AirPlay Audio Selector Changes in iOS 15

With the release of iOS 15, Apple introduced a series of functional and aesthetic refinements to the Control Center, prominently updating the AirPlay audio picker. This article outlines the specific design shifts, improved device grouping mechanisms, and visual enhancements made to the AirPlay audio routing interface to make managing multi-device playback faster and more intuitive.

Compact Card-Based Design

The AirPlay interface shifted away from standard system list menus in favor of a modern card-based layout with rounded corners and distinct translucent backgrounds. When tapping the AirPlay icon in the Now Playing widget, the menu presents connected devices as separate, interactive tiles rather than a flat, text-heavy list.

Contextual Device Icons

iOS 15 introduced updated, high-fidelity glyphs that accurately represent the specific hardware currently connected. Instead of generic speaker or headphone icons, the selector displays exact models, including AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, HomePod, HomePod mini, and Apple TV. For compatible wireless accessories, active battery levels are integrated directly into the selector view alongside the device name.

Streamlined Multi-Room Audio Controls

Managing playback across multiple AirPlay 2 destinations received functional refinements:

• Independent Volume Sliders: When streaming audio to multiple AirPlay 2 speakers simultaneously, individual volume sliders appear directly under each selected speaker tile, eliminating the need to navigate through nested menus.
• Unified Master Volume: A master volume control remains pinned at the bottom of the card, allowing simultaneous adjustment across all grouped endpoints.
• Seamless Grouping: Circular selection toggles make grouping and ungrouping multiple HomePods and AirPlay-enabled receivers faster and more responsive.

Separation of Local and External Playback

The "Control Other Speakers & TVs" section was reworked to create a clearer visual distinction between audio playing natively on the iPhone and remote sessions occurring independently on an Apple TV or HomePod. This separation minimizes accidental playback interruptions on shared home devices.

Integrated Headphone Settings

When routing audio to compatible AirPods or Beats products, the interface provides immediate visual status indicators for advanced listening features. This layout works in tandem with the expanded Control Center volume slider to provide immediate access to Spatial Audio toggles and Active Noise Cancellation states without needing to open the Settings app.