One cool feature about Apple TV is that it can act as an AirPlay receiver, allowing iPhone and iPad users to beam content from their device to their TV using Apple TV. However, if you don’t have an Apple TV, here’s how you can add AirPlay support to your Mac or Windows PC.
Using a piece of software called AirServer, you can beam content to your Mac or PC using AirPlay and allow you to watch that content on your computer screen. Sure, it might be worth buying an Apple TV if you plan to use AirPlay often and want to do it on your television, but if you’re only going to use AirPlay often, purchasing an AirServer can be a great investment. and ultimately you’ll save some money by not buying an Apple TV.
Also, if you have a home theater computer connected to your television, this is the perfect setup. On top of that, simply install AirServer and you will be able to beam content from your iOS device or Mac to your television without the need for an Apple TV.
No matter your intent or how you hope to use AirPlay, here’s how to set up AirServer so you can beam content from your iPhone or iPad to the screen of your Mac or PC.
Download AirServer
AirServer is paid software priced at $14.99 for a basic consumer license. However, with the free trial, you can try it for seven days and if you like it enough, you can choose to buy it and use it forever.
To download AirServer, go to: AirServer website and click in the upper right corner of the web browser window. Select the option on the left.
You must sign up for the trial by entering your name and email address. From there, you will receive an email with your AirServer download link. Once you have downloaded the software and it is time to install, if you are using Windows, you can choose whether to install Miracast as well. You may or may not include it during the installation process. If you’re using a Mac, AirServer only comes with AirPlay features.
Installing and Using AirServer
After installing AirServer, launch it and it will be automatically ready for AirPlay tasks, but make sure your computer and iOS device are connected to the same network. Your computer can connect via ethernet, but it’s important that your iOS device is connected to the same router that it is wirelessly connected to.
Also, you can mess around with the AirServer settings if you want, but the default settings are fine for most users and you probably won’t need to touch them. However, you can change the computer’s name to something that is easier to remember. In the AirServer settings tab, you can change it to anything you want, but it will work just fine as the default name is the one you gave it when you first installed it on your computer.
Once AirServer is up and running, you are ready to transfer content from your iPhone or iPad to your computer. To do this, swipe up from the bottom of the screen on your iOS device and tap . From there, tap on the computer where AirServer is running. In this case, I’m running it on my MacBook Pro, which is connected to a 23-inch external monitor.
You can mirror your iPhone or iPad’s screen to the monitor, or leave this option off and use it in any app that supports AirPlay. YouTube, for example, lets you play a video and then stream it to an AirPlay compatible device. AirPlay isn’t supported in every app, so be aware if you’re considering spending $15 on AirServer.
