VIZIO's AirPlay article explains AirPlay 2 and its casting article covers Google Cast. For AirPlay, the TV must support AirPlay 2 and HomeKit, checked against Apple's list; iPhone and iPad need iOS or iPadOS 12.4 or later and a Mac needs macOS Mojave 10.14.5 or later. Put both devices on the same wifi network; guest, hotel, dorm and business networks may block them from seeing each other. Update the TV under System or Admin and Privacy, Check for Updates.
The checks in more detail
Press the V or Home button for SmartCast Home, look for the AirPlay icon, then Extras, Smart Home Settings, AirPlay, and set it On. On an iPhone tap the AirPlay icon in an app and select the TV, or use Control Center, Screen Mirroring, and enter the passcode if shown; on a Mac use Control Center, Screen Mirroring. If the TV does not appear, confirm AirPlay is on, update both devices, use the same network, turn off any VPN, move closer to the router and restart the TV, Apple device and router.
If one app works and another does not, the app may restrict AirPlay. For Google Cast, you can cast an app such as Netflix without pairing a phone, using the cast icon in the app, from Android, iPhone, tablet or computer on the same network. Some apps do not support mirroring. AirPlay and Cast are different systems, so if one fails, try the other before concluding the TV is faulty.
Keep the phone unlocked and the app in the foreground while connecting, since a sleeping phone drops the handshake. If the TV appears in the AirPlay list but the picture never starts, the passcode step is usually the cause, so watch the TV screen for a four digit code and enter it promptly. Note the iOS or macOS version on the sending device, since the minimum versions VIZIO lists are the first thing support checks.
Differential
Likely causes of “VIZIO TV line will not AirPlay, Cast or screen mirror”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
An unsupported TV model
What separates it There is no AirPlay icon because the TV model does not support it
How to confirm Use Cast or an HDMI cable, since the model does not support AirPlay
- 2
AirPlay turned off
What separates it The TV is not listed because AirPlay is turned off
How to confirm Turn AirPlay on in Smart Home Settings, and try again
- 3
Different networks
What separates it No device is found because the phone and the TV are on different networks
How to confirm Use one private network for both devices, and avoid guest networks
- 4
A VPN on the phone
What separates it The device vanishes because a VPN on the phone hides it
How to confirm Turn the VPN off on the phone, and search for the TV again
- 5
Old software
What separates it Connection errors show because the software is old on either device
How to confirm Update the TV and the phone, and then try to mirror again
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The method that you use to mirror the screen
- The network that each device is connected to
- Whether AirPlay is switched on for the TV
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedCheck AirPlay 2 support
ReversibleCheck AirPlay 2 support for your model, using Apple's list of supported TVs, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Use one network
ReversibleUse one network for the phone and the TV, and avoid guest networks, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Update the TV
ReversibleUpdate the TV using Check for Updates, and update the phone as well, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Turn AirPlay on
ReversibleTurn AirPlay on, under Extras and then Smart Home Settings, in the TV's menus, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Choose the TV
ReversibleChoose the TV on the phone, using AirPlay or Screen Mirroring, from the list, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Turn off the VPN
ReversibleTurn off the VPN on the phone, and restart everything, then try again, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Try Cast
ReversibleTry Cast if AirPlay is not supported by your model, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- AirPlay
- Needs AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support.
- Cast
- Works from Android, iPhone and computers.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the Quantum 4K QLED TV, V-Series 4K TV, M-Series Quantum X TV, OLED H1 TV.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the TV does not appear after every step, contact Apple or VIZIO
- !If only one app fails, contact that app
- !If the model lacks AirPlay, use Cast instead
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
AirPlay 2 setup and fixes.
Casting fixes.
Network menu, signal and DHCP steps.
Power cycle, flashing light and CEC steps.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Where do I turn on AirPlay?+
SmartCast Home, Extras, Smart Home Settings.
Which iOS is needed?+
You need iOS 12.4 or later, for AirPlay 2 to work with the TV.
Do I need to pair for Cast?+
No, you do not need to pair for Cast, since it finds the TV on the network.