How to Fix iPhone Mirroring Not Working With VPN (Quick Guide)

iPhone mirroring not working with VPN can be frustrating, especially when you need it most. Whether you’re trying to show slides at work or stream a movie to your TV, VPN connections sometimes interfere with AirPlay or third-party mirroring apps.

The reason is simple: VPNs reroute your internet traffic, which can confuse your devices when they’re looking for each other on the same network. Luckily, there are easy fixes that can get things back on track.

How to Fix iPhone Mirroring Not Working With VPN

1. Turn Off Your VPN Temporarily

The simplest fix is disabling your VPN before starting screen mirroring.

• Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management > VPN
• If it shows “Connected,” toggle it off
• Try mirroring again

If your VPN app itself fails to disconnect, you might be dealing with a VPN not working on iPhone issue that needs troubleshooting first.

2. Connect Both Devices to the Same Wi-Fi

Mirroring won’t work if your iPhone is on a VPN or mobile data while your TV or Mac is on local Wi-Fi.

• Make sure iPhone and Apple TV/receiving device share the same Wi-Fi
• Avoid using mobile hotspots for mirroring
• Restart the router if the connection keeps dropping

For more details, see why AirPlay doesn’t work with VPN and what you can do to bypass those conflicts.

Mirroring to a Mac and noticing your cursor/keyboard won’t move between devices when VPN is on? That’s the same local-network block that breaks Universal Control—use these steps (LAN allowlist & split tunneling) to fix both: Universal Control not working with VPN.

3. Restart Your iPhone and Receiving Device

Sometimes all it takes is a fresh connection.

• Restart your iPhone
• Restart your Apple TV, Mac, or smart TV
• Open Control Center on iPhone and tap Screen Mirroring again

4. Update iOS and Apple TV Software

Outdated software often causes connection bugs.

• On iPhone: Settings > General > Software Update
• On Apple TV: Settings > System > Software Updates
• Install pending updates and retry mirroring

Updating also helps fix network glitches tied to how VPN works on iPhone since older iOS versions can handle tunneling differently.

5. Disable Bluetooth During Mirroring

If Bluetooth is enabled alongside a VPN, connections may get congested.

• Open Settings > Bluetooth and toggle it off
• Retry screen mirroring

6. Reset Network Settings on iPhone

If the above doesn’t work, resetting network settings can fix deeper issues.

• Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset
• Select Reset Network Settings
• Reconnect Wi-Fi, disable VPN, and try mirroring again

7. Try Wired or Third-Party Mirroring Apps

If Wi-Fi conflicts continue, use alternatives:

• Use a Lightning to HDMI adapter for direct TV connection
• Or install apps like AnyMiro for USB-based mirroring

Another workaround is to share your VPN from iPhone to Mac, which keeps both devices aligned under the same connection and avoids mismatches.

8. Switch to a VPN That Supports Local Networking

Some VPNs offer features like “Allow LAN traffic” or “Split Tunneling” that let local connections bypass the VPN. If your current provider doesn’t support this, switching might help.

For smoother streaming and reliable mirroring, you can try ExpressVPN. It comes with split tunneling, so you can mirror your iPhone while staying secure online.

You can also review a full guide on best VPN on iPhone to set it up properly and prevent future conflicts.

Screen Mirroring Fixed on iPhone

With these fixes, iPhone mirroring should work even if a VPN was causing problems. From quick steps like toggling off VPN to more advanced options like split tunneling or wired connections, you’ve got plenty of ways to make sure your screen reaches the big display without interruptions.

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