Guide

How to stream videos from a Mac to a Samsung or LG smart TV

Most Samsung and LG TVs from 2018 onward have AirPlay 2 built in, so your Mac can send video straight to them, no Apple TV required. Here's how to set it up.

Last updated October 2026
3 min read

You don’t need an Apple TV to get video from a Mac onto a Samsung or LG TV. Most models from the last several years have AirPlay 2 built in, which means they appear right in your Mac’s AirPlay and Screen Mirroring menus.

Step 1: Check that your TV supports AirPlay 2

Samsung: Samsung lists AirPlay on select TV models from 2018 to 2025, plus its Smart Monitors.
LG: LG lists AirPlay 2 on many models from 2018 to 2024, including every OLED and QNED TV from 2021 to 2024, plus selected UHD and NANO series.
Apple also keeps a list of AirPlay-enabled TVs (including Sony and Vizio models) linked from its AirPlay page.

Step 2: Turn on AirPlay on the TV

Samsung TVs

Open Settings (All Settings).
Select General. On 2023 and newer models, select Connection instead.
Select Apple AirPlay Settings and make sure AirPlay is on.

LG TVs

Press the Input button on the remote to open the Home Dashboard.
Select AirPlay, then AirPlay and HomeKit settings.
Set it to AirPlay On.

Step 3: Send video from your Mac

With the Mac and TV on the same Wi-Fi network, you have two choices:

Stream a video: play it in QuickTime Player, the Apple TV app or Safari, click the AirPlay icon in the playback controls, and choose the TV.
Mirror your screen: click Control Center in the menu bar, click Screen Mirroring, and choose the TV. If the TV shows a four-digit code, type it on your Mac.

Both are explained step by step in how to AirPlay from Mac to TV.

If your video won’t play

AirPlay from QuickTime only works for files QuickTime can open, typically MP4, MOV and M4V. MKV, AVI and WebM files usually won’t open, so there’s no AirPlay button. Your options:

Use a USB stick. Samsung and LG TVs have their own media players. LG lists MKV among the formats its TVs play from USB, and Samsung’s 2026 TV specifications include MKV too. Support varies by model and audio format, and you’ll be copying files back and forth.
Mirror the screen while a Mac player like VLC or IINA plays the file. It works, but mirroring re-encodes your screen live, so quality suffers.
Stream with conversion. An app such as CastPanda converts the video as it plays and sends it over AirPlay 2.

Using CastPanda with Samsung and LG TVs

CastPanda streams almost any video file from your Mac to AirPlay 2 TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, Vizio and others:

Turn on AirPlay on the TV (Step 2 above).
Open CastPanda and let its setup find your TV.
Drop a video (MKV, AVI, MP4, MOV, WebM…) on the window and press play.

CastPanda sends H.264 MP4 and MKV video to the TV untouched and converts anything else on the fly, preparing whichever part you skip to on demand, so seeking is instant. Pick a quality preset (Automatic, 4K, 1080p, 720p), use built-in subtitles or add a subtitle file with adjustable size and timing, switch audio tracks, and your Mac stays awake until the movie ends. If your TV also has Google Cast, CastPanda can cast to it as well.

Frequently asked questions

Does my Samsung TV support AirPlay?

Samsung says AirPlay is available on select Samsung TV models from 2018 to 2025, plus Smart Monitors. If your TV has Apple AirPlay Settings in its settings menu, it supports it.

Does my LG TV support AirPlay?

LG lists AirPlay 2 support on many 2018 to 2024 models, including all OLED and QNED TVs from 2021 to 2024 and selected UHD and NANO series. Check LG’s support page for your exact model.

Why won't my Mac find my Samsung TV?

Check that AirPlay is turned on in the TV’s settings and that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi. Samsung notes AirPlay won’t work if you use a mobile hotspot for your internet connection. Our AirPlay troubleshooting guide has more fixes.

Can I Chromecast to a Samsung or LG TV?

Some recent Samsung and LG models now support Google Cast, but many don’t. If yours has AirPlay 2, AirPlay is the simplest route from a Mac.

Sources

Competitor details were checked on each vendor’s own website or App Store page in October 2026. Prices and features change; check the vendor’s site before you buy.