Those are old titles though, movies that were released years ago. Try a newer title, like a movie that was released in the last year or two (examples: Top Gun Maverick, Avatar: The Way of Water, etc). I purchased these and cannot download a file that can be streamed locally from my Mac to my Apple TV.
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Apple TV Movies - Some Download As MOVPKG Filetype
- Thread starter Blackbird77
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Those are old titles though, movies that were released years ago. Try a newer title, like a movie that was released in the last year or two (examples: Top Gun Maverick, Avatar: The Way of Water, etc). I purchased these and cannot download a file that can be streamed locally from my Mac to my Apple TV.
Hi everyone! I am just jumping into this conversation as I recently added a movie to AppleTV and tried downloading it to my media drive, only to discover the "MOVPKG" format that is totally useless. If I don't move it from the library folder, it seems to work, but not anywhere else. Like most of you, I have a larger collection of purchased movies that I keep on a separate drive for space/organization purposes. I am on an iMac 3Ghz with Sonoma 14.2.1.
Has anyone gotten anywhere with avoiding these files, converting them, or anything else? I am not sure what Apple's intention is here, but it definitely ensures I will NOT purchase/add anything to AppleTV in the future.
Has anyone gotten anywhere with avoiding these files, converting them, or anything else? I am not sure what Apple's intention is here, but it definitely ensures I will NOT purchase/add anything to AppleTV in the future.
Feb 4th 2024 - still broken. And I can't even use iTunes for Windows, like I did in the past, because that produces error 8266 on trying to download. This was for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The support guy said Apple is aware, but doesn't know if there will be a fix or when.
Apple demands you keep your entire life on the cloud - THEIR cloud. This is such a troubling trend.
Being unable to download with iTunes for Windows is very troubling since I still have to do that for many of my movie purchases. Are you using the latest version of iTunes for Windows. I don't know which version I am using (I'm on my MacBook now and don't have time to check iTunes for Windows on my HP - I'll do that soon and report back), but it isn't the most recent version. Can you download and use an older version?
It depends on how old. I was using an older Windows version that still allowed removal of DRM. But they stopped working with the store (as did the Retroactive version for the Mac on Intel Mac). Since I don't use Android anymore and don't have to rip DRM from iTunes, I upgraded to the newest Windows iTunes and thus, the failure.
When I get a chance, I will test an older version on a VM.
Using 12.11.10.2 for Windiws (from 2020), same result. Not looking good.
I might power up my old 2017 iMac that can still run Mac iTunes, and see if that works. I'm guessing not, but worth a try.
Being the brilliant person that I am, I downloaded the new TV and Music apps and just found out about the new format issue when downloading for backup.
Changing the options as mentioned earlier in the thread gave me the old M4V file (thankfully). Not sure if I should uninstall TV and Music apps and reinstall iTunes.
Changing the options as mentioned earlier in the thread gave me the old M4V file (thankfully). Not sure if I should uninstall TV and Music apps and reinstall iTunes.
So out of frustration, I retried fletch622's suggestion to change the Download Options to "Most Compatible HD (1080p)" and... it worked this time. Thanks flectch622! I don't know why it didn't work for me last year.
Below is my configuration. When I had "Download Multichannel Audio" selected, I got a mix of HLS and m4v files. But when I deselected it, all my downloads were m4v files. I don't know what I'm missing out by doing this, as I listen exclusively on AirPods Max headphones on my Apple TV. I have no speaker setup on my TV whatsoever, unless you count the odd time I use my HomePod mini.
For what it's worth, I'm on the latest version of Sequoia on a 2020 M1 Mac mini.
Below is my configuration. When I had "Download Multichannel Audio" selected, I got a mix of HLS and m4v files. But when I deselected it, all my downloads were m4v files. I don't know what I'm missing out by doing this, as I listen exclusively on AirPods Max headphones on my Apple TV. I have no speaker setup on my TV whatsoever, unless you count the odd time I use my HomePod mini.
For what it's worth, I'm on the latest version of Sequoia on a 2020 M1 Mac mini.
I just tried to download a movie I purchased a couple of months ago (fairly recent one). When I downloaded it to the computer using the same settings, it still came down as a MOVPKG file. I haven’t tried to see if the AppleTV will still not see it yet.
I suppose I could get a long HDMI cable to hook the computer up to the TV, but I think it only has two HDMI ports and both are in use (one by the AppleTV).
While it’s annoying to not be able to do something, my various internet connections are now such that there’s very few places I go where I wouldn’t have a connection good enough to stream and might want to watch a movie that was downloaded. So I’m not as concerned about it as I once was.
I suppose I could get a long HDMI cable to hook the computer up to the TV, but I think it only has two HDMI ports and both are in use (one by the AppleTV).
While it’s annoying to not be able to do something, my various internet connections are now such that there’s very few places I go where I wouldn’t have a connection good enough to stream and might want to watch a movie that was downloaded. So I’m not as concerned about it as I once was.
Still have a gift card balance from last Christmas, so I decided to try this on my new m4 Mini running Sequoia 15.1.1. No problem downloading an mp4 with the settings in @allan 's screenshot above. Should note, however, that these were the default settings "right out of the box" on a brand new Mac (didn't use migration asst). Now this is a "classic" movie however, I wonder if they are still offering .m4v versions of legacy content but only creating movpkg files for new items?
Can confirm that it plays fine when accessed via home sharing on my iPad. Will give a try on my Apple TV later but don't see a reason why that wouldn't also work.
Can confirm that it plays fine when accessed via home sharing on my iPad. Will give a try on my Apple TV later but don't see a reason why that wouldn't also work.
Sorry to hear it's not working for you. 🙁
I don't think it should matter but are you using Wi-Fi or a wired connection? Just curious.
So, you actually downloaded the same movie? How big is the .movpkg file? As you can see, my .m4v download was 5.65gb. If the .movpkg file is smaller and you have limited disk space, maybe that's the difference? My library is on a 4tb ssd with over 1tb of free space. Perhaps also related to your internet connection speed? I am using a gigabit ethernet network with Verizon FIOS internet at 500mbit/sec.
I downloaded Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1080p HD).movpkg - I only specified that I wanted to download Close Encounters of the Third Kind, using the same preferences as above. I have my library on an external SSD with 1.51 TB available (2TB drive). I don’t have a very big library. The interesting thing is that I tried deleting the 1080p version and downloading the SD version and it came in as a .movpkg file also.
I’m using a WiFi 5 router connected to a cable modem. The cable has been a lot slower recently than it was a month or two ago, but still running between 70-80Mbps.
File size is 2.89GB
I’m using a WiFi 5 router connected to a cable modem. The cable has been a lot slower recently than it was a month or two ago, but still running between 70-80Mbps.
File size is 2.89GB
I'd say that explains it, slow internet connection and your .movpkg file is almost 3gb smaller than my .m4v. I wonder how that affects the quality? I have to assume that it's worse or they would force everyone to use .movpkg otherwise.
I don’t know. I know I’ve downloaded movies when I’ve had a faster connection and still received the .movpkg files. Wish there was some easy way I could stop getting them - it negates the reason why I like downloading them - I want to watch something when I don’t have internet. I have less problem with that now since I bought Starlink.
My experience has been, if the internet connection goes out then I can't watch anything with my AppleTV. It won't even let me watch the DVD's I've ripped myself. This was discussed a lot in the past, have not seen it mentioned recently. Apparently, the AppleTV wants to "phone home" before it lets you view anything in your library.
This was an AppleTV 3 though, maybe it's different now? I'm also in a rural area and had slow, ureliable DSL for many years. Verizon finally ran fiber through our little town though and FIOS has been very robust.
This was an AppleTV 3 though, maybe it's different now? I'm also in a rural area and had slow, ureliable DSL for many years. Verizon finally ran fiber through our little town though and FIOS has been very robust.
That’s interesting. I haven’t tried in a long time, since I usually have some sort of internet most of the time now. Years ago, when I still worked, I would download a movie onto a computer or iPad at work with their high speed internet and then watch it on the AppleTV (probably a first generation one) at home, where internet was either dial-up or not much faster service. Probably somewhere around 2012 or so. I’m now wondering if the reason my cable internet is slow might be because of a coax cable - I may have damaged it when I set up this week.
If you once download a movie into the library, then delete it through the AppleTV software, and then try to download it again with a faster internet connection/asking for a different format - do you get the same file?
Edit to add - I just finished watching the movie, and it really is a nice movie. I enjoyed it, so thanks for mentioning it.
If you once download a movie into the library, then delete it through the AppleTV software, and then try to download it again with a faster internet connection/asking for a different format - do you get the same file?
Edit to add - I just finished watching the movie, and it really is a nice movie. I enjoyed it, so thanks for mentioning it.
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Good news, after being broken for years, the latest AppleTV update made many titles that were the movie package format on my Mac Studio able to be viewed. This gives me hope that more will work over time but you never know...
Good luck all
Good luck all
Good news, indeed, Joel996C4S. I just saw your post, and tried downloading some of the movies that previously downloaded on my Mac as .pkg files. I just tried downloading a small sample (15) of these movies, and they all download fine on my Mac now. I tried downloading some movies I purchased as recently as 12/31/24 and some purchased as long ago as 08/02/23. They all download now as .m4v files just as they should.