AirPlay Content Drifts Out Of Sync

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Level 1

20 points

AirPlay Content Drifts Out Of Sync

Trying to AirPlay a Quicktime file from my Mac mini (running macOS Big Sur V 11.3.1) to my Apple TV 4K and while it starts to play in sync, it slowly drifts out of sync. The picture is still good as is the audio, they're just not in sync with one another. However if I pause and unpause, they'll be back in sync but will once again slowly drift out of sync as it plays. Same for skipping forward or back 10 seconds. That'll resync them but to no avail as it'll still slowly continue drifting out of sync as it plays.

I've tried resetting my Apple TV unit, a few times. I've also tried hardwiring my Apple TV via Ethernet as well as new Wi-Fi network off a new router. Nothing.

It used to play just fine until about two weeks ago or so.

Guess I'm not the only one dealing with this. Anyone else?

Might this be a big enough glitch that Apple will address it in the next update?

Thanks!

Apple TV 4K, tvOS 14

Posted on May 21, 2021 10:47 PM

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Answer 1

FuMikechu Author

Level 1

20 points

May 23, 2021 8:43 PM in response to Cheryl_I1

Hey Hi Cheryl_I1, I'm using my TV's internal speakers.

There is no Bluetooth in the set up.

But this same set up was working fine (meaning no audio drift) a few weeks ago. I'm trying to figure out what has changed.

If the issue is in my Apple TV4K unit or in the Mac mini. Again there is audio it just drifts out of sync over time. However when I pause the playback and unpause, it resyncs, but starts to drift again from that moment.

From my Mac mini to my Apple TV4K.

Now my Apple TV unit does play video in sync if it's already stored on there but it just drifts out of sync when it plays it via AirPlay.

I'll try casting some footage from my iPhone to the Apple TV to see if the issue persists there.

So far the drifting issue is only from Mac mini to Apple TV4K via AirPlay.

Thanks

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Answer 2

Cheryl_I1

Community Specialist

May 22, 2021 4:59 PM in response to FuMikechu

Hi there FuMikechu,

Thanks for using Apple Support Communities. It sounds like your audio is drifting out of sync when using AirPlay between your iPhone and your Apple TV. Try following these steps: Set up Wireless Audio Sync with Apple TV.

We hope this helps!

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Answer 3

Cheryl_I1

Community Specialist

May 23, 2021 1:39 PM in response to FuMikechu

Hi again FuMikechu,

Thanks for clarifying. Are you using the TV speakers for audio or are you using another audio source, like a sound system or HomePod? If you are using a different sound system, try using the TV speakers and let us know if this issue continues. This article may also help: Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference.

We hope this helps!

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Answer 4

Cheryl_I1

Community Specialist

May 24, 2021 2:28 PM in response to FuMikechu

Hi again FuMikechu,

It does sound like there is an issue possibly with the connection between your Mac and your Apple TV. We know the Apple TV seems to work when using AirPlay from other devices. Does the Mac get out of sync if you AirPlay to a different device from the Mac?

It may also help to restart both the Mac and the Apple TV:

Restart Apple TV

Log out, sleep, wake, restart, or shut down your Mac

We hope this helps!

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Answer 5

FuMikechu Author

Level 1

20 points

May 22, 2021 8:22 PM in response to Cheryl_I1

Hi Cheryl_I1,

Unfortunately the audio is drifting when I'm trying to play it from my Mac mini ( which is running the latest macOS, 11.3.1) to my Apple TV 4K (also running the latest.)

This didn't used to happen since I started using AirPlay, last year. It worked fine on three different Macs, including this one, but unfortunately started drifting about two weeks ago. I'm not sure what happened when I started drifting, perhaps updating the latest OS on my Mac mini. It was around that time but I don't recall if it exactly at that time.

So AirPlay used to work just fine without drift, from my mac to AppleTV, but now it drifts.

Anyone else going through this? Any solutions? Was there a slight change made to the AirPlay feature in either of the latest updates?

Thanks!

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AirPlay Content Drifts Out Of Sync

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