Can't login to iCloud on AppleTV 3rd Gen

[ks-man]

I had to factory reset my Apple TV (3rd Generation). Now I can't sign into iCloud on it. I get a message saying Unable to sign in - iCloud is not currently available. Try again later.

I've tried the suggestion about entering my password followed by the validation code before hitting submit but that doesn't work either. I've even tried resetting my Apple TV again. Why can't I login to iCloud when it was working fine a week ago?

Thanks.

 

[jwolf6589]

I had to factory reset my Apple TV (3rd Generation). Now I can't sign into iCloud on it. I get a message saying Unable to sign in - iCloud is not currently available. Try again later.

I've tried the suggestion about entering my password followed by the validation code before hitting submit but that doesn't work either. I've even tried resetting my Apple TV again. Why can't I login to iCloud when it was working fine a week ago?

Thanks.

You MAY need to upgrade to a later ATV. The 3rd generation is ancient.

 

[ks-man]

You MAY need to upgrade to a later ATV. The 3rd generation is ancient.

It just seems weird that it wouldn't be able to log into iCloud. It's used in a retail store just to show a screen saver of pictures. By having that screen saver be an iCloud photo album it is very easy to rotate pictures as our staff can just take photo with our store phone and upload them directly to the iCloud folder. I'd hate to have to buy a brand new ATV for such limited use. Our other option is to stream the photos from our local iMac but it is still much more straight forward to have the screen saver use an iCloud folder. I can't understand why Apple would remove the ability to sign in. It worked fine last week but when I had to do the reset (other issue) I now can't log back in. Thanks for the thoughts.

 

[jwolf6589]

It just seems weird that it wouldn't be able to log into iCloud. It's used in a retail store just to show a screen saver of pictures. By having that screen saver be an iCloud photo album it is very easy to rotate pictures as our staff can just take photo with our store phone and upload them directly to the iCloud folder. I'd hate to have to buy a brand new ATV for such limited use. Our other option is to stream the photos from our local iMac but it is still much more straight forward to have the screen saver use an iCloud folder. I can't understand why Apple would remove the ability to sign in. It worked fine last week but when I had to do the reset (other issue) I now can't log back in. Thanks for the thoughts.

Yeah I had the 3rd generation a long time ago. The newer models are much much better.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

You MAY need to upgrade to a later ATV. The 3rd generation is ancient.

I still use my Apple TV 3rd Gen and it logs into iCloud just fine. It also works fine with Prime, Netflix, Showtime and Stars. The 3rd gen just received an update a few months ago hence it's still supported. So being old has nothing to do with why the OP can't sign into iCloud..

 

[jwolf6589]

I still use my Apple TV 3rd Gen and it logs into iCloud just fine. It also works fine with Prime, Netflix, Showtime and Stars. The 3rd gen just received an update a few months ago hence it's still supported. So being old has nothing to do with why the OP can't sign into iCloud..

Yeah but support for an ancient ATV won’t last forever.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Yeah but support for an ancient ATV won’t last forever.

Yes but you said the OP couldn't sign into iCloud because his 3rd gen was "ancient'' which is obviously the wrong answer. Maybe you should of said you don know why instead of guessing

 

[jwolf6589]

Yes but you said the OP couldn't sign into iCloud because his 3rd gen was "ancient'' which is obviously the wrong answer. Maybe you should of said you don know why instead of guessing

No I said “may” need to upgrade. That’s not a definite statement.

 

[ks-man]

I still use my Apple TV 3rd Gen and it logs into iCloud just fine. It also works fine with Prime, Netflix, Showtime and Stars. The 3rd gen just received an update a few months ago hence it's still supported. So being old has nothing to do with why the OP can't sign into iCloud..

Have you recently logged into iCloud? Mine was logged in fine but when I got logged out (because I needed to do a factory reset) I couldn't log back in.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Have you recently logged into iCloud? Mine was logged in fine but when I got logged out (because I needed to do a factory reset) I couldn't log back in.

I had to log in around a week ago.. Nothing seemed unusual and no issues logging in.. When you say factory reset do you mean you reset it through the device or you restored it using iTunes?

 

[ks-man]

I had to log in around a week ago.. Nothing seemed unusual and no issues logging in.. When you say factory reset do you mean you reset it through the device or you restored it using iTunes?

Reset through the device. How would i restore it from iTunes?

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Reset through the device. How would i restore it from iTunes?

There's a micro usb port on the back of the device (right under the HDMI port).. So you need a micro usb to usb-a cable and plug it into your mac or pc and open iTunes. You have the option to restore from there...

 

[ks-man]

There's a micro usb port on the back of the device (right under the HDMI port).. So you need a micro usb to usb-a cable and plug it into your mac or pc and open iTunes. You have the option to restore from there...

Thanks but unfortunately that didn't do it either. This is so strange. I've tried it at two locations (retail store and home) and with two different iCloud accounts (personal and business) and every time I get the same message that iCloud isn't available and to try later.

I've now reset the device both through the AppleTV itself and via iTunes. I've tried appending the iCloud verification code to the password without any luck.

The crazy thing is everything else on the AppleTV looks fine. It just won't log into iCloud. Oh well, seems to be pretty hopeless.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Thanks but unfortunately that didn't do it either. This is so strange. I've tried it at two locations (retail store and home) and with two different iCloud accounts (personal and business) and every time I get the same message that iCloud isn't available and to try later.

I've now reset the device both through the AppleTV itself and via iTunes. I've tried appending the iCloud verification code to the password without any luck.

The crazy thing is everything else on the AppleTV looks fine. It just won't log into iCloud. Oh well, seems to be pretty hopeless.

So it restored through iTunes with no problems or errors? Can you connect it to your wifi network ok? I assume you're on wifi when you're trying to log into iCloud

 

[jwolf6589]

Thanks but unfortunately that didn't do it either. This is so strange. I've tried it at two locations (retail store and home) and with two different iCloud accounts (personal and business) and every time I get the same message that iCloud isn't available and to try later.

I've now reset the device both through the AppleTV itself and via iTunes. I've tried appending the iCloud verification code to the password without any luck.

The crazy thing is everything else on the AppleTV looks fine. It just won't log into iCloud. Oh well, seems to be pretty hopeless.

Like I said before. You "may" need to upgrade as Apple is not destined to support ancient hardware and software forever.

 

[ks-man]

So it restored through iTunes with no problems or errors? Can you connect it to your wifi network ok? I assume you're on wifi when you're trying to log into iCloud

Correct, restored fine, no issues and when it was done told me to disconnect from the computer and connect to TV. No issues connecting to a wifi network. I also tried connecting via ethernet just to see but also didn't work. It has internet in both places. When I log into iCloud if I don't append the verification code it recognizes the account and asks for a verification code which I provide, then it will tell me that it couldn't connect to iCloud.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Correct, restored fine, no issues and when it was done told me to disconnect from the computer and connect to TV. No issues connecting to a wifi network. I also tried connecting via ethernet just to see but also didn't work. It has internet in both places. When I log into iCloud if I don't append the verification code it recognizes the account and asks for a verification code which I provide, then it will tell me that it couldn't connect to iCloud.

Can you sign into the iTunes store?

 

[ks-man]

Can you sign into the iTunes store?

Just tried but it won't login. Message says Cannot connect to iTunes Store with the only option being "OK"

 

[ks-man]

Just tried but it won't login. Message says Cannot connect to iTunes Store with the only option being "OK"

Actually I just tried it with appending the verification code and I can sign into iTunes store.

If I go to iCloud after this it asks if I want to use the same ID for iCloud but I get the same message of iCloud not being available.

 

[MacHenrik]

I had to factory reset my Apple TV (3rd Generation). Now I can't sign into iCloud on it. I get a message saying Unable to sign in - iCloud is not currently available. Try again later.

I've tried the suggestion about entering my password followed by the validation code before hitting submit but that doesn't work either. I've even tried resetting my Apple TV again. Why can't I login to iCloud when it was working fine a week ago?

Thanks.

I have the exact same issue. I tried all kind of things. iCloud is fine on all devices, but not on my Apple TV 3'rd gen (Not af 4K 3'rd gen!). I think Apple is starting to be poor at supporting old devices! Why cause this issue for users:-(

 

[ks-man]

I have the exact same issue. I tried all kind of things. iCloud is fine on all devices, but not on my Apple TV 3'rd gen (Not af 4K 3'rd gen!). I think Apple is starting to be poor at supporting old devices! Why cause this issue for users:-(

That actually makes more sense. I was surprised that Bugeye was still able to get in. My guess is that they are ending support so if you are logged in that is fine but once you log out you can't get back in. Certainly not worth having him logout to try and get back in as you might not be able to.

 

[jwolf6589]

I have the exact same issue. I tried all kind of things. iCloud is fine on all devices, but not on my Apple TV 3'rd gen (Not af 4K 3'rd gen!). I think Apple is starting to be poor at supporting old devices! Why cause this issue for users:-(

Thats my guess as well. I once had a 3rd generation and boy the newer devices are much much better. TVOS is great as is the new remote. I know others in this thread do not want to hear advice in saying that they "may" need to upgrade, but it's starting to look like they have to upgrade.

Oh and regarding your comment about apple not supporting old devices my question is why should they support ancient hardware and software forever? Why did apple ditch support for the Apple IIgs? Why dont they support my very first computer from 1993 the mac LC III?

 

[ks-man]

Thats my guess as well. I once had a 3rd generation and boy the newer devices are much much better. TVOS is great as is the new remote. I know others in this thread do not want to hear advice in saying that they "may" need to upgrade, but it's starting to look like they have to upgrade.

Oh and regarding your comment about apple not supporting old devices my question is why should they support ancient hardware and software forever? Why did apple ditch support for the Apple IIgs? Why dont they support my very first computer from 1993 the mac LC III?

It surprises me that you continually come back to this thread "encouraging" me to upgrade to a new device. I don't see how a newer device is going to be "much better" for me or that I'm going to care about a new remote.

As I said earlier this device is used in a retail store and it's only purpose is to do a screen saver of photos. Our sales associates take photos on a store phone and then upload the photos to an iCloud album. The TV simply displays these photos. Photos can be managed remotely by deleting photos from the shared folder and then the TV won't show those photos anymore.

I understand that this is an older device. I realize that Apple isn't obligated to support it forever. It seems strange to me that it can't log into iCloud anymore when it could a few weeks ago. Other people with the exact same device that are logged into iCloud can use it fine. It is even more interesting (sad) that Apple will let me log into the iTunes store so I would imagine they would happily sell me new movies or shows if I wanted to buy them on the device.

I'm not going to spend $125 to buy a brand new 4k top of the line Apple TV simply to display a screen saver of photos on my business's six year old 1080p TV. I can still use the Computers app to stream photos from our iMac to the TV. It isn't as seemless since an employee will have to manually connect the two each morning and start a slideshow. It is what it is.

Other users were helpfully trying to offer suggestions to see about a solution. I understood from your first post that you thought I should just buy a new one. Duly noted, thanks for your opinion.

Rant over.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

It surprises me that you continually come back to this thread "encouraging" me to upgrade to a new device. I don't see how a newer device is going to be "much better" for me or that I'm going to care about a new remote.

As I said earlier this device is used in a retail store and it's only purpose is to do a screen saver of photos. Our sales associates take photos on a store phone and then upload the photos to an iCloud album. The TV simply displays these photos. Photos can be managed remotely by deleting photos from the shared folder and then the TV won't show those photos anymore.

I understand that this is an older device. I realize that Apple isn't obligated to support it forever. It seems strange to me that it can't log into iCloud anymore when it could a few weeks ago. Other people with the exact same device that are logged into iCloud can use it fine. It is even more interesting (sad) that Apple will let me log into the iTunes store so I would imagine they would happily sell me new movies or shows if I wanted to buy them on the device.

I'm not going to spend $125 to buy a brand new 4k top of the line Apple TV simply to display a screen saver of photos on my business's six year old 1080p TV. I can still use the Computers app to stream photos from our iMac to the TV. It isn't as seemless since an employee will have to manually connect the two each morning and start a slideshow. It is what it is.

Other users were helpfully trying to offer suggestions to see about a solution. I understood from your first post that you thought I should just buy a new one. Duly noted, thanks for your opinion.

Rant over.

I'm sorry you haven't had luck logging into iCloud and it's odd that it allows access to iTunes store using the same AppleID.. I have a new 2022 4K Apple TV sitting in a drawer that I haven't even opened yet, the 3rd gen has the ability to block commercials on the FreeVee app in Prime which I know for sure the newer AppleTV's don't do. I enjoy watching old TV series (Rockford Files, X Files, etc.) and won't tolerate commercials or paying to watch so I'll milk the 3rd gen until it literally won't work with Prime and Netflix. As far as a better remote, that's laughable. There are many complaints on this very forum about the Siri remote as well as the newest remote being less enjoyable to use than the original remote which is simple in design and easy to use.
P.S. I signed out of iCloud today and it won't let me sign back in so it seems iCloud might be canned for me as well. I'm not bothered as I really don't need access to watch Prime or Netflix.. No problem signing into iTunes though so my movies are still viewable so that works for me

 

[pommehomme]

Same problem here. 3rd gen. Apple TV. I had to reset my Apple ID password a few days ago and when I tried to sign in to iCloud on the Apple TV today I got the "iCloud is unavailable. Try again later" message. Confirmed Apple ID and password was correct. Restarted and reset Apple TV. Same thing happened. I could sign into iTunes Store with the same Apple ID and password without issue, and everything else on the Apple TV works fine. I was on the phone with Apple Support for about 45 minutes and they were unable to offer anything else. Seems odd to have such an isolated issue (I am able to sign into iCloud without problem with a Mac, iPad and iPhone in the same room connected to the same wifi network with the same Apple ID and password.)