One of the most useful features of the Apple TV is its ability to wirelessly “mirror” other Apple devices directly to your TV set, using the built-in AirPlay software. Follow the steps below to get an exact copy of your iPad screen to appear on your television.This procedure requires an iPad 2 (or later) running iOS 5 (or later), and a second or third generation Apple TV connected to a TV set.
Steps
Turn your TV on.
Wake your Apple TV.
Press any button on your Apple TV remote to wake the device.
On your iPad, access the Multitasking Bar.
- Press the home button twice rapidly. On the bottom of the screen, you’ll see a strip of icons showing all your open apps.
- Swipe the bar from left to right. This will bring up a strip that includes controls for your iPad’s volume, brightness, music, and AirPlay.
Tap the AirPlay Icon.
This will display a list of AirPlay-enabled devices connected to your network, including your iPad and your AppleTV.
Choose “AppleTV” from the list.
If you have multiple Apple TV’s on your network, select the one to which you would like to mirror your iPad’s display.
- Enter the password (if any) for the Apple TV.
Slide the “Mirroring” switch to the “On” position.
Your iPad is now mirrored to your Apple TV.
Tips
- Your iPad will mirror in whatever orientation you are holding your iPad. To keep the TV image from rotating unexpectedly, activate your iPad’s Orientation Lock.
- If the aspect ratio of your iPad screen is different from your TV’s, or if you are using the iPad in Portrait mode, you will see black bars along the top and bottom of your screen. Some TVs allow you to zoom in so as to reduce the size of these black bars.
- It is not necessary to mirror your iPad screen simply to share videos. All video content from iTunes, as well as most online videos, can be sent to your AppleTV by tapping the AirPlay icon in the bottom right corner of the video player.
Warnings
- AirPlay mirroring will not work with a first-generation iPad, or on iOS4.
- AirPlay mirroring will not work on the older, first-generation Apple TV. (If your Apple TV looks like a small black “hockey puck,” you’re good.)
- Some apps prevent themselves from being mirrored, usually due to copyright and licensing considerations. The HBOGO app is one such example.