# iPad "playing video on the TV" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 1, 2011, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipad-playing-video-on-the-tv/604742 "2011-12-01T20:34:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipad-playing-video-on-the-tv/604742/1 "2011-12-01T20:34:27Z")
When I’m on the Washington State Ferries, and only then, when I play a video on my iPad, I get no video, only a message saying that the video is playing on “the TV.” I’m not using the ferry’s wifi. Any idea what’s going on? ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipad-playing-video-on-the-tv/604742/2 "2011-12-01T21:00:35Z")
Did you look for the TV? 🙂 (I have no helpful reply) ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipad-playing-video-on-the-tv/604742/3 "2011-12-01T21:33:06Z")
Sounds like you are accidentally using [Airplay](http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/11/the-hidden-secrets-of-apples-airplay/). ---
**Author:** ![Roadfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@Roadfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadfood)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipad-playing-video-on-the-tv/604742/4 "2011-12-02T00:42:13Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > Sounds like you are accidentally using [Airplay](http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/11/the-hidden-secrets-of-apples-airplay/). I don’t think that’s possible. On my iPad, the Airplay icon doesn’t appear if there’s no Apple TV that it can find. For me, the “video is playing on the TV” message appears when I have the iPad physically plugged into the TV, via the dock port. To the OP: Is there any chance that when you’re on the ferry, you have plugged your iPad into a power source? Could be that the iPad for some reason thinks that that power source is capable of playing video. If that’s not it, I’m stumped. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipad-playing-video-on-the-tv/604742/5 "2011-12-02T01:25:40Z")
I’m stumped too. But, it is while I’m plugged into my car’s USB port for power. I bet that’s it. Next time I’ll unplug and see if that fixes it. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Roadfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@Roadfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roadfood)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipad-playing-video-on-the-tv/604742/6 "2011-12-02T23:22:18Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I’m stumped too. But, it is while I’m plugged into my car’s USB port for power. I bet that’s it. Next time I’ll unplug and see if that fixes it. Thanks! I’ll bet that’s it. With my limited understanding, the iPad “looks” at the thing connected and “asks” if it can play video. If your car charger wasn’t designed/built quite right, it could well answer that with a “yes”. ---
**Author:** ![Floppy\_Joe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3bc359/32.png) [@Floppy\_Joe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floppy_Joe)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2011, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ipad-playing-video-on-the-tv/604742/7 "2011-12-03T16:54:17Z")
Okay, first off, what application are you using to play your video with? Look at the settings in that application. I bet you’ll find the setting you’re looking for in there. I’m using “GoodPlayer” on my iPad, and it has exactly that setting.