Apple Fitness+ Appears to Be Incompatible With AirPlay

[amartinez1660]

I agree on needing a larger screen. I did an iPad workout -- 10 minutes core and 10 minutes strength (beginner). My iPad went from tv tray to floor, to tv tray again, and I had to wear my glasses to see what was going on.

I have an ancient Apple TV that's been okay for what it does, Amazon Fire Stick for everything else. I'm finally giving up on an Apple TV refresh and just going to buy the 32gb 4K soon. It'll make workouts much easier.

Considering I gave up the gym fees (covid spreader that it's been in AZ), I've been using Ring Fit Adventure and Fitness Boxing 2 on Nintendo Switch, and now Fitness+, I can afford to just upgrade the Apple TV finally. Just annoyed that it took this -- I really had no reason to upgrade the Apple TV at all until now, the old one worked fine. I wouldn't upgrade either, if I could AirPlay / mirror device to the TV.

I think phone/iPad are fine if you're on a treadmill or spinning on a bike, but for the strength, yoga, core, HIIT... much easier to see what's going on if it's on a big screen.

What do you by ancient Apple TV? The one with the metallic remote? Not exactly sure what’s the minimum AppleTV requirement when using that.

 

[amartinez1660]

Kinda funny that you can start screen mirror from the control center to an AirPlay compatible TV , go into the app and begin a workout... Watch the countdown on the TV screen then it goes black and only audio remains lol ... the screen mirror does work but once the workout begins it blacks out... Either its an intentional software block or it has some hardware obstacle keeping the watch data from being screen shared because you can bring your apple watch near an actual ATV and it picks it up and starts right away

That’s how it works? You get close to an Apple TV and it launches the workout there? That’s actually very cool.

Will have to read on this a bit... I’m totally new at Apple Watch or even keeping track of which Apple TV is which one models wise.

 

[teknikal90]

Apple TV 4k gives you:

- An elegant and intuitive UI.
- A simplified single login system across services.
- Siri voice smarts.
- Intelligent content recommendations.
- The best Apple TV+ experience.
- Seamless integration with all your other Apple devices
- Phenomenal picture quality and sound
- Fitness+.

I think it's well worth the money. There's nothing like Apple TV on the market.

.... I got to address this...

- Elegant and intuitive UI - the Apple TV app on my Samsung TV mirrors this interface.
- Login across services? Like how I'm currently logged into Netflix, Prime, Disney and Apple on my TV without ever having to think about it ever?
- Siri voice smarts.... ok... touche on this...but like...seriously how useful is it?
- Intelligent content recommendations. We all get this.
- The best AppleTV+ experience... ok thats' a stretch. What shows do you get to watch that I don't...also in 4K HDR..
- Seamless integration with Apple devices. I get this too on my Samsung TV... resume play, Airplay 2....
- Phenomenal picture quality??? seriously?? better than 4K HDR??
- Fitness+...ah finally... that's what we don't get... I better dig up my AppleTV for this then..

I had the 4th gen and didn't upgrade to the AppleTV 4K when I realize I can get a Samsung TV with an Apple TV built in that has all of the features. I don't miss needing yet another box at all...

Apple TV app - Devices

The Apple TV app and Apple TV+ are available on a wide variety of streaming platforms, popular smart TVs and AirPlay-enabled TVs.

www.apple.com

 

[amartinez1660]

Apple TV 4k gives you:

- An elegant and intuitive UI.
- A simplified single login system across services.
- Siri voice smarts.
- Intelligent content recommendations.
- The best Apple TV+ experience.
- Seamless integration with all your other Apple devices
- Phenomenal picture quality and sound
- Fitness+.

I think it's well worth the money. There's nothing like Apple TV on the market.

Wholeheartedly agreed.
I’m usually lost or disappointed for those one or two features that do not work on Smart TVs like I’m used to with the Apple TV... they’re not bad, have come a long way but for example, I finish working, I already have my AirPods Pro plugged from the last zoom call and go to to the tv: press - hold the remote’s home button, tap the airplay icon, select the airpods... done. Pairing, selection and playback output to airpods in 3seconds max. How do I even output sound from a smart tv to airpods? Is that possible? I guess some do or will do... I got the very first AppleTV with the wonky touch remote, several years ago and it’s doing that.

 

[aardwolf]

Your article is wrong. I have:
4k Apple TV
Apple Watch Gen 6
iPhone 11 Pro Max

I can play on the AppleTV through the fitness app only while connected to my Apple Watch.

If I start a workout in the app from my phone, there is the standard Airplay option. I see “iPhone”, “Gameroom (2)”, and “Gameroom” as output options. On “Gameroom”, it outputs the sound and video over AirPlay.

 

[aardwolf]

Your article is wrong. I have:
4k Apple TV
Apple Watch Gen 6
iPhone 11 Pro Max

I can play on the AppleTV through the fitness app only while connected to my Apple Watch.

If I start a workout in the app from my phone, there is the standard Airplay option. I see “iPhone”, “Gameroom (2)”, and “Gameroom” as output options. On “Gameroom”, it outputs the sound and video over AirPlay.

Just realized “Gameroom (2)” was my 4th gen 1080p AppleTV. I renamed it to “Living Room” and set it up on the TV downstairs. It too can display video from the phone workout after upgrading it to 14.3

 

[Henk Poley]

I suppose this means Apple licences these videos from some third party company?

 

[ChrisMoBro]

This is EXACTLY why I’m waiting for the trial then purchase. I knew there would be some issue at launch and this is a major issue for me, it HAS to airplay to my tv!

Yep, I completely agree. If you’re learning new techniques, you don’t want to be looking at a tiny screen whilst you’re 2m away with heavy weights. The Apple Watch integration was cool but Peloton Digital app has a similar thing where it shows your heart rate and how hard you’re working out AND that all works with AirPlay

 

[ChrisMoBro]

Only thing I can think of is that AirPlay from Smart TVs doesn't have the ability to read the data off the Apple Watch like iPhone, iPad and Apple TVs can. Now since those devices CAN read that data, to me its seems like a software bug or an intentional block to prevent iPhone and iPad to send/screen mirror that data to compatible AirPlay devices.

The Peloton Digital app has a similar feature that shows your heart rate and how hard you’re working out in a graphic in the corner AND that all works with AirPlay. If it’s literally mirroring your screen, it should work. I wonder if it’s a licensing issue.

 

[Karllake]

So basically the Apple TV Channel gets access to the same streaming content as an actual Apple TV device,

yeah thats what i mean Seems like the actual Apple TV device is a gateway to the same content as the Apple TV channel but the Apple TV box gives you access to more hardware abilities like linking to Fitness LOL

As it has an AppStore it can do much more, arcade games. Lots of other 3rd parts apps. Netflix etc.

 

[Karllake]

Apple has just created a market for an Apple TV SE (a fire stick type device) with “basic” functions like fitness+

 

[scotio200]

Apple TV 4k gives you:

- An elegant and intuitive UI.
- A simplified single login system across services.
- Siri voice smarts.
- Intelligent content recommendations.
- The best Apple TV+ experience.
- Seamless integration with all your other Apple devices
- Phenomenal picture quality and sound
- Fitness+.

I think it's well worth the money. There's nothing like Apple TV on the market.

Sorry but my 2020 Sony TV does all of this and more.

-elegant ui, where I can modify the top row of apps to whatever I like.
-simple log into my YouTube, Plex, Apple, Netflix and Amazon accounts without needing to use a password. Scan QR code and I’m in, once and never needed again.
-built in Google Assistant - never use it, never will.
-recommendations and watch next from all apps
-Apple TV+ app is built in, it has Dolby vision and Dolby atmos support and can access my iTunes library and stream it instantly
-picture quality, again see above re Dolby vision and Dolby atmos.
-fitness is the only thing I cannot use, the TV has Airplay 2 and even works with HomeKit. I can do everything an Apple TV can except this.

There are other benefits too, being able to use a VPN directly on the device is a big, missing feature of Apple TV. Chromecast support, still not every app supports airplay, but they do support Chromecast. Not needing to switch HDMI inputs is also high up for my family, I know that if my wife needed to switch inputs to access the Apple TV it would never get used, with the Sony TV it’s a simple case of hitting 1 button to bring up all the apps and she can select whatever she wants.

I was actually waiting for a Apple TV refresh to come, then I would have gotten one just for Apple TV+ and Airplay support, however since getting the new TV with both of these features, there are no pros in me getting the Apple TV anymore, and there are still cons.

 

[rikscha]

except if you buy a TV today it likely has airplay 2 and the apple tv app. so theres no real incentive to buy a separate apple tv box...

Other than photos or any other great app and experience it offers over just AirPlay...

 

[rr20552]

I have the same issue where Fitness+ refuses to Airplay to my older AppleTV’s.

Apple have even gone as far as disabling the Screen Mirroring Video (via software) the moment you actually start a workout.

It also doesn’t work with Airplay on my 2019 SamsungTV either.

 

[ElliotF]

I guess this is a workaround

 

[Addairplaytofitnessplus]

i have an older ipad and ipad pro unsure if it will working with lightning to hdmi adaptor ill give this a try and if it dosent work i much rather buying a new ipad than an apple tv lol.

 

[loadafreak]

I don’t understand why you can’t natively airplay to a Mac. If you feel bad about the iPhone 6s, just think of all the suckers that just bought an iPhone 12 mini. Hopefully this is just a bug and not a feature as it’s so much better on a big screen, like with Peloton

Oh that is true too. But either way, any iPhones would be too small?

Does anyone know how long this 3 month free trial will go for? I’m thinking of only activating the trial later this year..

 

[sgmiller]

Worked perfectly with my iPhone 12 and a Samsung Smart. I just hit screen mirroring and away it went,

 

[ChrisMoBro]

Worked perfectly with my iPhone 12 and a Samsung Smart. I just hit screen mirroring and away it went,

Including video? You must have a magic Samsung TV. Don't ever turn it off or do a software update in case it stops working 😂

 

[Zmmyt]

Can you bring Fitness+ to the big screen via iPhone and through an HDMI adapter?

 

[Karllake]

Worked perfectly with my iPhone 12 and a Samsung Smart. I just hit screen mirroring and away it went,

Mine does the same and preview video works, everything is ok until you start an actual session then only sound works, this doesn’t seem to be a bug but a deliberate effort to boost sales of atv, or an atv SE

 

[gwhizkids]

except if you buy a TV today it likely has airplay 2 and the apple tv app. so theres no real incentive to buy a separate apple tv box...

And now you can see the genius of putting an Apple TV app on rivals products. Apple got a year of AppleTV+ subscriptions from people that way and now that it has a fitness product that a lot of people want, they’ll still sell the Apple TV boxes (and Apple Watches). It’s always in support of the hardware sales.

 

[MVMNT]

Well, this is
a) stupid, and a terrible user experience. Especially if you have an integrated Airplay TV
b) a clever way of coercing people to buy Apple TVs

 

[nikosl7]

It has to be a bug. They allow us to airplay DRM movies and even our personal videos/photos to airplay TVs. Why these workout videos are so special?

 

[gwhizkids]

It has to be a bug. They allow us to airplay DRM movies and even our personal videos/photos to airplay TVs. Why these workout videos are so special?

I’m sure its NOT a bug. They are first and foremost a hardware company. They know that people who want to have this experience will want to buy an Apple TV (and, if they don’t own one, an Apple Watch, too!).