The downfall of Apple's exclusive strategy is that integrating with devices out of their ecosystem can be difficult. For example, simply trying to cast a Windows PC to Apple TV can be nearly impossible.

Today, we show you the best ways to cast your Windows PC screen to an Apple TV. We've included 3rd party apps and alternate solutions, and we'll break down each to find the best fit for you!

Let's jump straight into it!

1. Can I AirPlay to Apple TV from Windows PC?

Unfortunately, no, you cannot natively use AirPlay from a PC to Apple TV. This is mainly because Apple's products work best within their ecosystem, and very rarely do we see implementation of Apple apps/services for other operating systems like Windows or Android.

This is also the case for AirPlay, which is the most convenient way to cast content from your Mac, iPhone, or iPad to your Apple TV.

Theoretically, there is no way to cast a Windows PC screen to an Apple TV natively. However, with the use of third-party apps, you can get AirPlay to work on Apple TV even with other OSes.

2. How to Cast from PC to Apple TV?

While there aren't any native solutions to cast using AirPlay from PC to your Apple TV, there are workarounds. The best solution is to use a third-party app to cast your PC to Apple TV for free. Check out our solutions below and pick the one that suits you best!

Way 1. Cast Windows PC to Apple TV with AirDroid Cast

The first method we'd recommend is AirDroid Cast, an all-in-one solution for screen sharing and casting. With AirDroid Cast, you can easily mirror a PC to Apple TV in just a few short steps.

Here's a rundown of AirDroid Cast's key features:

With that out of the way, if you're interested in trying out AirDroid Cast to cast Windows to Apple TV, follow these steps:

Way 2. Connect PC to Apple TV with HDMI

If you'd prefer to do things the old-school way, you can connect a PC to Apple TV using the Apple TV's HDMI port. It's a pretty simple process and only requires you to have a spare HDMI cable lying around.

Once you've got your cable and are ready to connect, follow these steps:

Step 1. Turn on your Apple TV & Windows PC.

Step 2. Connect one end of the HDMI cable to your Windows PC, and one end to the Apple TV.

Step 3. You'll then have to switch over to the HDMI input to see your PC screen. Press the 'Source' button or check your settings and select the corresponding HDMI input.

Step 4. If everything works well, you should see your PC screen on the Apple TV.

This is a simple method to get your PC and Apple TV connected. However, compared to other methods, this one is a little limited, especially when it comes to range.

Since you have to physically keep a cable connected between your PC and Apple TV, you don't have much room to move around. It might not be the most comfortable solution, in which case we'd recommend trying one of the other methods.

If you're having trouble or don't see your PC screen on the Apple TV, check your PC's HDMI port and make sure it's free of dust and debris. If that still doesn't fix the problem, we'd recommend trying another HDMI cable and see if that works.

Way 3. Stream PC to Apple TV with 5KPlayer

The last method to cast to Apple TV from PC is by using 5KPlayer. 5KPlayer is a video downloader, player, and media streamer for PCs that can connect to your Apple TV. It does so by making your PC an AirPlay-compatible device.

However, 5KPlayer is currently only supported on Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10. You also need your Apple TV and PC on the same Wi-Fi network for this to work.

The first thing you need to do is download the 5KPlayer app on your PC. Once downloaded and installed, follow these steps:

Step 1. In the 5KPlayer app, find the AirPlay icon. It should be located in the top-right corner of the app window. Click on it.

Step 2. After clicking the AirPlay icon, it will drop down a list of compatible devices to connect to. Select your Apple TV.

Step 3. Once you select your Apple TV from the list, wait and see if the AirPlay icon turns red. If it turns red instead of a black icon, this means that 5KPlayer has successfully connected to your Apple TV.

Step 4. From there, you can watch or stream content from YouTube or play a video from your PC's media library on your Apple TV.

3. How to Stream PC Games to Apple TV?

If you want to stream from PC to Apple TV to play games on Steam, then we've got another great option for you. Steam has a cloud gaming service, Steam Link, which runs the game on your PC but streams it on another display.

With this method, you can easily play your Steam games on Apple TV. Here are some great benefits from playing PC games on your Apple TV:

Before you can use Steam Link, you'll need to enable Remote Play on the PC you want to stream from. Here's how to do it:

Step 1. Open Steam on your PC.

Step 2. Select the 'Steam' option in the top-left corner of the menu bar and select Settings.

Step 3. Look for 'Remote Play' in the left-hand menu bar and select it.

Step 4. Turn on the 'Enable Remote Play' toggle.

After you've enabled Remote Play, you then need to download the Steam Link app from the Apple TV App Store. For the initial setup, your PC and Apple TV need to be on the same Wi-Fi network.

Then, follow these steps:

Step 1. Launch the Steam Link app on your Apple TV. Leave Steam running on your PC.

Step 2. Select 'Get Started'.

Step 3. Sign in to your Steam account on your Apple TV.

Step 4. After signing in, the Steam Link app will be searching for PCs with Steam on the same Wi-Fi network.

Step 5. Select your PC.

Step 6. You'll now see a 4-digit code on your Apple TV. Enter the same 4-digit code to Steam on your PC.

Step 7. Wait for the speed test to complete.

Step 8. Select the 'Start Playing' button after the setup.

Step 9. Now you can browse the Steam store or your game's library. Select a game and start playing.

Another thing to note is that you need a Bluetooth controller that's compatible with Apple TV. For example, you can use Xbox controllers or the PlayStation DS4. You'll need the controller to navigate Steam Link and to play games.

4. Which Is the Best Way to Stream PC to Apple TV?

Here's a quick comparison of the 4 methods to connect your Windows PC to Apple TV:

5. Summary

We've reached the end of our guide and we hope the methods we've highlighted are just what you were looking for. But if you're looking for the most versatile option, AirDroid Cast is the solution.

AirDroid Cast mirrors your entire PC screen to your Apple TV and allows you to do pretty much anything you'd do on your PC. Plus, with great features like remote connectivity, two-way audio, high-resolution streaming, and plentiful platform support, AirDroid Cast has got you covered.