AirPlay audio out of sync with video on a Mac
Updated 2026-10-06
Video goes out of sync over AirPlay because macOS delays system audio by 2000 ms and most apps don't delay the picture to match. Fixes: AirPlay from inside an app that compensates, mirror the screen, or lower macOS's AirPlay buffer to about 350 ms so every app is close to in sync.
Why some apps are fine and others aren't
There are two ways audio reaches an AirPlay speaker from a Mac:
- The app sends it. The Music app, and video apps with their own AirPlay button, know about the delay and hold back the picture to match.
- System output. When you choose the speaker in Control Center, every app's sound goes through macOS's system-wide AirPlay path. Apps don't know about the delay, so the picture runs ahead.
Users in the Apple Community report the first route fixing YouTube and even cloud gaming; the second is where the two seconds bite.
Your options
| Option | In sync? | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| AirPlay from the app's own button | Yes, in that app | One app |
| Screen mirroring | Reported to be | Whatever you mirror |
Lower audioLatencyMs to 350 ms | Close (about a third of a second) | Every app |
A MacRumors user reports that screen mirroring sends audio alongside the video without the delay. Mirroring needs a target such as an Apple TV.
Lowering the delay for every app
macOS's AirPlay buffer is controlled by the audioLatencyMs setting. At 350 ms the remaining offset is small enough that most video looks right. Lagless sets it from the menu bar, and shows the delay before and after. If you'd rather do it by hand, see audioLatencyMs explained.
Questions
Why is the delay sometimes worse after pausing?
AirPlay suspends the stream during silence and renegotiates it when sound resumes, which adds roughly 370 ms. Keeping the stream awake avoids that; see why the first second of sound gets cut off.