The Apple TV : Troubleshooting

Here are some quick fixes for common Apple TV problems:

1) How to restore Apple TV

Go to Settings > General > Reset, and then select Restore. Restoring Apple TV can take some time.

If restoring doesn’t work or if Apple TV still doesn’t respond, you can restore it using iTunes.

Start by disconnecting the power and HDMI cables from Apple TV. Now connect one end of a micro USB cable (sold separately) to the back of Apple TV, and the other end to your computer. Now plug the Apple TV power cord back power outlet.

Open iTunes on your computer, select Apple TV in the Source list, and then click Restore.

2) Apple TV networking issues

You can resolve many Wi-Fi issues by checking your network connection settings. Find these at Settings > General > Network > WiFi on the Apple TV.

If you discover that you aren't connected to a network, the signal strength is low, or some of these settings are incorrect or blank, try the following steps:

Ensure that Apple TV is within range of your Wi-Fi router or base station.

Confirm that your Wi-Fi router and cable/DSL modem are connected to power and turned on.

Make sure other devices (you Mac, iPhone, iPad) are able to connect to the Wi-Fi network and access the internet.

If your Wi-Fi network uses a password, make sure you are entering it correctly.

Check for obstructions and change the location of the base station and/or Apple TV if necessary.

If security is enabled on the network, temporarily disable it on the base station and try connecting again.

Restart your Apple TV by choosing Settings > General > Restart.

Restart your router.

Connect your Apple TV to your modem via an ethernet cable and verify your internet connection

Check you are using the latest software at Settings > General > Software Update. (Update the software via an ethernet connection if necessary). 

If it's still not working, check which IP address the Apple TV is using. If it starts with 169.x.x.x,  the router or base station may not be configured properly. Check to see if DHCP access is available.  If DHCP is available, go to Settings menu, select General then Network and Configure TCP/IP. Set Apple TV to Automatic. If DHCP isn't available you can also configure the Apple TV with a manual IP address.