AirPlay to Apple Express

In order for an AirPlay-enabled app to "find" an AirPlay "speaker," in this case an AirPort Express base station, it must first discover it. This is where the Express would appear as where you can stream to with, for example, the Music app.

A few things you can check:

1. Be sure that, as a minimum, IPv6 Link-local only mode is enabled on your Mac. Go to System Preferences > Wi-Fi or Ethernet, depending on how you connect your Mac to your local network > Advanced > TCP/IP tab > Configure IPv6 = IPv6 Link-local only
2. Check the firmware version of your base stations. Both v7.8 & 7.8.1 have been problematic. You may need to downgrade to an earlier version. I suggest either 7.6.9 or 7.6.8. Note, that doing so, will disable AirPlay 2, but does stabilize being able to find these base stations to stream to.

I do not have my Apple express connected to a speaker now; I am just testing it's ability to connect to AirPlay. If it needs to be connected to a speaker then I will have to try that.

If you have a pair of stereo headphones, plug them directly into the audio jack of the AirPort Express as a test. When you do this.......(you may need to power off the restart the AirPort Express)......the AirPort Express will show up as a target for AirPlay.

In this "test", the headphones simulate a speaker connected to the AirPort Express.

The bottom line.......the AirPort Express will not appear as an AirPlay option.......unless.....you have a speaker, headphones, etc connected correctly to the AirPort Express.

Why? If you think about it......even if you could select the AirPort Express (and there was no speaker connected to the AirPort Express), you would not hear anything......so there would be no way to know if the Express was working or not.

Do your powered speakers have either analog or optical digital audio inputs? If so, then it should work.

If the AirPort Express is configured to connect to your network correctly, and you have a speaker or headphones connected to the Express, AirPlay can be used to send the audio signal to the AirPort Express.

I did hook up my old Express to the network and using the new Music application, the AirPort Express will show up as selectable.......even if a speaker is not connected to the AirPort Express.

I have no idea what Apple is thinking here, since no audio will be heard from the AirPort Express even if it is selected......unless.....there is a speaker attached to the Express.

A guess would be that Apple changed their thinking and now simply assumes that users will always be connecting a speaker to the AirPort Express if they are using AirPlay.

Much more helpful would be a status message that tells the user that the Express is receiving an AirPlay signal, but no speaker(s) have been detected. We can wish, I guess.

The AirPort Express will not appear as a selectable target for AirPlay unless the Express is 1) connected to your network....and....2) it is also physically connected to your powered speaker(s) using an analog or optical wired connection.

How is the AirPort Express connected to your powered speaker(s)?

Are you using an analog connection......or......are you using a toslink optical connection?

Note.....If you do already have an Apple TV connected to the speaker(s), you really do not need the AirPort Express at all. Simply select the Apple TV as the target for the AirPlay signal.

Would help if you could provide the make and model number of the powered speakers so we can search the Internet for more information A link to the User's Guide or Setup Guide for the speakers would be great as well.

Apple Music app does see - is connected to - the Apple express even though it is not connected to a speaker

I will dig out my old AirPort Express to check this, since it is possible that things have changed with the introduction of the Music application.

But, if the Express is not connected to a speaker or headphones are not connected to the Express, I don't understand the value of the Express appearing.

There is still no way to know if the Express is working correctly.......unless.....it has a speaker attached or headphones plugged in.