Unlocking Apple TV on Android: Your Ultimate Guide to Streaming Apple TV+

Do you ever find yourself scrolling through endless options on your streaming platform, only to realize that the one show you really want to watch is only available on Apple TV+? As an Android user, you may have thought that your only option was to miss out on the popular Apple TV content. But what if we told you there was a way to unlock Apple TV on Android? That’s right – you can access all of the exclusive content on Apple TV+ without purchasing an Apple device. In this ultimate guide to streaming Apple TV+ on Android, we’ll take you through the steps to make it happen. We also discuss screen mirroring, using AirPlay & parental controls on Android, and more. 

But first, let’s discuss an important topic. 

Apple TV+ Compatibility with Android Devices

Apple currently offers only one Apple TV app for android users. But it only works on the following streaming devices: 

• Android TV devices and Google TVs. 
• Gaming consoles like Xbox and PlayStation
• Roku streaming devices 
• Amazon Fire TV Stick and Fire TV lineup of streaming devices

Note: The Apple TV and Apple TV+ apps are supported on some Android TV and Google TV models. Please check your TV manufacturer’s website to know whether your smart tv model is compatible with Apple TV. 

Unfortunately, no Apple TV+ app can run on Android smartphones or tablets. This is because Apple TV apps or Apple apps (in general) are coded to run on Apple’s TvOS/iOS (operating system) only. They don’t support Android or any other non-Apple operating system. 

How to Watch Apple TV on Android Smartphone or Tablet?

If you want to watch Apple TV on an Android smartphone or tablet, there’s only one workaround. 

Requirements

This method requires you to have: 

• Apple ID Login
• Active Apple TV+ Subscription
• Internet browsers like Chrome or Firefox

If you don’t have an Apple account, visit tv.apple.com to create your account and subscribe to the streaming service. 

Step 1: Go to Apple’s Website

Launch your internet browser and then go to Apple’s website. Now, tap on the Sign in button at the top. While Apple specifically mentions Chrome or Firefox, you can use any other browser to log in. 

Step 2: Log In With Your Apple Credentials

Enter your Apple ID and passcode in the login fields. 

You must enter the verification code if you’ve enabled two-factor security on your account. Usually, it appears on your trusted apple device. But if you don’t have one, you can simply tap “Didn’t get the code” to receive it on your phone number instead. 

After entering the code, it will prompt you to verify whether you trust this browser. Simply tap on Trust to avoid verifying your details again next time. 

Step 3: Start Streaming Your Favorite Content

That’s pretty much all. You can now scroll down the screen to find whatever you want to watch. You can also use the blue hamburger menu to search for your content. 

When you select a particular title, the video will load up automatically. You can watch in the landscape by flipping your device horizontally. You can also use double-tap to enter the full-screen mode. Lastly, if you have Android 8.0 or above, you can swipe up to watch your content picture-in-picture. 

Screen Mirroring Apple TV+ on Android

While the interconnectivity of Android and Apple devices is difficult, it’s not impossible. You can use some third-party apps to achieve that. 

For instance, you can use AllCast to mirror your Android device to Apple TV. It works like a charm with Apple TV and other DLNA-compatible devices, like Amazon Fire TV Stick, Chromecast, and Roku. Beware, though. Popups on this app can be a bit annoying. 

Step-by-Step Process to Cast to Apple TV from Android Devices

1. Install AllCast on your Android device
2. Connect your Apple TV to the same internet connection as your Android device.
3. Launch the app, then look for the Cast option after playing a media file. 
4. Tap the Cast button to begin screen mirroring.

Note: Besides AllCast, you can also use apps like LetsView or Cast to TV. LetsView is a MIracast app that works with almost any streaming device. 

AirPlay for Apple TV+ on Android

AirPlay is a wireless technology that lets you cast your screen, video, or audio onto another AirPlay-compatible device. Generally, AirPlay only allows streaming from Apple devices (such as iPhones, iPads, Mac, Apple TVs, or iTunes on Windows) to AirPlay-enabled devices (like a smart TV, Apple TV, or speaker). However, some workarounds enable AirPlay casting from non-Apple devices. 

To use AirPlay, both the sending device (iPhones, iPads, Mac, Apple TV, or iTunes on Windows) and the receiving device (smart TV, Apple TV, or speaker) must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.

Although it is not officially supported, it is possible to stream AirPlay via an Android device using various third-party apps. You can use AirMusic, a paid app that costs $5.99 but offers a free trial version. Note that the app’s trial version adds audible noise after every 10 minutes.

Step-by-Step Process to Use Airplay On Android

1. Download and install AirMusic from the Google Play Store
2. Set up the app for airplay. You can do so by going to General Settings and tapping Select Your Audio Source. After that, select All Internal Audio. 
3. Connect your AirPlay device. On the main AirMusic tab, you can see a list of devices like Sonos, Amazon Fire TV, etc. AirMusic can send audio to all of these devices. Tap on a particular device to connect and start using AirPlay. 
4. Press Play to start playing music. 

Explanation of AirPlay Technology

AirPlay is unique among other audio streaming technologies because it sends the audio directly from the source device to your speaker or TV. Streaming stops if your device or AirPlay speaker/TV disconnects from the same Wi-Fi network. 

AirPlay has a two-second buffer that causes a slight delay every time you start a session, skip, or pause.

AirPlay 2 was designed to solve these issues. However, it is a closed technology that only allows streaming from Apple devices like an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV. While AirPlay 1 was reverse-engineered in the past, enabling non-Apple devices to stream audio via apps like AirMusic, AirPlay 2’s full functionality has not yet been unlocked. 

Currently, AirPlay 2 only works with a limited number of devices and supports Apple Music exclusively (unless you have an Apple HomePod and your music streaming service is supported on the HomePod).

As a result, workarounds such as AirMusic rely on the older AirPlay 1 technology to function. However, AirPlay 1 can play clear audio up to 16-bit 44.1kHz. At the same time, AirPlay 2 compresses everything to AAC quality to facilitate multi-room audio more efficiently, as reported by Audiophile Style.

Parental Controls for Apple TV On Android

While using the Apple TV on Android, some features, like offline downloads, are unavailable. Moreover, streaming on a mobile browser sometimes leads to buffering and frame rate issues. But, despite the lack of an official app for Android, Apple provides parental controls for Apple TV+ on the web to ensure children only view age-appropriate content.

To activate parental controls, follow these steps: 

1. Open the Apple TV website on your Android phone and sign in to the account.
2. Tap the account icon in the top-right corner and select Settings. 
3. Scroll down to Parental Controls and toggle the switch next to Content Restrictions.
4. You must enter a 4-digit passcode and recovery email in case you forget it. 
5. Next, select your preferred age rating for TV shows and movies. 
6. You’re done!

Note: Apple TV+ remembers the parental controls for all browsers an account has signed in to, but they don’t transfer to the Apple TV app on Apple or non-Apple devices.

Final Thoughts

That’s pretty much all about Apple TV on Android. As you must have noticed, it’s possible to unlock Apple TV on Android devices and enjoy the content on Apple TV+. But you can only do so by using a web browser. Streaming on a mobile browser isn’t always a smooth experience, though. It sometimes leads to buffering and frame rate issues. While some features like offline downloads are unavailable when using Apple tv on an Android browser, you can still use parental controls, Airplay, and screen sharing. Good luck!