Cast video to Apple TV from a Windows PC
An Apple TV box on your network can receive supported video from a Windows PC, up to the quality the source and device support, with the subtitle you choose shown on the TV.
Supported videos can be cast to compatible Apple TV models; the Windows app converts HDR input to SDR. AIX Player converts unsupported parts while streaming when needed.
Which files can I cast?
AIX chooses direct playback or conversion according to the file, Apple TV model and route.
How does it connect to your Apple TV?
AIX Player finds the Apple TV on the local network and sends it the video, so the box decodes the film itself. AIX sends a video stream rather than mirroring the desktop.
What to expect on an Apple TV
- How it plays: over AirPlay. The first connection shows a PIN on the TV; type it once in AIX Player and it is remembered.
- Plays directly: H.264 and HEVC video, including 10-bit HEVC, up to 2160p (4K) at 60 frames per second on the Apple TV model AIX Player has measured.
- HDR formats: none are listed for Apple TV in AIX Player’s device catalogue.
- HDR: the Windows app converts HDR input to SDR for Apple TV; casting uses AIX Pro or its free casting allowance.
- Sound: a file the TV plays directly keeps its own soundtrack; every stream AIX Player converts carries AAC sound.
- Subtitles: the subtitle you choose in AIX Player shows on the TV.
- Casting allowance: the free app includes 60 casting minutes in total, once, not per session; AIX Pro makes casting unlimited.
From AIX Player’s device catalogue; AIX uses device information and the selected route to choose direct playback or conversion for your Apple TV. Casting an MKV? Cast an MKV to the TV. Something not working? Fix casting problems.
How do I cast it? Three steps
Jellyfin, Emby and Plex videos play on your PC; casting media-server videos is not supported. Network shares can be browsed freely; SDR playback is unlimited, while HDR uses its trial or AIX Pro. These casting steps are for supported local files. Read about media servers.
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Open the video and set it up how you want it
Open it from your PC’s drive or a USB or SD drive, then pick the audio track and choose the subtitle. The soundtrack and subtitle you choose are the ones the TV gets.
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Press cast and choose your Apple TV
AIX Player scans the network and lists what it finds by name. When one television offers several supported protocols, AIX ranks the available routes; Google Cast has priority when detected.
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Sit down — your PC is the remote
Use the playback controls available for the selected TV and route; some audio or subtitle changes require a new cast. Nothing is mirrored, so you can carry on using the PC.
Devices appear on their own. The first connection to an Apple TV shows a PIN on the television — type it once and AIX Player remembers it. Film behind the cast list: Charge © Blender Foundation / studio.blender.org, CC BY 4.0.
Will my subtitles show on the TV?
An external subtitle needs to be served to the Apple TV along with the video. Even subtitle tracks inside the file depend on the box supporting that particular kind.
AIX Player takes care of it. Choose a subtitle in the player, a track inside the video or a separate file you added, and that subtitle shows on the Apple TV. Some subtitle changes work during playback; tracks that need to be drawn into the video can require a new cast. The subtitles when casting guide has the details.
What if my TV refuses the file?
Apple TV supports a limited set of media formats. AIX Player checks what it can take, then converts unsupported parts while the video streams. Supported Intel, AMD and NVIDIA graphics hardware can accelerate video conversion; on Qualcomm, only H.264 encoding is hardware-assisted, and other stages use the processor.
Apple TV casting questions
Can I cast from a Windows PC to an Apple TV?
Yes. AIX Player finds the Apple TV on your local network and sends it the video directly. Nothing from Apple needs installing on the PC. The first connection shows a PIN on the television that you type once in AIX Player; after that it connects on its own.
Why is my Apple TV not appearing?
Wake it, and check the network. A sleeping box may miss the first scan. It also has to be on the same network as your PC — guest-network isolation can prevent discovery.
Do subtitles work when casting to Apple TV?
Yes, including a separate subtitle file you added. The subtitle you choose in AIX Player shows on the TV.
Can I keep using the PC while it plays?
Yes. Nothing is captured from your display, so you can continue using other apps while the PC serves the stream. Keep it awake, though — sleep stops the stream.
Casting to something else?
AIX supports several TV families; setup, supported files and available controls depend on the device and route.
Put tonight’s film on the Apple TV.
Install AIX Player, open a supported local video, choose the TV and follow any connection prompts.
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