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How to watch several channels at once on your TV

Your TV can show a whole wall of live channels from an iPhone or iPad, through a cable or with AirPlay to an Apple TV. Here is which devices connect, how to set it up, and what the TV shows.

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With a cable

iPhone: iPhone 15 and later send video over USB-C, except iPhone 16e, iPhone 17e and iPhone Air, which have no wired video out. Use a USB-C to HDMI cable or Apple's USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter (up to 4K at 60 Hz). iPhones with Lightning (iPhone 5 to iPhone 14) use the Lightning Digital AV Adapter, up to 1080p.

iPad: every iPad with USB-C connects the same way (iPad mini 6th generation and later, iPad 10th generation and A16, iPad Air 4th generation and later, every iPad Pro since 2018).

  1. Plug the adapter or cable into the iPhone or iPad.
  2. Connect the HDMI end to the TV.
  3. Switch the TV to that HDMI input.

With AirPlay

  1. Put the iPhone or iPad on the same Wi-Fi network as the Apple TV or AirPlay TV.
  2. Open Control Center (swipe down from the top-right corner).
  3. Tap Screen Mirroring and choose your TV. Enter the code if one appears.

AirPlay works with an Apple TV and with AirPlay 2 smart TVs: Samsung from 2018 models (turn it on in Settings > Connection > Apple AirPlay Settings) and LG from 2018 to 2024 models. If mirroring to an LG TV fails, LG notes that a Wi-Fi router on DFS channels (52 to 144) can be the cause.

To stop, open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, then Stop Mirroring.

What the TV shows

Normally the TV mirrors the iPhone or iPad screen, black bars included. Apps with a second-screen experience can use the TV differently. In Skywall, nothing changes until you tap Use the TV, then you choose:

Paid multiview services work differently: YouTube TV's multiview can't be sent with AirPlay, so it needs a TV app.

For a TV left on all day

A news wall on a TV for hours can mark the screen. Skywall's burn-in protection gently shifts the picture and dims the frames, and it can show a clock above the wall.

Questions

Which iPhones can connect to a TV with an HDMI cable?

iPhone 15 and later with a USB-C to HDMI cable or adapter, except iPhone 16e, iPhone 17e and iPhone Air. iPhones with Lightning use Apple's Lightning Digital AV Adapter.

Can I screen mirror to a Samsung or LG TV?

Yes, if the TV has AirPlay 2: Samsung from 2018 models and LG from 2018 to 2024 models. Turn AirPlay on in the TV's settings and use Screen Mirroring in Control Center.

Is there a Skywall app for Apple TV?

No. An Apple TV shows the wall through AirPlay Screen Mirroring from an iPhone or iPad, which stays in your hand as the remote.

Related

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