Apple TV Reset vs. Restart

[Gregg2]

Using Mojave 10.14.6
I'm having problems mirroring my Mac to my TV. Sometimes the problem is with audio, sometimes video, sometimes both. Mirroring from my iPad has worked better, but didn't work yesterday.

So do I need to try a Reset, or will Restart clear some things up? What effect will Reset have on installed apps, my login/passwords or anything else?

 

[mystery hill]

Try restarting first and see if the issue persists.

 

[0128672]

Using Mojave 10.14.6
I'm having problems mirroring my Mac to my TV. Sometimes the problem is with audio, sometimes video, sometimes both. Mirroring from my iPad has worked better, but didn't work yesterday.

So do I need to try a Reset, or will Restart clear some things up? What effect will Reset have on installed apps, my login/passwords or anything else?

Reset restores your ATV to its factory settings. There's an option to update too during that process.

Reset Apple TV

If you’re having problems, you can reset Apple TV to its factory settings, and optionally update to the latest version of tvOS, as well.

support.apple.com

 

[Gregg2]

Thanks for the replies.

Yes, Apple Support does an excellent job of telling you how to Reset Apple TV. What I am wary of is what it will do to my existing app settings, my passwords, etc.

I did try the Restart first to see if that will clear up my problem. I use it for live streaming once a week, so I won't know for several more days if it is better.

 

[mollyc]

reset will delete everything

 

[w5jck]

Reset on any equipment equals loss of all the settings you have spent hours setting up. It goes back to the factory settings. You will also have to reinstall any apps you previously installed plus sign in to them again. It is a colossal waste of time in most cases. Try everything else before resetting. And after resetting you might still have an issue if it is a bug rather than a glitch. Restart is easy and quick, reset is a royal PITA and a time consuming and frustrating process. If Apple CS asks you to reset, that usually means the CS person doesn't have a clue what it wrong and wants you to try the reset in hopes it will fix the issue, but it probably won't, so resist the reset option.

 

[Gregg2]

Ok, that's what I thought. Thanks.

 

[priitv8]

Ok, that's what I thought. Thanks.

Actually, I just recently did a reset of my aTV.
Because I have a second one on my network and I had the "sync home screen" enabled, my aTV reinstalled all my apps and their arrangement on screen automatically.
Maybe it stores everything on iCloud and would have restored the previous setup also without second aTV, just by signing in to same Apple ID again.
But I only needed to bring my iPhone close to aTV so it could copy my credentials and then it completed setup by itself.
I was back as I left before reset.
Surprisingly painless.

 

[Gregg2]

Well, my live streaming worked this week, so I guess the Restart was enough. I only have the one Apple TV, so a Reset would most likely wipe it clean. This wouldn't be catastrophic, as I only have a couple of things to restore.

 

[waw74]

after a reset you'd need to download all your apps, and re-enter all your passwords both for your appleID, and any streaming services.
it probably wouldn't help your situation, It's only helpful it things have gone really really wrong.

restart just "turns it off and back on a again" which tends to fix the vast majority of issues with all sort of electronics.
it's the same thing as unplugging it and plugging back in, but it makes sure that everything is put away neatly before it shuts down.


you should also reboot your router and any wifi gear, as a lot of times airplay issues are network related.

 

[mallbritton]

Well, my live streaming worked this week, so I guess the Restart was enough. I only have the one Apple TV, so a Reset would most likely wipe it clean. This wouldn't be catastrophic, as I only have a couple of things to restore.

The "one Home Screen" feature actually does work with just one Apple TV. Just turn it on, and if you need to do a reset all your apps will be automatically reinstalled. You will need to authorize the TV Anywhere apps again and log into any streaming services, of course, but you won't have to manually reinstall all the apps.