I was watching the last episode of my favorite show once.
But before I could finish the season’s end…
My Apple TV WiFi was the 1 that ended up not working.
Of course, frustration built up.
But with my tech experience, I solved the problem in just minutes.
Wanna know how I did it?
Continue reading to find out:
- The most common reasons why this problem happens.
- 11 efficient solutions to make your Apple TV’s WiFi work again.
- How you can use an ethernet cable to connect your Apple TV to the Internet instead.
- And this is just the beginning…
Why won’t my Apple TV connect to WiFi?
Your Apple TV won’t connect to the WiFi because it’s too far from the router. Sometimes it’s because your Apple TV is outdated or glitching. And in other cases, it’s because the router isn’t using the best wireless security protocol.
Apple TV won’t connect to WiFi: 11 fixes
#1: Check if an ethernet cable is connected to your Apple TV
“I can’t find the WiFi icon on my Apple TV. What do I do?”
Relax. It’s effortless to fix this problem.
See, if you don’t have the option to connect to WiFi on your Apple TV…
That means there‘s an ethernet cable connected to your device.
So all you need to do is check the back of your Apple TV unit.
And unplug the ethernet cable from it.
Once you do, give your device a couple of minutes to load.
And wait for Apple TV’s notification that you can now join a WiFi network.
Now, if you’ve waited longer than 5 minutes and still can’t find the icon…
Then restart your device, and you should be able to find it again.
#2: Forget the WiFi network
Are you getting a password error?
Or does your Apple TV keep getting kicked out of your WiFi?
Then, either way, you need to make your device forget the network.
Because there could be a bug in its data.
Or the network settings on your Apple TV might be glitching.
With that, you should erase your router’s information from your Apple TV.
So they can build a new and efficient connection again.
“How do I that?”
Simple. All you need to do is…
Forget a network on your Apple TV:
- Turn ON your Apple TV.
- Go to its Settings.
- Click Network > Wi-Fi.
- Now, select the network your device is connected to.
- From the menu that pops up, select Forget Network.
And once you’ve erased your WiFi data from your Apple TV…
Connect it to the network again:
- Click Back or Menu on your remote control.
- On the Settings page, select Network.
- Select your WiFi from the list of available networks.
- Input the necessary credentials.
Fun fact: You can still connect your Apple TV to the WiFi without a remote
#3: Restart your Apple TV
Still can’t use the WiFi network?
Then it’s time to restart your Apple TV.
Why?
Because it’s probably glitching. Or it’s overloaded with ongoing tasks.
And in both instances, your device won’t be able to function correctly. Unless you…
Restart your Apple TV
Step 1: Press and hold the back button on your 2nd generation Siri remote.
For 1st generation remotes, press and hold the Menu button.
If you have the Siri remote, do this to the TV button.
Step 2: Let go when the Apple TV status light blinks rapidly.
Step 3: Unplug your Apple TV from its power source.
Step 4: Wait for 5 seconds.
Step 5: Plug it back again.
Step 6: Boot your Apple TV up again.
Step 7: Head to the Settings page of your Apple TV.
Step 8: Go to the System.
Step 9: Select Restart.
Step 10: Wait for the process to be completed.
Now, before connecting your Apple TV to the WiFi again…
#4: Restart your WiFi router
When was the last time you restarted your router?
You can’t remember, can you?
Don’t worry. That’s not uncommon at all.
However, it’s worth noting that, like other devices…
Your router can also get overwhelmed by its tasks.
And this is especially true if there are a lot of devices connected to your network.
So to refresh and boost your WiFi’s efficiency, you need to restart your router.
Now, it’s worth noting that most routers don’t have a restart/reset button on their unit.
But fret not, here’s an easy way to…
Restart your WiFirouter:
- Unplug your router from its power source.
- Disconnect it from the modem if it has 1.
- Wait for 1 minute.
- Plug your router into the wall outlet again.
- Wait for all of its lights to turn green.
Now, if some of its LEDs turn red or yellow…
Contact your Internet service provider (ISP). Because that means your router is the 1 causing this problem.
But if all the lights turn green, try connecting your Apple TV to the WiFi again.
#5: Check if your WiFi is working
Your WiFi network may be the 1 causing this problem, not your Apple TV itself.
So what you need to do now is to check if your WiFi is working. And that’s by using a mobile device or PC.
Once you have an extra gadget ready…
Check if your WiFi network is working:
- Turn ON your PC or mobile device.
- Connect it to the WiFi network your Apple TV is using.
- Try to watch on any online streaming platform.
- Or launch some online apps.
Can’t access any of the services you tried?
Then that means your WiFi isn’t working, so contact your ISP.
“My WiFi works fine on my phone. What should I do now?”
Before you try to connect your device to the WiFi again…
You should check if your Internet is fast enough to run your Apple TV’s system.
See, your network speed must be at least 8 Mbps to stream HD content on the platform.
So if your WiFi is slower, your Apple TV apps won’t load properly.
Or worse, your device might even reject your network because it’s too slow.
With that, you must ensure that your WiFi is faster than 8 Mbps. And that’s by following these steps to…
Check your Internet speed:
- Prepare a mobile device or a PC.
- Open any browser.
- Head to speedtest.net.
- Click the GO option in the middle of your screen.
- The website will measure how fast your Internet is.
- Wait for the results to show up.
Did you get a result higher or equal to 8 Mbps? Then move on to the next solution.
But if you got anything lower than that…
I suggest contacting your Internet provider. And ask how you can improve your network speed.
Because your slow Internet is most likely causing this Apple TV WiFi problem.
You might also be interested in: 3 Steps To Restart Apps On Apple TV
#6: Ensure that the router is in range of your Apple TV
You’ve already checked that your WiFi is functional.
So if your TV still can’t access the Internet…
Then it might be because it’s too far away from your router.
With that, you need to ensure that your Apple TV is in the optimal range of your WiFi. By keeping it within a 10-meter range of your router.
Note: Both devices should be in the same room for the best results. And if possible, avoid any physical obstructions between the 2.
However, also remember that the router shouldn’t be within 30 cm of your Apple TV.
As their signals can disrupt each other at extremely close distances.
Now, once you’ve ensured that your Apple TV is neither too far nor too close from your router…
Connect it to the WiFi network once more.
#7: Check the router settings
Did you know that your Apple TV works best with the WiFi Protected Access (WPA) protocol?
“What’s that?”
It’s 1 of the many wireless security protocols (WPS) that aim to protect your data on the Internet.
Not familiar with what those are? Here’s a short video that explains the different kinds of WPS:
See, some routers use the WEP protocol.
And if that’s the case with yours, then your Apple TV won’t be able to access your WiFi efficiently.
But fortunately, you can change the WPS of your router yourself.
So simply prepare a laptop or a PC and proceed to…
Switch your router settings to WPA:
Step 1: Find the IP address of your router.
You can find this at the back of the unit.
Step 2: Type your router’s IP address into any browser on your PC.
Step 3: On your screen, click Wi-Fi.
For some devices, you might see:
- Wireless.
- Wireless Setup.
- Wireless Settings.
So click the 1 you see instead.
Step 4: Head to the Security section of the page.
Step 5: Select WPA or WPA 2.
Step 6: Type your router’s security key.
You can find this at the back of the device.
Step 7: Click Apply or Save.
Now that you’ve set your wireless security protocol to WPA or WPA 2…
Try to connect your Apple TV to the WiFi again.
Note: WPA protocols are more secure than WEP. So fret not. You won’t risk your security by switching your router settings.
But if you still have questions regarding this change, contact your ISP.
Because they can give detailed explanations about the different WPS protocols.
You might also want to know: Can Alexa Control Apple TV? DIY How-To Guide
#8: Connect your Apple TV through an ethernet cable
Now, you should try connecting your Apple TV to the router using an ethernet cable.
See, the WiFi function of your device may be glitching.
Or it might be too outdated to continue supporting wireless connections.
And in both scenarios, you need to use an ethernet cable to connect to the Internet.
Now, if you don’t have 1 yet…
You should buy a high-quality ethernet cable online or from your local stores.
Then once you have 1 on hand, follow these steps to…
Connect your Apple TV to the router using an ethernet cable:
- Prepare your ethernet cable.
- Plug 1 end of the cable to the ethernet port of your Apple.
- Ensure that you hear a clicking sound.
- Connect the other end to your router.
- Wait for your Apple TV to detect the ethernet connection.
Note: If your Apple TV still can’t connect to the Internet, proceed to fix #11. This means your device has serious firmware issues. So you need to contact Apple themselves.
However, if this connection successfully connects your Apple TV to the Internet…
Then you can either:
- Continue trying to fix your WiFi.
- Stick with using an ethernet cable to connect to the network.
Still want to fix your device’s WiFi problem? Then proceed to…
#9: Update your Apple TV software
See, it’s crucial to keep your Apple TV up to date.
Because updates ensure that your device can:
- Run simultaneous tasks efficiently.
- Access the latest Apple TV features.
- Protect its system from the latest glitches and bugs.
On top of that, updates also guarantee that your Apple TV settings work correctly.
So if your device isn’t up to date…
That might be why you still can’t connect it to the WiFi network.
But before proceeding…
Note: This would only work with an Internet connection. So follow the fix above and use an ethernet cable for now.
Update the software of your Apple TV:
- Turn ON your device.
- Head to the Settings page.
- From the list, select System.
- Click Software Updates.
- Tap Update Software.
- If an update is available, select Download and install.
Note: Don’t disconnect the Apple TV from its power source while the update is ongoing.
#10: Factory reset your Apple TV
Still can’t connect to the WiFi?
Then it’s time to do the most thorough reset on your Apple TV: the factory reset.
See, this process will delete every data from your device, including your:
- Custom settings.
- Data and information.
- Installed apps and content.
On top of these, it’ll also remove any minor issues with your software. That might be stopping your Apple TV from connecting to the WiFi.
With that in mind…
Follow these steps to factory reset your Apple TV:
- Go to the Settings menu of your device.
- Head to System.
- From the list, select Reset.
- Click Reset once more.
- Wait for the process to finish.
Note: Don’t interrupt your device while the reset is ongoing.
After the reset, you’ll be prompted to set up your Apple TV again.
Need a guide on how you can do this? Visit the official setup tutorial of your device’s model here:
After setting up your Apple TV, try to connect it to the WiFi again.
And if you’re still having trouble, you should…
#11: Contact Apple
If none of the previous 10 fixes solved the issue, then you need to contact professionals.
Fortunately, though, it’s easy to get in touch with Apple support.
However, before you do…
Find the serial number of your Apple TV:
- Go to Settings.
- Click General.
- Tap About.
- Take note of the serial number of your device.
See, Apple representatives need this so they can assist in fixing your device.
With that, once you’ve noted the serial number of your Apple TV…
You can proceed to call Apple by dialing 1-800-275-2273.
Or, you may also head to their support website. And simply follow the on-screen instructions.