Macky345
Level 1 (8 points)

Q: How to stream iTunes Radio to airplay speaker?

Streaming from just about anything else to airplay works just fine in iTunes. However, the moment I switch to iTunes radio, the speaker stops. For some reason the airplay button disappears from the iTunes bar whenever I start playing iTunes radio. How do I stream iTunes radio to an airplay speaker from my Mac?

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)

Posted on Apr 1, 2014 2:16 PM

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Macky345

Q: How to stream iTunes Radio to airplay speaker?

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  • by pedro d,

    pedro d pedro d Apr 3, 2014 6:59 AM in response to Macky345
    Community Specialists
    Apr 3, 2014 6:59 AM in response to Macky345

    Hello there, Macky345.

     

    The following Knowledge Base article offers some great steps for troubleshooting AirPlay Mirroring:

     

    iTunes: Troubleshooting AirPlay and AirPlay Mirroring

    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS5209

     

    If after following the basic steps, if the issue persists, try the following:

    Troubleshooting performance issues

    Wi-Fi Connection

    If you are experiencing intermittent playback or significant network lag with AirPlay, it could be due to a weak Wi-Fi connection, interference, or the distance between the Wi-Fi router and your AirPlay-enabled device.

    • Ensure that other devices aren't trying to stream to the same Apple TV at the same time.
    • Ensure that your Wi-Fi router is set up with the recommended settings for the best performance.
    • Certain external devices, such as microwave ovens and baby monitors, may interfere with a Wi-Fi network. Try moving or disabling these devices.
    • If your wireless and wired networks are the same, try connecting your Apple TV to the router via Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi.
    • Use the Wi-Fi network troubleshooting guide to resolve interference and other issues.

    Ethernet Connection

    Temporarily disable firewalls (both network and local) and security software. Security software and firewalls may block ports that AirPlay uses to stream content. You can often resolve issues with security software by updating, correctly configuring, or uninstalling security software.

     

    Thanks for reaching out to Apple Support Communities.

     

    Cheers,

    Pedro.

  • by Macky345,

    Macky345 Macky345 Apr 3, 2014 3:18 PM in response to pedro d
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Apr 3, 2014 3:18 PM in response to pedro d

    Hmm… that's odd. I originally experienced the problem on a macbook, but the issue isn't present on the iMac. The issue is almost soley interface related- the problem isn't that airplay isn't working, but that the button for initiating airplay disappears. Considering the Macbook I'm having the issue on the the 11" one, which also has a different screen size. It could just be an oversight by the iTunes team.

  • by DonGoldberg,

    DonGoldberg DonGoldberg Jul 15, 2014 11:12 AM in response to Macky345
    Level 1 (112 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 15, 2014 11:12 AM in response to Macky345

    I have this issue with an iMac. 

     

    Using OS X 10.9.4, ITunes 11.3

     

    My AirPlay seems to work ok with iTunes when I am playing a a song from my library or a "seeded" iTunes Radio stream.  However the Airplay icon disappears and the sound is routed to the internal speakers when I play an "internet radio" station like one of the local NPR stations.

     

    I've tried restarted everything: router, Mac, iTunes, Airport Express.  No change.

     

    This did not used to be a problem. I am not sure but it maybe have been introduced with one of the recent software upgrades.

  • by Victor Patton,

    Victor Patton Victor Patton Oct 17, 2015 9:12 AM in response to Macky345
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 17, 2015 9:12 AM in response to Macky345

    The same issue still exists on 10.11 (iTunes 12.3.0.44).

     

    I worked around it by setting my AirPlay speakers as sound output in System Preferences.