I bought a new ATV thinking my old unit had a hardware problem but in reality its looking to be bugs in the operating system. Okay my problem. Speed test measures that my bandwidth drops from 200mbps down to like 1-5 megabits per second after 1-5 days. I then have to reboot the ATV to be able to stream again. This is not a problem with my router, or ATV hardware, but with the TVOS latest release 15.4.1. Anyone else experiencing this? Apple seriously needs to fix this soon as its getting annoying.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Bugs in TVOS 15.4.1
- Thread starter jwolf6589
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
I've never had any AppleTV- and I've had them ALL from very first generation- that didn't need a full reboot every week or two. I perceive definitely buggy. Nevertheless, I have one on every TV in the house because when it works, it does everything it does well. So I've just made it a habit to restart them regularly and hope that Apple gets around to squashing bugs someday. When guests are coming for a visit, I reboot the AppleTV in the guest room(s) just before their arrival.
I've long suspected memory leaks that- over time- eat up much of the working space, creating a variety of limiting scenarios. Reboots conceptually free up all memory again. Whether that's it or not- only Apple knows (well, hopefully they know). But if you want a "just works" AppleTV, you'll need to support the concept by regularly rebooting.
Of course, I'm making an assumption that you've ruled out wifi and/or ethernet issues. For example, try the OTHER option when it's doing that and see if the same slow-down occurs. That may give you a clue to something OUTSIDE of the little box that you can change. If you are using ethernet, hook another device or two to that same cable and run speed test(s). Does it show the same fall off? If so, I'd become very suspicious of the cable or maybe a switch between it and the router.
If you are leaning on wifi, do others have access to the same wifi bandwidth pool? If others are eating up lots of bandwidth, it can look like you describe. Note that if you ever shared wifi access with a neighbor, they might still be connecting to your wifi and eating a bunch of bandwidth without you knowing it. They may not even know they are using your wifi. All that can take is having them over one day, them needing to check something on the Internet and you volunteering your wifi. Most people don't even remember doing this.
Again, temporarily try a direct connection via Ethernet to bypass any wifi constraints (even bypass a switch if you are using one for a direct AppleTV-to-router connection). If that makes a difference, change your wifi password to cut off neighbor "hogs" and then retest, test, test, and test again... BEFORE you start sharing the new password with anyone else in the house that might also be using your wifi.
If you are able to KEEP an Ethernet connection, do so. Any Internet delivery by Ethernet is Internet that doesn't need a 'byte' of your limited wifi bandwidth pie.
I've long suspected memory leaks that- over time- eat up much of the working space, creating a variety of limiting scenarios. Reboots conceptually free up all memory again. Whether that's it or not- only Apple knows (well, hopefully they know). But if you want a "just works" AppleTV, you'll need to support the concept by regularly rebooting.
Of course, I'm making an assumption that you've ruled out wifi and/or ethernet issues. For example, try the OTHER option when it's doing that and see if the same slow-down occurs. That may give you a clue to something OUTSIDE of the little box that you can change. If you are using ethernet, hook another device or two to that same cable and run speed test(s). Does it show the same fall off? If so, I'd become very suspicious of the cable or maybe a switch between it and the router.
If you are leaning on wifi, do others have access to the same wifi bandwidth pool? If others are eating up lots of bandwidth, it can look like you describe. Note that if you ever shared wifi access with a neighbor, they might still be connecting to your wifi and eating a bunch of bandwidth without you knowing it. They may not even know they are using your wifi. All that can take is having them over one day, them needing to check something on the Internet and you volunteering your wifi. Most people don't even remember doing this.
Again, temporarily try a direct connection via Ethernet to bypass any wifi constraints (even bypass a switch if you are using one for a direct AppleTV-to-router connection). If that makes a difference, change your wifi password to cut off neighbor "hogs" and then retest, test, test, and test again... BEFORE you start sharing the new password with anyone else in the house that might also be using your wifi.
If you are able to KEEP an Ethernet connection, do so. Any Internet delivery by Ethernet is Internet that doesn't need a 'byte' of your limited wifi bandwidth pie.
Last edited:
I am using WIFI and have zero issues on any other device. I wish I could do Ethernet but it’s not available for me. We change the WiFi password often here. No one is using much bandwidth here as the landlord is often not home.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Appliances (or other wifi disrupters) between your router and your AppleTV? AppleTV tucked into a cabinet with lots of metal surrounding it?
Temporarily run an ethernet cable from router to AppleTV box. Next time you see it doing that, quickly switch in the Ethernet cable and test again. If it doesn't repeat, you can start working on wifi possibilities. That's not saying to leave the Ethernet cable forever. You are simply using it to test if the issue may actually be with wifi.
To "other devices have zero issues," are you testing those devices in the same spot as AppleTV? What a difference even a few feet can make based upon how and where you have an AppleTV tucked vs. maybe the sofa in front of the TV it feeds. Any potential radio signal disrupters placed pretty close to AppleTV? Try moving AppleTV to a very different location (temporarily), away from any electronics/metal it may be by now. For example, if "zero issues" other devices are at the sofa, move the AppleTV temporarily to the sofa and see if this problem happens there.
It's certainly possible your new AppleTV has a hardware issue but there are clearly opportunities to further rule out some variables. Else, return it for another and see what it does. If you have TWO doing the same thing, odds are it is something else because there are millions of them "in the wild" and this doesn't seem to be an everyone issue.
Temporarily run an ethernet cable from router to AppleTV box. Next time you see it doing that, quickly switch in the Ethernet cable and test again. If it doesn't repeat, you can start working on wifi possibilities. That's not saying to leave the Ethernet cable forever. You are simply using it to test if the issue may actually be with wifi.
To "other devices have zero issues," are you testing those devices in the same spot as AppleTV? What a difference even a few feet can make based upon how and where you have an AppleTV tucked vs. maybe the sofa in front of the TV it feeds. Any potential radio signal disrupters placed pretty close to AppleTV? Try moving AppleTV to a very different location (temporarily), away from any electronics/metal it may be by now. For example, if "zero issues" other devices are at the sofa, move the AppleTV temporarily to the sofa and see if this problem happens there.
It's certainly possible your new AppleTV has a hardware issue but there are clearly opportunities to further rule out some variables. Else, return it for another and see what it does. If you have TWO doing the same thing, odds are it is something else because there are millions of them "in the wild" and this doesn't seem to be an everyone issue.
Last edited:
I'm running my ATV 4K 2017 on ethernet without any issues. I very rarely have to restart it for any reason, and never due to poor bandwidth performance. I've also used it on Wi-Fi and it had no issues.
About the bugs, yep, lots of those. Apple is notorious for bugs the last few years, and that is within all of their OSes. They really need to get that under control.
What I notice though is that whenever Apple releases a significant update to tvOS, it often takes some of the app developers a few weeks to get the kinks worked out. Although it could indicate bugs, it probably has more to do with new features that were added, and with new ways of handling the code that were introduced. Hulu seems to be a good example. Ever since 14.4 Hulu has been really bad at losing the streams and other issues. When Apple changes the code, the app developers will need to update their code to work with it, and that simply takes time.
In my case, I rarely seem to have issues streaming CuriosityStream, BritBox, YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, NatGeo, or even Amazon Prime. Philo and Hulu have been issues on and off. Philo got so bad that I cancelled it and went back to Hulu for streaming live TV. I seem to only have major issues with the live TV streaming apps. The on demand streaming apps are usually okay.
I still suspect that the Wi-Fi issues the OP is having are due to sharing the internet service with someone who has total control of the system. You can have a fast internet service, but when it gets shared with multiple users it can suffer issues. There is only a finite amount of internet bandwidth entering the building, and it gets shared between multiple users. Whoever controls the keys to the kingdom is going to rule in such a case. Find a way to escape the serfdom, and set up your own internet service wherein you are the king! 🙂
About the bugs, yep, lots of those. Apple is notorious for bugs the last few years, and that is within all of their OSes. They really need to get that under control.
What I notice though is that whenever Apple releases a significant update to tvOS, it often takes some of the app developers a few weeks to get the kinks worked out. Although it could indicate bugs, it probably has more to do with new features that were added, and with new ways of handling the code that were introduced. Hulu seems to be a good example. Ever since 14.4 Hulu has been really bad at losing the streams and other issues. When Apple changes the code, the app developers will need to update their code to work with it, and that simply takes time.
In my case, I rarely seem to have issues streaming CuriosityStream, BritBox, YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, NatGeo, or even Amazon Prime. Philo and Hulu have been issues on and off. Philo got so bad that I cancelled it and went back to Hulu for streaming live TV. I seem to only have major issues with the live TV streaming apps. The on demand streaming apps are usually okay.
I still suspect that the Wi-Fi issues the OP is having are due to sharing the internet service with someone who has total control of the system. You can have a fast internet service, but when it gets shared with multiple users it can suffer issues. There is only a finite amount of internet bandwidth entering the building, and it gets shared between multiple users. Whoever controls the keys to the kingdom is going to rule in such a case. Find a way to escape the serfdom, and set up your own internet service wherein you are the king! 🙂
No its near my TV and nothing should be interfering with it. No metal surrounding it.
Yes they are all in my room. My MacBook pro, iPad, and iPhone and they have zero issues. I am gonna try putting my AppleTV near my Blue-ray player, instead of right near my TV.
My HD had the same issue as my new 4K ATV. I don't think the problem is hardware with my ATV.
Actually my mistake. My space heater (which is made of metal) was very close to my ATV even when it was off. I have since moved it and we shall see if the problems continue.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Again, one run of temporary Ethernet would rule out a LOT of possibilities. You have a couple of us suspecting your wifi. Temporary Ethernet rules it out or in.
Well thats not an option in my situation. For one I don't have a long enough ethernet cable, and for two the landlord wont allow it. He says the WIFI works perfect on his Android/Windows devices, so it should work fine on mine. He lives downstairs and his smart TV and other devices work perfect. I have experienced this problem even when he has not been home.
If my problem is all WIFI then why does my MacBook Pro and other apple devices work perfect?
Its not shared with multiple users, just me and the landlord. I have experienced issues even when he has not been home and ONLY on my ATV.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Different antennas, different quality of antennas, different positions, different software,etc. There’s many possibilities.
Subjective tests make it hard to figure this out. For instance, “moving it by the blu ray player” may fully resolve it, or make it worse, or make it more or less frequent. I hope that does the trick, but that mostly assumes some kind of wifi disturbance in the original position.
Wifi has so many possibilities. For example does the neighbor have some wifi signal disturbing device immediately below where you use your AppleTV but not where you use your MB and other Apple devices? Are you sure the landlord is not hogging bandwidth and or sharing it with others (too) during your weak reception times? There only so much bandwidth pie to go around. Etc.
Assuming landlord is not using bandwidth because they are out isn't automatically correct. For example, I sometimes save some large file uploads/downloads/synchs to online storage until bedtime or when I go out for lunch, etc. Thus I'm asleep or OUT but using a pretty good amount of bandwidth... more during those times than all day while I'm actively using my tech.
If you can’t borrow a sufficiently-long Ethernet cable just to rule out/in wifi and the move doesn’t solve this, take the AppleTV to someone else’s house, hook it up to their wifi and see if you can make it similarly dip so low there. A whole different wifi connection could help you further consider the consistent reliability of the wifi provided to you at home.
I continue to suspect inconsistent wifi, probably due to bandwidth demands by others using the same pie when you see those dips. A move or two will mostly rule out dead zone/interruption zone potentials but won’t overcome others gobbling up bandwidth during those times.
Next guess is if you are using somebody else’s wifi in maybe a rental situation,they are allocating guest wifi to you instead of sharing their own (common practice for security purposes). Maybe they have some data usage settings on the guest network wifi you get to use so you can’t overrun their broadband cap by eating too much data each month? Exceed the total broadband cap common in many places and it costs them more money to pay for the overage. What tends to eat the most data each month? Video streaming.
Much of computer and phone wifi usage is not consuming big video streams so that all “works fine”. For example, browsing a web page, sending email, etc can seem to be working just fine even in those down into 1-5mbps dips. Video streaming demands much more data. Pinch big data consumption on the network and an AppleTV could seem to have issues while wifi seems fine on MB, Phone and even HomePod. There are tools for managing bandwidth in rental situations... specifically for the purpose of keeping too much data from being consumed and thus costing the landlord more money. Maybe that's in play here?
Last edited:
What does Speedtest say on your laptop when it is that low on your ATV? Have the laptop as close to the location of the ATV as possible…and/or iPhone?
I’m guessing the router is also downstairs with your landlord so one possibility could be the ATV is connected to a different Wi-Fi band than the other devices and the signal isn’t reaching sufficiently.
In my house I get terrible speeds while on 2.4GHz whereas 5GHz is fine but 5GHz doesn’t travel as far due to our thick walls so has issues in one particular spot in my sons room.
both my ATVs are on 5GHz ... just like all iPhones, iPads, Macs ... if your's isn't, then there might be the issue - the wifi signal on 5GHz isn't good enough.
So far all is working well with the ATV so perhaps having the ATV right next to the TV, or behind it was a bad setup I don't know. If I continue to have the weak bandwidth I will ask landlord if I can get hooked up on the 2.4ghz connection, and of coarse he will say all his devices work fine so mine should as well, but I will try and persuade him. I cant let someone borrow my ATV since they will need it for 1-5 days to determine a problem. Remember the problem goes away when the ATV is unplugged or reset for a little while at least.
I am not sure about the neighbors but I do know landlord does not allow anyone else to use WIFI and has no guest access. He changes passwords often and they are very complex, making it a real pain to type the complex passwords in without the iPhone.
You are quite knowledgeable and some of what you say is greek to me so I do not understand it but will keep this thread updated. I suspect that I will have the problem again sometime soon.
I live alone, and for just me alone there are around 30 devices connected to my Wi-Fi network. Today we see a lot of devices that have Wi-Fi, even smart bulbs, smart plugs, refrigerators, Alexa Echo devices, TVs, streaming devices like ATV and Roku, smartphones, tablets, computers, etc. Whatever total amount of bandwidth comes into the house has to be divided among all those devices. And the highways that bandwidth uses to reach those devices has to be controlled well. An older Wi-Fi router might not have the ability to manage such a busy system of internet traffic, resulting in traffic jams and other issues.
And BTW, if your landlord has the knowledge, it is fairly easy for him to prioritize which devices get top billing on available bandwidth. He may have your devices at the bottom of the list.
As far as Wi-Fi to computers and iPhone/iPads go, unless you are streaming videos or games on them they really don't use that much bandwidth most of the time. An ATV is primarily for streaming, so it is likely using more bandwidth than your other devices.
So far the speed test app has indicated that moving the ATV from behind the TV to on top of my blue Ray player has improved the WiFi signal but will keep the thread updated.
Am having speed problems again with ATV so apparently having it right near the TV was not the issue. However my Mac and iPad are also slower than usual but not nearly as slow as the ATV. Only my iPhone is getting a fast speed test connection. Perhaps the landlord is hogging the bandwidth. I will wait till tonight and will not reboot my ATV. Perhaps landlord is streaming video or doing other things that will slow me down.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
That's my guess. Someone is sometimes eating a lot of bandwidth while you are trying to eat a lot of it too. Your circumstances sound most like that very scenario.
Nothing you can do there except feast when they are not or get your own connection so you have your own wifi bandwidth pie 100% to yourself.
Nothing you can do there except feast when they are not or get your own connection so you have your own wifi bandwidth pie 100% to yourself.