Getting error message "Wants to AirPlay to this Mac" on MacBook Air

Question

Getting error message "Wants to AirPlay to this Mac" on MacBook Air

I've seen several threads here on this same topic but none of them with any solution (and all closed).

This bug seems to date back to Monterey. I'm running Sonoma and still getting it.

Just to re-state the problem; very frequently (at least every time I close then open my M1 MacBook Air), I get a notification saying "" wants to airplay to this Mac.

Nothing in-between the quote marks and nothing actually trying to airplay to my Mac. Just a buggy message.

Please post a fix for this.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: ""wants to airplay to this Mac

Posted on Sep 1, 2025 12:56 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Luis Sequeira1

Level 9

71,952 points

Sep 2, 2025 02:52 AM in response to lancelottredfern

Start by turning off Airplay Receiver, in System Settings->AirDrop & Handoff.

Perhaps this will be enough to make it go away.

If the problem somehow persists, restart your mac in Safe Mode.

Still there? No?

Restart normally again. Does the problem reoccur?

Reply

Answer 2

Sep 3, 2025 06:57 AM in response to lancelottredfern

lancelottredfern wrote:

Turning off Airplay Receiver does make the problem go away but surely this can't be the best answer; disable a feature on your device to stop a bug happening?

Why do you think it's a bug?

It seems more likely that a neighbor is (perhaps without realizing it) trying to use Airplay with your mac as the target display.

Reply

Answer 3

Sep 3, 2025 08:44 AM in response to Rudegar

It seems like a bug because it's been reported many times over for a few years, there's never any identifying name (ie. mike's iPhone) between the "", lots of people have reported it when there's literally no other device anywhere close and it happens every time I open the lid (surely if it was a neighbour accidentally connecting, it would be more sporadic?)

Re the point that this forum is just other users sharing info - my bad. I assumed that (like most other product related forums) one or two actual employees / tech support types would read and post here. My apologies if that is not the case.

Reply

Answer 4

HWTech

Level 9

66,674 points

Sep 3, 2025 09:34 AM in response to lancelottredfern

Search for "airplay" in the System Settings.

Make sure any options which are enabled are also configured to only work with your AppleID, your user, or requires the other person to be on the same local network. Make sure you do not see "everyone" selected for any item, otherwise anyone can make an attempt to send you requests to connect.

Reply

Answer 5

Tesserax

Level 10

157,224 points

Sep 2, 2025 09:40 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

+1

Reply

Answer 6

Sep 3, 2025 05:16 AM in response to Tesserax

Turning off Airplay Receiver does make the problem go away but surely this can't be the best answer; disable a feature on your device to stop a bug happening?

Reply

Answer 7

Rudegar

Level 10

178,788 points

Sep 3, 2025 08:31 AM in response to lancelottredfern

if it's a bug or not is largely irrelevant here, people pointed out a workaround

This is not really an apple report bug channel, just other users sharing experiences and workarounds

developers can report bugs Bug Reporting - Apple Developer

the rest can use their feedback channel Product Feedback - Apple

Reply

Answer 8

Rudegar

Level 10

178,788 points

Sep 3, 2025 09:08 AM in response to lancelottredfern

To the best of my knowledge, it is not, but if they do or have some AI sweeping for bug reports or public opinion, me or the other users would be none the wiser.

Reply