iOS 16.4, were buggy and bad with battery optimization.

I was about to move back to Android, but iOS 16.5 has me hooked. The update is one of the best in the recent past from Apple. While I’ve been testing iOS 17 for the past week on another iPhone, I installed iOS 16.5 in late May on my primary phone – the iPhone 14 Pro Max — and I’m extremely happy with what Apple has done with this version.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max's battery problem has finally been fixed
The chart shows 50% battery left after using the iPhone 14 Pro Max for 5 hours and 43 minutes. Prakhar Khanna/Digital Trends

Read more
iOS 17: Apple didn’t add the one feature I’ve been waiting for
Multiwindow on Galaxy S23 Ultra (on left) and multiwindow with popup window on Oppo Find X6 Pro (on right).

Multiwindow on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (left) and multiwindow with pop-up window on the Oppo Find X6 Pro (right). Prakhar Khanna/Digital Trends

I’m a big-screen phone advocate. While I like the comfort of holding a compact phone (such as the Samsung Galaxy S23 with a 6.1-inch display), I prefer using devices like the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Oppo Find X6 Pro, Xiaomi 13 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Read more
iOS 17 isn’t the iPhone update I was hoping for
iMessage stickers in iOS 17

Apple gave us a jam-packed WWDC 2023 keynote, and it was one of the most significant ones in years. After all, it introduced a brand new product category for Apple with the Vision Pro mixed reality headset. It’s basically as significant as when Steve Jobs revealed the iPhone in 2007, then the iPad in 2010, and when Tim Cook showed off the Apple Watch in 2014.

But the headset isn’t the only thing we got in the WWDC keynote. Since it’s a developer conference, it’s also about the software for all of our devices. This includes iOS 17 for the iPhone, along with iPadOS 17, watchOS 10, and macOS 14 Sonoma.

Read more