Apple TV allows its users to access anything from movies, music, TV shows, and more. In order to seamlessly connect with your Apple TV box or subscription, internet access is required. So what happens when you can’t connect your Apple TV to Wi-Fi? Fear not, for this article is here to guide you through the steps you can take to fix this issue!
Regardless of whether you own the 4K or HD Apple TV box, you must connect to a strong Wi-Fi network or use an ethernet cable for Apple TV to function properly. On support.apple.com, 4 main steps are listed to help you figure out why you may have trouble connecting to Wi-Fi:
- Make sure you are connecting to the Wi-Fi correctly. In 3rd generation Apple TVs, you can find a network to connect to by navigating to the Settings and clicking on the Networks tab in General. From there you can select a Wi-Fi network and enter the password to connect. Note: You are not able to connect to a Wi-Fi network if you are connected to an ethernet cable or trying to connect to captive networks in businesses, schools, hotels, etc. If you would prefer to use Wi-Fi, unplug the ethernet cable and wait a few minutes until you see the option to connect to a network.
- Check that your internet router and modem are on and working. Apple TV works best if placed in the same room as your router. However, try not to place your Apple TV box directly on top of your router or on metal surfaces. In addition, make sure nothing is significantly obstructing your router as it may affect your wireless connection.
- Restart your devices. If you still are having trouble connecting to Wi-Fi, you may want to power off your Apple TV by selecting Restart in the General section of Settings. You may also want to try restarting your router and modem.
- Try checking for software updates or using ethernet. If you are having trouble finding an available Wi-Fi network that you can connect to, plugging in your Apple TV box to your router with an ethernet cable may be your best option. If not, check for software updates by navigating to Settings and clicking on the General tab. If there is an available update in the Update Software section, go ahead and proceed to install it. Once it has finished installing, attempt to connect to Wi-Fi again (with the ethernet cable disconnected).