HomeView can’t yet run Apple TV, Apple Books audiobooks, Apple Music Classical or Apple News Plus by itself. To use them, play them on an iPhone and send the picture or sound to HomeView over AirPlay.
Know what you need before starting
The Verge reports that Apple promotes HomeView as an ideal way to enjoy its audio and video entertainment apps. Even so, the device’s specification page lists several of Apple’s own services that don’t run natively on it. Named examples include the Apple TV app, audiobooks from Apple Books, Apple Music Classical and Apple News Plus. According to the report, the Apple TV app only works on HomeView when it is sent from an iPhone using AirPlay.
This guide covers that workaround. Before you begin, you will need:
- A HomeView that has been set up and is connected to your home network.
- An iPhone with the app you want to use installed, and with you signed in to the relevant subscription.
- The iPhone and HomeView on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Enough battery on the iPhone, or a charger nearby, because the phone does the playback for the whole session.
Apple has not said whether it will add native versions of these apps to HomeView later, or when. The steps below follow the general way AirPlay works on Apple devices. Exact menu names and settings on HomeView may differ, so check the device’s own settings if something does not match.
Confirm which apps need AirPlay
First, work out whether the app you want really lacks a native version. Look for it on HomeView. If you can open it there, use that version. Native playback usually means fewer steps and leaves your phone free.
If the app isn’t there, check it against the specification page Apple publishes for HomeView. That page is where The Verge found the list of unsupported apps. The four apps named above are the ones reported. The full list may be longer, and it may change with software updates, so treat any list as a snapshot.
Put both devices on the same network
AirPlay normally needs the sending and receiving devices to be on the same local network. On the iPhone, open Settings, tap Wi-Fi and note which network is connected. Then check the network setting on HomeView.
Many homes have more than one network, such as separate 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks, a guest network, or a mesh system with several names. If so, make sure both devices use the same one. A guest network often keeps devices apart from each other, which can stop HomeView from appearing as a destination.
If your network uses a VPN on the iPhone, or a firewall on the router, either can block AirPlay discovery. Turning off the VPN for the session is a common fix.
Start playback on the iPhone
Open the unsupported app on the iPhone and start whatever you want to watch or hear: a film or episode in Apple TV, an audiobook in Apple Books, a recording in Apple Music Classical, or an article or audio feature in Apple News Plus.
Starting playback on the phone first is usually easier. Apps tend to show their AirPlay controls only once media is loaded. You can pause straight away if you aren’t ready.
Choose HomeView as the AirPlay destination
Look in the app’s player controls for the AirPlay icon. It is a rectangle with a triangle at the bottom for video, or circles with a triangle for audio. Tap it, and you should see a list of nearby devices that can receive AirPlay. Select HomeView.
You can also open Control Centre on the iPhone. Long-press the media playback tile and tap the AirPlay icon there, then choose HomeView from the list.
The first time you connect, HomeView may ask for a code or for approval. Apple devices can require this depending on their AirPlay access settings. Enter the code shown on the HomeView screen if asked. How HomeView handles AirPlay permissions by default is not known from the reported material, so check its settings if the connection is refused.
Use screen mirroring when no AirPlay button appears
Some apps or screens have no AirPlay button. In that case, screen mirroring is the alternative. Open Control Centre, tap Screen Mirroring and choose HomeView. Everything on the iPhone display then appears on HomeView, including notifications.
Use mirroring as a fallback rather than your first choice. With a normal AirPlay stream, the receiving device usually fetches the media and you can use your phone for other things. Mirroring ties the output to what is on your phone screen. Switching apps or locking the phone can interrupt it. Before mirroring, turn on a Focus mode such as Do Not Disturb so that private messages don’t pop up on a shared screen.
Control and end the session
While AirPlay is running, play, pause, volume and skip controls are normally on the iPhone, both in the app and in Control Centre. Whether HomeView’s own touch or voice controls can control an incoming AirPlay stream is not stated in the source material. Assume the phone is the main remote until you have tested it.
To finish, open the AirPlay menu again and select the iPhone itself, or stop mirroring from Control Centre. If you just walk away with the phone, the stream may keep going until the phone leaves the network range.
Avoid the mistakes people make
- Using two different networks. This is the most common reason HomeView doesn’t appear in the AirPlay list. Check both devices before anything else.
- Mirroring when AirPlay would do. Mirroring shows your whole screen, notifications included, and stops when you lock the phone. Use the in-app AirPlay button where there is one.
- Expecting the phone to be free. With these apps, the iPhone is part of the setup. Taking a call or leaving the room can interrupt playback.
- Assuming every Apple app is native. Being made by Apple doesn’t mean an app runs on HomeView. The reported list shows that Apple’s own services are among those missing.
- Treating the list as fixed. Software updates may add native apps. Check the specification page again after updates instead of relying on old information.
Recognise when this approach is the wrong choice
AirPlay from a phone is a workaround, not a substitute for a native app. It suits occasional use, such as a short episode while cooking or an audiobook chapter in the kitchen. It suits regular, long viewing less well.
It is a poor fit when nobody in the household has an iPhone signed in to the right subscription. It is also a poor fit when several people want to use the device without passing a phone around, or when the phone is needed for other things during playback. If the main reason for buying HomeView was to watch Apple TV content on it directly, the current lack of native support is worth weighing before you buy.
If you already own another screen that runs the Apple TV app natively, that is likely to be the simpler option for long sessions. For audio-only services, a speaker that supports the app natively may also avoid the phone dependency.
Frequently asked questions
Can HomeView play Apple TV without an iPhone?
According to The Verge, no. The specification page for HomeView shows that the Apple TV app isn’t natively supported on the device, so you can’t open it directly. The reported way to watch Apple TV content on HomeView is to play it on an iPhone and send it across with AirPlay. Apple hasn’t said publicly whether or when a native version will arrive.
Which Apple apps don’t work natively on HomeView?
The Verge, citing Apple’s HomeView specification page, names the Apple TV app, Apple Books audiobooks, Apple Music Classical and Apple News Plus as unsupported natively. These are reported examples and may not be a complete list. Software updates could also change which apps are supported, so check Apple’s current specification page for the latest position before you rely on any particular service.
Why does HomeView not show up in my AirPlay list?
The usual cause is that the iPhone and HomeView are on different Wi-Fi networks, such as a guest network or a separate band. A VPN on the phone or strict router settings can also block discovery. Put both devices on the same network, turn off any VPN and try again. If HomeView still doesn’t appear, check its AirPlay access settings.
Is screen mirroring the same as AirPlay to HomeView?
Not quite. With standard AirPlay, you choose HomeView from the AirPlay button inside an app, and only that media is sent. Screen mirroring copies your entire iPhone display, notifications included, and usually stops if you lock the phone or switch apps. Use the in-app AirPlay option when it’s available, and keep mirroring for apps that don’t offer it.
Sources and further reading
- The Verge: reporting on HomeView apps that need AirPlay from an iPhone.
- Apple: the HomeView technical specification page that lists supported and unsupported apps.
- Apple Support: general documentation on using AirPlay and screen mirroring from an iPhone.
- Apple Support: guidance on Wi-Fi network requirements for AirPlay devices.
Surfaced from the rss:verge signal “smart home display app support”. AI-assisted draft, editorially reviewed.
