AirPlay and AirPlay 2 is a media-sharing feature that allows you to share the screen or audio files from one Apple device to another Apple or AirPlay-compatible device. Since it belongs to the Apple ecosystem, you can use AirPlay only from Apple devices like iOS, Mac, HomePod, and more. If you are looking to AirPlay the content from an Apple device to a Linux-based system, unfortunately, the official answer is no. While you cannot use AirPlay on Linux directly, you shall still share the content from the Apple device to Linux and vice versa via screen mirroring, an alternative feature.
How Can I AirPlay from Linux
As mentioned above, there is no direct way exists to AirPlay the content directly from your Apple device to the Linux-based systems. To use screen mirroring and receive the content from your Apple device, you need to use third-party software on the Linux PC. It will act as an AirPlay client on Linux to receive the content, and the Apple devices will work as an AirPlay server, which provides the content to other devices.
How to Use Screen Mirror (AirPlay) on Linux
By installing the third-party application on your Linux PC, you can AirPlay or mirror the content without any hassle. The popular third-party AirPlay clients mentioned below work on Linux PC, and you can download the software to receive the content shared from the AirPlay server, such as iOS or Mac.
- Wondershare
- AirServer
How to Install Wondershare on Linux
(1) Launch the Chrome browser on your PC and visit the official website of Wondershare.
(2) Click the Download button to download the app on your PC.
(3) Once you have downloaded the app on your PC, go to the downloaded file location.
(4) Right-click on anywhere and select the option Open Terminal Here from the popup menu.
(5) Now, enter the command $ wine mirror go full setup on the terminal, and hit the Enter button.
(6) Click the Install button from the popup menu to install the application on your Linux PC.
(7) Once the app has been installed, launch the app on your PC.
(8) Click the iOS tab on the home screen of the app.
(9) Now, connect your Apple device and Linux to the same WiFi network.
(10) Swipe down from the top right corner to open the Control Center of your iOS device.
(11) Hit the Screen Mirroring option and select your Linux PC from the available devices.
(12) Finally, start streaming the content on your Linux PC.
How to Install AirServer on Linux
(1) Open the Chrome browser on your Linux PC.
(2) Go to the AirServer website and download the AirServer app.
(3) Install the AirServer app on your PC and run the application.
(4) Now, connect your iOS and Linux PC to the same WiFi network.
(5) Navigate to the Control Center and click the Screen Mirroring icon.
(6) Choose your PC from the list of available devices.
(7) Now, you can see your iOS screen on the Linux PC.
Can I Screen Mirror from Linux to iOS/Mac
Yes. You can mirror from the Linux screen to your Apple devices by installing third-party software like Deskreen for Linux. It is a desktop app that will transform any device with a browser as a secondary screen. So, Linux users can make use of this tool to screen mirror to iOS or Mac.
Follow the steps mentioned below to share the Linux screen with your Mac or iOS devices.
(1) Launch the browser on your PC and go to the Deskreen website (https://deskreen.com/lang-en).
(2) Select the Linux version and download the app on your PC.
(3) Once you have downloaded the app, launch the terminal on your PC.
(4) Now, enter the command as sudo dpkg -i deskreen_2.0.3_amd64.deb.
(5) After installing the app, right-click .AppImage and select the Permissions tab.
(6) Click the check box of Allow executing file as program near Execute.
(7) Follow the on-screen prompts and necessary functions to set up the app.
(8) Now, launch the app and connect your Linux PC and Apple devices to the same WiFi connection.
(9) Launch the browser on the Apple device in which you need to receive the Linux screen.
(10) Type in the IP address displayed on the home screen of the app on the browser or simply scan the QR code to connect your devices.
(11) Click the Allow button on the next page.
(12) Select the type of screen share on the next page, such as Entire Screen and Application Window.
(13) Finally, click the Confirm button to start sharing your Linux PC screen with your Apple devices.
AirPlay Alternatives for Linux
There are plenty of third-party apps available on the application store which provide similar features as AirPlay. You can download third-party apps on your Linux to send and receive the content on AirPlay. The top-rated third-party apps which are compatible with AirPlay are mentioned below.
- Mkchromecast
- Gnomecast
- SoundWire
Mkchromecast
Mkchromecast is one of the best apps to cast and share content from your Linux-based PC to other devices. You can also share the content from your Linxu PC to Mac, Windows, Chromecast, and Sonos speakers. With the Mkchromecast app on your device, you can enjoy Multi-room group playback and 24-bits/96kHz resolution high audio.
Gnomecast
Gnomecast has the native Linux GUI that helps to cast the content on Chromecast devices. The application supports both audio and video files. You can stream most of the content with suitable subtitles. It also transfers the 4K videos for the 4K supported devices like Chromecast Ultra.
SoundWire
SoundWire allows you to transfer only audio and video files from one device to the other devices. You can also share the contents on 10 devices simultaneously. With the SoundWire app, you can also share music from popular applications like Spotify and iTunes with your desired speakers.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. You cannot use the AirPlay on the VLC media player as there is no built-in support made available. However, it is possible to screen mirror VLC from your iOS and Mac.
Yes. You can mirror from the Linux screen to your Apple devices by installing third-party apps.
