iPhone: Watching movie on Big TV but route the audio to AirPods – Here’s how to do it

You just want the visual to be big, but want to keep the audio for yourself. Works for AirPods and should works for other Bluetooth headset too.

I would like to share this, in case you are in/have the same scenario as I am.

So in short:

  • I would like to watch contents available on my iPhone
  • But cast it on a big TV screen/monitor, rather than watching it on my small iPhone screen
  • I used a wired lightning to HDMI cable connector to cast it off to TV
  • I want the sound to appear on my AirPods or Bluetooth Headset and not my TV/monitor

In case you are in the same situation same scenario like me, here’s the workaround. I guess the same workaround works too if you are casting wirelessly via AirPlay or Chromecast.

Here’s how to cast video to TV but leave the audio to AirPods

1) On your iPhone, first connect to AirPods (or your Bluetooth headset).

2) Open the content you want to cast to big screen TV (Eg: Netflix or YouTube). Tap the cast button to cast it off or in my case, since I’m using the wired lightning to HDMI adapter, it’s auto mirroring. Both the video and audio should start showing on the TV/monitor.

iphone reroute audio to airpods jilaxzone.com
To reroute audio to AirPods tap on the AirPlay button

3) Open the iOS Control Center (slide down on iPhone with Face ID or slide up on iPhone with Touch ID). Under “Music” section, tap on the “AirPlay” button.

watch on tv but audio on headset airpods jilaxzone.com
Select AirPods to reroute audio from TV to the headset

4) You should see at least 2 options now: Speakers & TV and AirPods (or your Bluetooth headset here). Tap on AirPods to reroute the audio to your AirPods. If you can’t see AirPods nor your Bluetooth headset, ensure you first connect them to your iPhone before doing this.

airplay to both TV and airpods jilaxzone.com
If you do it correctly, you should see these 2 icons: Cast to TV and Headset icons

That’s it. Hope this small hack helps you. Enjoy!


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7 thoughts on “iPhone: Watching movie on Big TV but route the audio to AirPods – Here’s how to do it

  • September 28, 2020 at 11:19 pm
    Permalink

    Didn’t work on iOS 14 but thanks anyways

    Reply
  • March 12, 2022 at 1:58 pm
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    doesn’t work for ios15 🙁

    Reply
    • March 16, 2022 at 7:56 am
      Permalink

      Hi Anon,

      Which devices and via what methods are you trying to connect? Probably I can help to troubleshoot.

      Reply
  • March 12, 2023 at 4:01 am
    Permalink

    Whoa! I am so glad I stumbled across your page, especially when some other folks were saying separating iPhone video and audio like this wasn’t possible. My particular use case has to do with connecting a small group of people in a room with a Zoom meeting (or a Google Meet). I want to share the Zoom screen with folks in the room by mirroring the video to a TV monitor. For audio, however, both to and from the room, I want to use a Jabra Speak conference phone. Easy enough with a laptop, but there will be times when only an iPhone or iPad is available to make the Zoom connection. The challenge will be in training the folks using those devices in this method. But it’s huge to know it can be done.

    Reply
  • March 12, 2023 at 5:38 am
    Permalink

    Actually, there is a function right within Zoom for iOS that allows selecting an Airplay/Bluetooth speaker. But it’s not in a Select A Speaker menu like it is for desktop Zoom, and I just didn’t see it. It’s going through your process involving an AirPlay button that enabled me to finally see it. Thanks!

    Reply

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