Can you play iTunes-purchased files from Computer when "offline"?

[ascender]

I’ve always kept an offline copy of movies on an external HDD connected to an iMac. This has been partly an old habit, partly in case the internet is down and partly to stop having to re-purchase them when a studio releases a new version. There’s also some of my own moves I’ve ripped from DVD and Blu-ray on there.

So tonight the internet is down, I connect to the computer via Apple TV over Ethernet and browse films, all of which are downloaded to the local library on the iMac. Anything I’ve ripped works fine, but anything I’ve bought tries to play via the usual iTunes store interface, as if it knows its something Apple holds in the store. Which obviously fails as the web is down.

If this normal? Is this because iTunes and ATV are trying to authenticate before letting me play a file? Am I just mistaken that this used to work?

Any ideas?

 

[priitv8]

Try to see, if the new feature "AirPlay from iCloud" has been turned on on your device? If so, turn it off.
https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/105793/how-does-airplay-from-icloud-actually-work

 

[Juicy Box]

I have experienced this a few years ago. My experience was slightly different, and while I don't have a perfect solution, I did find a work around, that worked 4ish years ago, and might work for you. BTW, this was with an ATV3.

I’ve always kept an offline copy of movies on an external HDD connected to an iMac.

I did the same.

in case the internet is down

For this reason. If my internet went out for an extended period of time, I knew/thought I would be able to entertain my family with the many movies and TV Shows I collected that I saved to the iTunes Movie Folder.

There’s also some of my own moves I’ve ripped from DVD and Blu-ray on there.

Me too.

Anything I’ve ripped works fine

This is where my experience was different, nothing played at all. I could see it under the "Computer" app, but nothing would play at all, even my ripped movies.

If this normal? Is this because iTunes and ATV are trying to authenticate before letting me play a file?

Yes, but I am not sure it is working as intended.

Am I just mistaken that this used to work?

Yes, this used to work, but after some update from iTunes and/or the ATV, it changed.

This is what i think is happening. The ATV periodically authenticates into the iTunes Store. If your internet went down shortly after it authenticated, then you probably wouldn't see an issue for a while. If you power went out in your home, and came back out, but your internet was still out, then the ATV wouldn't be able to authenticate into the iTunes Store, and no streaming from your computer.

Where we differ was ripped/encoded movies, my ATV wouldn't play them at all. It would try to authenticate to iTunes before letting it stream.

The work around, which may still work, is air playing the movie from your computer. It worked for me. I was able to AirPlay purchased movies and encoded movies.

Again, this was more than a few years ago with an ATV3, so all this may have changed.

 

[SYCAMOREGRAD]

I have experienced this a few years ago. My experience was slightly different, and while I don't have a perfect solution, I did find a work around, that worked 4ish years ago, and might work for you. BTW, this was with an ATV3.


I did the same.

For this reason. If my internet went out for an extended period of time, I knew/thought I would be able to entertain my family with the many movies and TV Shows I collected that I saved to the iTunes Movie Folder.

Me too.

This is where my experience was different, nothing played at all. I could see it under the "Computer" app, but nothing would play at all, even my ripped movies.

Yes, but I am not sure it is working as intended.
Yes, this used to work, but after some update from iTunes and/or the ATV, it changed.

This is what i think is happening. The ATV periodically authenticates into the iTunes Store. If your internet went down shortly after it authenticated, then you probably wouldn't see an issue for a while. If you power went out in your home, and came back out, but your internet was still out, then the ATV wouldn't be able to authenticate into the iTunes Store, and no streaming from your computer.

Where we differ was ripped/encoded movies, my ATV wouldn't play them at all. It would try to authenticate to iTunes before letting it stream.

The work around, which may still work, is air playing the movie from your computer. It worked for me. I was able to AirPlay purchased movies and encoded movies.

Again, this was more than a few years ago with an ATV3, so all this may have changed.

[doublepost=1513209445][/doublepost]I spent a summer with no internet connection. I was able to set up Airport Express as a wireless network and play iTunes files and stream them to TV.

 

[Juicy Box]

[doublepost=1513209445][/doublepost]I spent a summer with no internet connection. I was able to set up Airport Express as a wireless network and play iTunes files and stream them to TV.

I assume that you experienced the same issue with not being able to play them directly from the ATV's computer app?

So, to the OP, it looks like the AirPlay work around is still an option.

 

[priitv8]

[doublepost=1513209445][/doublepost]I spent a summer with no internet connection. I was able to set up Airport Express as a wireless network and play iTunes files and stream them to TV.

I assume that you experienced the same issue with not being able to play them directly from the ATV's computer app?

I should try it out, to be sure, but I think the big difference is in the way you attempt playback:
1) Pull method - browsing and launching from Computers app on aTV requires HomeSharing -> authentication against iTunes Store.
2) Push method - playing back from iTunes on computer and turning on AirPlay does not -> shall work without internet connection.
PS the latter usecase also works from iTunes Remote app on iOS device -> start playback on iOS device (it starts to play on iTunes host) and turn on AirPlay -> iTunes host will AirPlay the stream to aTV, iOS will not be used as middleman. You can control the playback without logging in to iTunes host!

 

[ascender]

Thanks all, will give it a go today once the hangover has worn off.