Black screen in Netflix / Disney+
DRM-protected apps black out external displays. Why and what to do.
This is not an Air Cast bug — it's a rights-holder restriction.
Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+, HBO Max and most premium streaming services use HDCP / FairPlay DRM to block playback over external displays unless the cast path is "trusted" by the rights holder. Apple's iOS enforces this by blacking out the video frame before it reaches the mirror buffer.
What works
- Use the streaming service's own cast button. Netflix, Disney+ etc. have built-in "Cast to TV" buttons that the rights holder has whitelisted. The streaming app on the TV plays the content directly — your phone is just the remote.
- Use the TV's native app. Most smart TVs have Netflix/Disney+ built in.
What won't work
No screen-mirroring app — paid or free — can bypass DRM. Any app claiming to is either lying or using an exploit that will be patched.