Apple TV Won’t Connect to Wifi or Network: How To Fix (2023)

My entertainment setup revolves around my Apple TV. I use it to watch television programs and to keep tabs on visitors with HomeKit Secure Video. As a result, it’s become a need in my Smart Home. However, things haven’t always gone as planned.

When it comes to the Apple TV, I would have to deal with times when the navigation pane was blank even though there was no noise at all. After a hard day at the office in the evening, I sat down across from my Apple TV to relax with a Netflix marathon.

The Apple TV wouldn’t connect to the router as soon as I settled up on the sofa. I had a lot of feelings of angst. This can’t possibly be allowed to happen.

I performed some investigating into the circumstances behind why this occurred. Even though the Internet had a ton of valuable resources, finding them was a major undertaking.

After using various debugging techniques, I was able to successfully connect my Apple TV to the connection and watch all of the newly released episodes of my favorite program.

I wrote this blog to serve as a one-stop shop for anybody who has trouble getting their Apple TVs to connect to their home networks.

How to fix Apple TV not joining Wifi/network?

Reboot your TV and Wi-Fi router if that Apple TV isn’t able to connect to the network. To do this, check whether your Google TV and Area network are running the most recent firmware.

If it doesn’t work, try using an ethernet connection your Android Box to the router. Contact Apple’s Customer Service if the issue continues.

Check the Wi-Fi Connection on Apple TV

If you’re having trouble with a network connection, start by checking your Wi-Fi. Other devices such as a smartphone or a home assistant may browse the Internet upon the Wi-Fi connection to see whether it’s operating. Ensure a strong signal and enough speeds are being received.

Once you’ve established that your Internet isn’t down, check whether your Chromecast and Wi-Fi Router is connected properly. Pressure cookers, cordless cellphones, wireless headsets, chrome faceplates, and similar devices may produce interference.

Restart Your Apple TV and Your Wi-Fi Router

Start your Android Box and Wi-Fi router again as the following step if it doesn’t work. This will take better care of any storage difficulties that may have arisen, particularly if one of the devices has been kept on for an extended period.

To restart your Apple TV:

  1. Go to the ‘Menu’ tab and pick ‘Settings’ from the drop-down menu.
  2. Click on ‘General’ to proceed.
  3. Pick ‘Restart’ from the drop-down menu.

After you’ve completed this step, you should proceed to restart your router equipment. Check to see whether your network connection problems have been resolved but now that you’ve restarted both the television and the router.

Update the Apple TV Firmware

Software developers release firmware Updates to address problems when using devices such as the Chromecast and your Wi-Fi Router. Firmware Updates are released in the form of software patches.

Since a result, it’s critical to regularly keep your firmware up to date, as doing so may prevent numerous issues from occurring beneath the hood. When you want to update the software on your Apple TV, go into the settings and then click “Update Software.”

If there are any available updates, the system will automatically download and install them when requested. Now that you’ve updated the software on your Apple TV, you’ll need to check the firmware on your network to see whether it has been updated as well.

To do so, you must log in to the router’s administrative panel. This may be accomplished by running an internet browser and entering the router’s local IP address in the address bar.

The Following Command Desktop App may be found by searching for it in the start menu or by pressing the Windows key on a computer running Windows.

Start it by typing “ipconfig” into the search box. We don’t care about the rest of the data sent by this; the only thing we need is “Default Gateway.”

This is the local IP address of your router, and you may access the router’s administration interface by entering this address into a browser window when your connection has been established to the router. Note that this address is case-sensitive.

Open settings Apple Menu by selecting the Apple symbol in the upper left corner of the screen and selecting “System Preferences” on Mac OS X. Select the Network option from the drop-down menu. The local IP address of your router may be found next to the word “Router.”

You will be prompted to log into the router’s administration interface using your credentials. The default login and password are normally “admin,” however, you can usually discover this information on the box that your equipment came in or by looking for them available on the Internet by googling the brand and model of your router.

Please refer to the User Manual for your router for further device-specific information.

Apple TV Wont Connect to Wifi or Network.

Check the Router Settings

Additional settings in your network’s administration dashboard may be preventing the Apple TV from accessing the router. It’s as simple as following the steps following fundamentals to sign in.

Upon logging in to the router’s administration dashboard, you must verify that the device is configured to employ MAC address filtering. If your router has a MAC address filtering set, put the MAC address of your Apple TV to the allowlist by entering it into the router’s configuration menu.

It is possible to get the MAC address of your Apple TV by heading to Configurations on the Apple TV and selecting “Wi-Fi Address” under “About.”

If your equipment is configured to use the WEP mechanism, you may change the Bluetooth authentication process to WPA or WPA2 by configuring your router.

Check if your TV is connected to the network by deactivating any internet security software on your computer or laptop.

Use an Ethernet Cable To Connect Your Apple TV

Because none of the techniques listed above are successful, you have always had the option of connecting your Android Box to your network through an Ethernet connection.

Afterward, you can either check for software updates or keep the Apple TV connected to the network and continue to use it in this manner.

If you have an Apple TV 2nd generation or an Apple TV 3rd generation, you will need to do the proper procedures:

Navigate to ‘Settings,’ then to ‘General,’ and finally to ‘Update Software.’ This should complete the process. If there are any updates available, be sure you download and install them.

Remove the Wired connection and try reconnecting to your internet network once you’ve completed this procedure. You would need to go to ‘Settings’ on either the Smart TV 4Kor the Chromecast HD, then click on ‘System,’ and lastly, click on ‘Software Updates’ on either device.

After completing this step, detach your Ethernet wire and try to connect to your Wi-Fi network.

Connecting Apple TV to Captive Network

Remember that Apple TVs cannot detect hostage networks, which are those that need a second login to access the network.

These networks may be found in various settings, including schools, residences, hotels, and retail establishments. If you have a MacBook, you can take better care of this if you already have one.

Take note of the order of random letters in the “Wi-Fi Address” field on your Apple TV by heading to Preferences, hitting on About, and selecting “Wi-Fi Address.”

Whether you’re hooked into the router or connected wirelessly, it may alternatively be referred to as “Wireless ID” or “Ethernet ID.” The following command should be entered into the terminal application on your MacBook:

ifconfig en0 ethernet (sudo ifconfig en0 ethernet [MAC ADDRESS] is an abbreviation for “Machine Addressable by Computer.”

Make certain that [MAC ADDRESS] is replaced with the real MAC address of your Apple TV. Execute the following command: ifconfig en0 | keywords ether

Finally, sign in using the web browser built into your MacBook to avoid using the captive portal. With the introduction of captive networks, you may now attach an Apple TV to one.

Is Apple TV Still Unable to Join Network? Fixing Tips

If you’ve done everything and Apple TV still won’t access the network, there may be a problem with the Apple TV itself. In this instance, contacting Apple’s Customer Care through their hotline, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, is the best course of action.

The state of your Chromecast may determine whether or not they will repair it for you. Apple provides a one-year guarantee on its televisions, which may allow you to get your malfunctioning equipment fixed or replaced completely free of charge.

Conclusion:

Having successfully connected your Apple TV to the network, you can sit back and enjoy some programs on one of the several streaming services available on Apple TV, such as Amazon Prime, Netflix, or Disney+.

Apple TV+ is also a great place to watch Apple Original Series. Another amazing feature available on most Samsung TVs is the ability to browse the Internet.

As an alternative, you could connect your Apple TV to Apple and designate it as your wireless router, which would enable you to operate your complete Smart Home from the Apple TV itself.

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FAQs:

Question

How do I reset my Apple TV?

Select ‘Settings’ from the ‘Apple TV’ menu once it has been turned on. Select ‘System’ and then ‘Reset’ from the drop-down menu. When you choose this option, your Apple TV will indeed be reset.
Because this is a night before going to bed procedure, you would have to be patient for a little while longer. 

Why does my Apple TV keep saying my Wi-Fi password is wrong?

This may be caused by several factors, the most obvious is that the Lan connection you supplied was incorrect.
When this happens, it is usually because you made a mistake or lost your password. It is also possible that the gadget may fail to acknowledge the password at times.
In this situation, you would also need to reset your television and attempt to reconnect it to the network once again.

Why is my old Apple TV not working?

It’s possible that your Apple TV has been damaged or that it has outlived its projected lifespan. According to Apple, the YouTube service will not be accessible in the Apple TV’s first two iterations.

Does Apple TV need Internet?

Apple TV requires a network connection to complete the setup. Otherwise, the Internet is not required for the television to operate properly. However, you will not be able to see online material if you do not have an internet connection.

Is it better to connect Apple TV via Ethernet?

Because of its great durability and stability, Ethernet is unquestionably a superior choice for connecting to the Internet than Wi-Fi is today.
In fact, if the Wi-Fi connection is reliable, there will be no discernible difference between using Ethernet and utilizing Wi-Fi.

Last update on 2024-03-28

Lance Ulanoff is a renowned tech journalist, commentator, and on-air expert with over 36 years of experience. He has held esteemed positions including Editor in Chief of Lifewire and Mashable, where he delved into the impact of technology on daily life. Lance's expertise has been featured on major news programs globally, and he has made appearances on Fox News, CNBC, and the BBC.