Screenmirroring from iPad / iPhone to Apple TV 4k cuts off subtitles

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Level 1

4 points

Screenmirroring from iPad / iPhone to Apple TV 4k cuts off subtitles

Up until a couple weeks back, this issue did not exist. I happily streamed online media plays to the Apple TV 4k box including subtitles for a while now using screen mirroring.

One day to the next, the subtitles are gone. I've looked at every setting but I don't seem to be able to affect this at all. This issue happens when screen mirroring from mobile devices (iPad / iPhone) but it does not exist when mirroring from my Macbook. When streaming from my Macbook, the subtitles are there as expected. I have tried switching to several browsers on my mobile devices, the problem exists regardless of what browser is used. I play the videos within the browser (anime).

I want to be able to stream from my ipad / iphone again however. Does anyone have a clue what to look at? Is this a software bug?

Apple TV 4K (3rd generation)

Posted on Mar 22, 2025 5:27 AM

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Answer 1

Rudegar

Level 10

176,280 points

Mar 22, 2025 10:17 AM in response to mkparmentier

well a tv's resolution is 16:9 and if you airplay mirror from another device which is not 16:9 like an iPad then it's up to the app you are viewing to handle the subtitles not being cut, if they are part of the image and not an overlay then it may not be possible

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Answer 2

mkparmentier Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 22, 2025 5:38 AM in response to mkparmentier

I just realized I can also airplay directly to my LG Oled TV. Same issue when mirroring from my iPad / iPhone. Could it be that Airplay has a bug on these devices and does not send the subtitles?

I can see the subtitle option on the Apple TV 4k and on the Oled TV when mirroring, and it's enabled (tried 100 times to disable / enable subtitles). No subtitles though.

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Answer 3

Urquhart1244

Level 10

144,382 points

Mar 23, 2025 4:34 AM in response to mkparmentier

If you’re using AirPlay Screen Mirroring on Mac, then a screen capture from the source device (Mac) is streamed to the Apple TV box or TV, including any subtitles that are overlayed on the source device. It is not supported to make changes in subtitles on the destination device.

If you are using in-app AirPlay functions in (browser) apps on Mac or mobile then the stream should be send as-is, which may result in an incompatible subtitle stream, depending on used subtitle format, as the browser isn’t involved in decoding. This type of AirPlay would give the blackout screen with the message about AirPlay being in use.

I was able to stream web video with subtitles to my Apple TV box, so perhaps it is something specific about the source website, and the formats they use?

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Answer 4

mkparmentier Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 23, 2025 11:21 AM in response to Urquhart1244

Indeed, it seems the videoplayers are not sending the subs correctly (blackout screen with airplay in use). Luckily I've found that crunchyroll now has most of the series I'm looking for and airplays correctly / plays directly on the apple tv 4k :).

Thanks!

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Answer 5

mkparmentier Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 22, 2025 2:37 PM in response to Rudegar

the Subs are definitely simply missing, the screen is not missing any edges (as confirmed by watching the same thing on my laptop alongside a stream to the Apple TV 4K)

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Screenmirroring from iPad / iPhone to Apple TV 4k cuts off subtitles