Yamaha Receiver Airplay Not Working? (Here’s The Easy Fix!)

If your Yamaha receiver AirPlay not working, don’t worry, as we know the exact solutions!

Your Yamaha receiver could be failing to connect over AirPlay because of an issue with the network, power supply problems, or even an AirPlay-related failure.

So, we recommend a variety of solutions to address the issue:

Proceed with the guide to learn each of these solutions in detail!

Yamaha Receiver AirPlay Not Working – 7 Verified Solutions!

Note: Have you made sure that the iPhone is currently not connected to any other devices?

1. Pair your Devices to the Same Network

In order for AirPlay to work, both of the devices you’re attempting to connect, whether it will be for audio and video or only for audio, must be on the same network.

So, if you use a dual-band Wi-Fi router particularly, splitting the devices across the threads could also cause pairing issues.

So, let’s start with configuring the Wi-Fi of your Yamaha receiver first!

1.1 How to Change the Wi-Fi On a Yamaha Receiver?

The Yamaha receiver’s Wi-Fi can be changed in one of two ways! You can either use your router’s WPS function or through the device’s setup menu.

Let’s have a look:

• For a WPS setup, use the “WPS” button on your wireless router, and within the next 60 seconds, use the “WPS” button on your Yamaha receiver.
• For a menu Wi-Fi setup, press “Setup” on the remote and go to “Network” → “Network Connection” → “Wireless (Wi-Fi)” and pick your network from the list.

If the connection is successful, you will be taken back to the receiver’s homepage, where you can access most of the device’s online functions.

1.2 How to Change Wi-Fi On iPhone?

Once you’ve made sure that the receiver is paired to your Wi-Fi network, disable the mobile data of your iPhone, as this could interfere with the wireless setup.

To do so, head to “Settings” → “Wi-Fi” and connect with the same network as your Yamaha receiver.

2. Test Through a Different App/Platform

The AirPlay not working on Yamaha receiver issue can be caused by an incompatibility from the app or platform you’re attempting to cast from. 

As you probably know, many applications have integrated Apple’s AirPlay feature and made it possible to cast between devices solely over the network.

Hence, if there’s an issue with the app you’re attempting to cast from, such as from Spotify or YouTube Music, your receiver may not appear within the network devices menu.

Therefore, try to open another application that supports the AirPlay feature and check if the receiver shows up.

3. Update the Receiver’s Network Features

Apart from a firmware update, your Yamaha receiver also supports network updates to renew the LAN and adapter settings that are responsible for the AirPlay compatibility.

Updating your receiver’s network features is simple, so follow these steps:

1. Hit the “Power” button to power off the receiver unit’s system.
2. Hold the “Straight” button while pressing the “Power” button.
3. Now release and press the “Right” arrow “PROGRAM” button.
4. Press the “Straight” button to display “UPDATE NETWORK.”
5. Next, select “INFO” to lock in the network update and then wait.

Note: Do not interact with the receiver while the update’s loading bar is still on the screen!

4. Set “AirPlay & Handoff” to “Automatic”

Apple recommends never establishing a manual connection between your iPhone and an AirPlay-compatible device.

This could result in persistent interruptions of the connection and even cause issues with the audio broadcast.

Here’s how to adjust the “AirPlay & Handoff” settings of your phone:

1. Open the “Settings” app on your iPhone or iPad device.
2. Head to “General” and navigate to “AirPlay & Handoff.”
3. Tap the drop-down AirPlay slider at the top of the tab.
4. Set the feature to “Automatic” and save the changes.

The difference between the three settings for AirPlay are as follows:

• “Never:” Forbids automatic AirPlay connection and all devices must be paired manually.
• “Ask:” Your iPhone will ask you whether to pair or not whenever a device is in range.
• “Automatic:” Receive a pairing prompt automatically whenever there’s a nearby device.

Info: For the most part, the “Automatic” value for this setting should perform to the best extent, as you will be able to pick which devices to pair with your iPhone and which do not. 

5. Start a Firmware Update Procedure

An outdated receiver OS is perhaps the leading cause for the Yamaha receiver AirPlay not working problem.

Methodically, there are two ways to update your receiver:

• Over the setup menu: Start the update through your Yamaha receiver’s settings.
• Over a USB thumb drive: Download the update on a USB and upload it manually.

Before proceeding, ensure your iOS is also at the most current version, by navigating to “Settings” → “General” → “Software Update.”

So, let’s review both possible ways to update the Yamaha receiver!

5.1 How to Update the Yamaha Receiver Through the Menu?

1. Power off the receiver until it enters Standby mode.
2. Enter the “ADVANCED SETUP” menu on the device.
3. Head to “FIRM UPDATE” and press “INFO” to initiate.
4. Wait until the receiver finds and unpacks the update.

Note: Your receiver must be securely connected to the internet for this method.

5.2 How to Update the Yamaha Receiver Through a USB?

Note: Supply a formatted USB flash drive with 1–2 Gigabytes of free storage for the update.

1. Navigate to Yamaha’s Firmware and Software website page.
2. Next, download the update file for your exact receiver model.
3. Now, plug the flash drive into your computer or laptop device.
4. Unpack the OS file in the root directory of the USB flash drive.
5. Connect the USB drive to one of the USB ports on your unit.
6. Go to “ADVANCED SETUP” and select “FIRM UPDATE USB.”
7. Next, press “INFO” to start the update procedure and then wait.

Tip: Both the menu and USB update procedure may take as long as 5–10 minutes.

6. Troubleshoot the Network for Issues

If updating the receiver’s firmware did not have any effect either, our strongest recommendation is to check if there’s an underlying issue with the network. 

As we established, AirPlay needs a consistent connection with the network in order to recognize and connect with the Yamaha receiver, without interruptions.

We recommend the following steps for potential issues with the network:

• Unplug the router’s power cable to perform a full discharge.
• Reduce the network bandwidth usage by unpairing devices.
• Verify the Yamaha receiver is in close range from the router.
• Check for other devices interfering with the router wirelessly.
• Reconnect the service cable (Coax) from the router’s panel.
• Deactivate any VPNs or proxies active on your iOS devices.

Tip: If you’re also experiencing slowdowns on other devices connected to the network, you should consider reaching out to your ISP for a more thorough lookup of the network.

7. Connect the Receiver Over Cable (Ethernet)

If Wi-Fi doesn’t seem to be doing much for your Yamaha receiver’s AirPlay troubles, it’s best to temporarily switch to a wired Ethernet connection. 

For the physical setup, locate the Ethernet port on the back of the receiver and connect it with a compatible Ethernet jack on your router. 

Wait for several seconds and proceed with the wired connection setup:

1. Press “Setup” on the remote and head to the “Network” pane.
2. Select “Network Connection” and choose “Wired (Ethernet).”
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to start the Ethernet setup.

Note: The wired connection is known to be much more reliable in comparison to Wi-Fi, as it will directly link your receiver with the network and make it discoverable for AirPlay.