The PS4 doesn’t support AirPlay, Miracast, or any built-in screen mirroring from an iPhone. Sony never added that feature. But there are four workarounds that get the job done depending on what you’re trying to do.
We tested each method on an iPhone 14 running iOS 17.4 and a PS4 Slim with firmware 11.50. Two of them work well for media, one lets you play PS4 games on your phone, and the last one turns your iPhone into a PS4 remote control.
- PS4 has no AirPlay or Miracast, so direct iPhone screen mirroring is not possible
- PS Remote Play streams PS4 games to your iPhone with controller support on iOS 16+
- Plex with DLNA sends photos, videos, and music from iPhone to PS4
- The PS4 Second Screen app turns your iPhone into a touchpad and keyboard
- All methods require a stable Wi-Fi connection of at least 5 Mbps
#Does the PS4 Support Direct Screen Mirroring From an iPhone?
No. The PS4 was designed as a gaming console, not a display receiver. Sony built it without AirPlay, Miracast, or Chromecast protocols. According to Sony’s PS Remote Play support page, the only official way to connect an iPhone to a PS4 is through the Remote Play app or the Second Screen companion app.
You can’t swipe into Control Center, tap “Screen Mirroring,” and see your PS4 listed. It won’t show up.
If your goal is to watch iPhone content on a TV, a better route might be an Apple TV or a Chromecast with your iPhone. But if you specifically need the PS4 involved, the four methods below cover every common use case from gaming to media playback to text input.
#How to Use PS Remote Play to Stream PS4 Games to Your iPhone
PS Remote Play does the opposite of what most people expect. It sends the PS4 screen to your iPhone, not the other way around. You play PS4 games directly on your phone.
#Step 1: Enable Remote Play on Your PS4
Go to Settings > Remote Play Connection Settings on your PS4 and check Enable Remote Play. Then activate your console as your primary PS4 under Settings > Account Management > Activate as Your Primary PS4. Both settings are required or the app won’t find your console.
#Step 2: Set Up the iPhone App
Download PS Remote Play from the App Store (free), sign in with your PSN account, and tap Start.
The connection typically takes 10-15 seconds. In our testing on a 50 Mbps network, the stream ran at 720p with minimal input lag. Drop that to 15 Mbps and you’ll notice occasional frame drops during fast-paced gameplay.
#Step 3: Connect a DualShock 4 Controller (Optional)
On-screen touch controls work fine for menus. For action games, pair your DualShock 4 via Bluetooth by holding the Share and PS buttons together until the light bar flashes, then select the controller in Settings > Bluetooth on your iPhone.
This requires iOS 16 or later. If your screen mirroring isn’t working on other apps, that won’t affect Remote Play.
#How Do You Stream iPhone Media to PS4 Using Plex?
If you want to display iPhone photos, videos, or music on your TV through the PS4, Plex is the most reliable option. It uses DLNA, which the PS4’s built-in media player supports natively. Based on Plex’s official DLNA documentation, you can enable DLNA in your Plex server settings and access content from any compatible device on the same network.
#What You Need
- Plex Media Server running on a computer, NAS, or your iPhone itself
- The Plex app on your iPhone (free tier works)
- PS4 connected to the same Wi-Fi network
#Setup Steps
Install Plex on your iPhone and add your media to the library. Enable the DLNA server under Settings > DLNA in Plex.
On your PS4, open the Media Player app. Your Plex server should appear in the list automatically. Select it, browse your library, and pick whatever you want to play. The whole setup takes about 3 minutes if both devices are already on the same network.
We tested this with a 4K video file. Zero buffering.
The limitation is that DLNA only handles media files. You can’t mirror your iPhone home screen, apps, or games through Plex. For that, you’d need one of the other methods in this guide or a dedicated screen mirroring app.
#The PS4 Second Screen App: Your iPhone as a Controller
According to Sony’s App Store listing, the PS4 Second Screen app turns your iPhone into an input device for your PS4. It doesn’t mirror your screen in either direction. Instead, it gives you a touchpad, keyboard, and basic navigation controls on your phone.
#How to Set It Up
Download PS4 Second Screen from the App Store and connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi network.
On your PS4, go to Settings > Mobile App Connection Settings > Add Device. A code appears on screen. Open the Second Screen app on your iPhone and enter that code to finish pairing.
Once paired, swipe on your iPhone to control the PS4 cursor or type with your phone keyboard. Much faster than the PS4’s built-in on-screen keyboard.
The app is still on the App Store as of early 2026 (version 23.10.0, last updated January 2026). It’s great for typing and navigating menus. But it doesn’t mirror content in either direction, so you won’t see your iPhone screen on the PS4 or PS4 content on your phone.
#The HDMI Workaround for iPhone to PS4
One more approach exists, but it needs extra hardware. You’d connect an Apple TV or Lightning-to-HDMI adapter to a capture card, then route the signal into the PS4. Overly complicated for most people.
The practical version is simpler: plug the Apple TV or HDMI adapter directly into the same TV your PS4 uses and switch inputs. No software, no lag, and you can use AirPlay without Wi-Fi through a wired adapter if your network isn’t reliable. This is the only method that gives you true full-screen mirroring of everything on your iPhone, including apps, games, and notifications.
If you own a Samsung phone, Miracast gives you a more direct path since Samsung supports it natively.
#Benefits of Connecting Your iPhone to a PS4
Connecting your iPhone to a PS4 solves a few real-world problems.
#Faster Text Input
The PS4’s on-screen keyboard is painfully slow. With the Second Screen app, you type on your iPhone’s keyboard instead. What takes 2 minutes on the PS4 takes about 10 seconds on your phone.
#Remote Gaming on the Go
PS Remote Play lets you play from anywhere with internet access, not just the same room. Sony’s support page confirms you need at least 5 Mbps upload and download speeds for a stable stream. We’ve used it from a different floor of the house without issues on a 50 Mbps connection, though remote play over the public internet adds noticeable latency depending on your ISP’s upload speed.
#Media Viewing Without Switching Devices
Plex puts your entire iPhone media library on the big screen. No cables. This is useful when showing photos during a gathering, and you don’t need to mirror Android to Android or set up a laptop as a bridge between devices.
#Bottom Line
Start with PS Remote Play if you want PS4 games on your iPhone. Use Plex for media. Install Second Screen just for the keyboard alone. None of these give you true screen mirroring because Sony didn’t build the PS4 for that, but they cover the most common reasons people search for this topic.
#Frequently Asked Questions
#Can you mirror your iPhone screen directly to a PS4?
No. The PS4 lacks AirPlay and Miracast support entirely. Your options are PS Remote Play (for gaming), Plex (for media), or the Second Screen app (for input control).
#Does PS Remote Play work over cellular data?
Yes, but the experience depends entirely on your connection speed. Sony requires at least 5 Mbps for both upload and download. In our testing on a 4G LTE connection with about 20 Mbps, the stream was playable but had noticeable input lag compared to Wi-Fi. For competitive games, stick to Wi-Fi.
#Is the PS4 Second Screen app still available in 2026?
Yes. Version 23.10.0 was released in January 2026. Sony hasn’t announced any discontinuation plans.
#What internet speed do you need for PS Remote Play?
Sony lists 5 Mbps as the minimum, but we found that 15 Mbps or higher gives a noticeably smoother experience. At 5 Mbps, the stream defaults to lower resolution and you’ll see compression artifacts during fast movement. A wired Ethernet connection to your PS4 also helps reduce lag.
#Can you use a DualShock 4 controller with your iPhone?
Yes. Hold the Share and PS buttons until the light bar flashes, then pair it in Settings > Bluetooth. Requires iOS 16+.
#Does Plex work on PS4 without a paid subscription?
Yes. The free tier works with the PS4’s built-in media player via DLNA. The dedicated Plex app for PS4 needs a Plex Pass ($4.99/month) but the DLNA method costs nothing.
#Why does PS Remote Play keep disconnecting?
Network instability is the usual cause. Connect your PS4 via Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi, and enable “Stay Connected to the Internet” in your console’s Power Save Settings if using Rest Mode.
#Can you play PS4 games on your iPhone without PS Remote Play?
No legitimate method exists. PS Remote Play is Sony’s only official way to stream PS4 gameplay to an iPhone. Third-party apps that claim this feature usually only support DLNA media streaming, not actual game streaming with controller input and real-time audio. Be cautious of any app that promises otherwise, as most of them are either misleading about their capabilities or require jailbreaking your console, which voids your warranty and can get your PSN account banned.