New Apple TV 4K Owners Report Siri Remote Connection Issues

[MacRumors]

An increasing number of third-generation Apple TV 4K owners are reporting connection issues with the Siri Remote that are only temporarily resolved by either restarting the remote or power cycling the set-top box.

Several MacRumors forum and Reddit threads have been created to bring attention to the issue, which seems to relate to the Siri Remote's inconsistent Bluetooth connection with the latest Apple TV 4K, even at close proximity.

Users report the Siri Remote losing connection with the Apple TV 4K intermittently, which can only be remedied by either re-pairing or restarting the remote, or unplugging the set-top box and then plugging it in again to re-establish the connection.

Notably, the problem doesn't occur when the same users try controlling their Apple TV 4K with the Remote app on their iPhone or with their TV remote via HDMI-CEC, suggesting the fault is indeed a Bluetooth issue between the remote and Apple TV 4K.

Whether the issue is down to a software bug or is hardware-related remains unknown, although there is some indication that the problem only began for some users after updating to tvOS 16.2, which could be the reason it has only now become a more widespread issue.

• How to Restart Siri Remote and Apple TV Remote

Some users have gone through several Apple TV 4K replacement units from Apple to try to solve the connection problems, with mixed results. Apple is clearly aware of the issue but has yet to respond publicly.

The third-generation Apple TV 4K was released in October 2022, featuring an A15 Bionic processor, 64GB or 128GB of storage, and HDR10+ support. It comes with a USB-C Siri Remote.

Article Link: New Apple TV 4K Owners Report Siri Remote Connection Issues

 

[mdatwood]

The old touch AppleTV remote never had to be 'restarted' in the years I used it. The new ATV I recently bought has had to have it restarted twice since buying.

 

[Marty80]

Ouch I am looking to buy more Apple TV’s, I hope they fix this issue before I buy.

Although the first gen Apple 4k TV’s I am currently using do not suffer from this reported issue.

 

[Roy G Biv]

I’ve had this issue twice on mine in the last few weeks. No issue since re-pairing remote a week or more ago.

 

[dampfnudel]

I didn’t have any issues yet, but I’ve used the remote on my iPhone mostly over the past three weeks I’ve owned the 3rd generation Apple TV 4K.

 

[SRQrws]

I definitely have the issue. Happens at random times, although not when first starting up the ATV. Unplugging/replugging in the ATV fixes it reliably, but clearly is not a long-term solution. Never had the issue with the prior gen ATV.

 

[realeric]

I‘ve experienced not only the remote connectivity issue since 16.2 but also out of sync issue from the beginning (16.0). Samsung 4K tv displays no HDMI signal message several times per day. The TV worked flawlessly with the 1st gen Apple TV 4K.

 

[LazyMonkIE]

I've had remote connection issues on all the 4k aTv's. Forever seeing the message while watching TV saying "Remote connection lost" and having to click the menu button to restore connection. 3 of them in the house all different versions prior to the silver remote control but all have the same problem dropping the remote connection since I've had them.

 

[mystery hill]

I hope they update the Apple Watch Remote app.

It’s not possible (unless I’m mistaken) to open tvOS Control Center to switch users from the watch app by holding down the TV button.

I also can’t swipe between screensavers using the watch Remote app.

 

[Sydnxt]

Can confirm, had a replacement at Apple twice due to this issue. Not very confidence-inducing as I never had this issue with 2nd gen.

 

[dantracht]

Yes. On my two 2022 models this is happening just about daily.

Maddening. The beta isn’t much help or improvement either.

 

[adamlbiscuit]

Happens on mine too. Got it a few days after launch day and it’s happened twice so far. Only option to fix it seems to be unplugging the Apple TV and plugging it back in.

Will try the iPhone remote app next time.

 

[tom_uk]

I've got an Apple TV 4K 1st generation, but I bought one of the Siri Remote controllers just over a year ago. I'm not experiencing these problems, so it looks as if the older Apple TV 4K isn't affected, even with tvOS 16.2 installed.

 

[3rianJ]

Have had 3rd gen Apple TV 4K since it first became available and haven’t seen this issue at all. My precious 2nd gen 4K remote, which is still in use in different room, may have had to have remote rebooted two or three times when volume controls stopped working as expected. Otherwise, remote connectivity wasn’t a problem.

 

[smaffei]

Had this issue on both my Apple TV 2022 models, 64Gb and 128Gb…

To add to this, the 128Gb (which is used for gaming) keeps repeatedly dropping the connection with my Xbox controller also. So, I highly doubt this a problem solely with the Siri Remote. Sounds like a bluetooth problem.

 

[Spaceboy88]

+1 on this happening constantly. I was debating bringing it in for a new unit or remote, but everyone on Reddit that has done that said the same issue returns on the replaced hardware. It has to be software-related I'm convinced.

The beta version of tvOS has reduced it, but not removed it for me.

 

[stocklen]

if its of any help... this hasnt happened to mine at all.... always connected always responsive and the appleTV gets a lot of use.

 

[Spidder]

Happened to my siri remote a couple of times, its annoying.

 

[Wilson1313]

New Apple TV 4K latest model, completely unusable because of this issue.

 

[n-evo]

The old touch AppleTV remote never had to be 'restarted' in the years I used it. The new ATV I recently bought has had to have it restarted twice since buying.

Same. Got the new Apple TV with remote and it lost connection a couple of times now. Or I had to restart it because it would no longer control my tv's volume.

 

[michaelsmith22]

Had my ATV 4K since mid December. I have just started having the same issue which coincided with the 16.2 update and/or adding bluetooth game controller. The controller (Gamesir 3s) couldn't keep a stable connection for more than a minute or two and I put it down to being faulty. Hmmm.. Wonder if full reset will help.

 

[Tyler O'Bannon]

I have had since launch day and can confirm this. It’s happened 2 or 3 times. I didn’t know the other steps, so it took unplugging and replugging the box each time.

I’ve had every Apple TV (and multiple of them), and this is definitely unusual and not something I remember happening before.

Hopefully a firmware update will fix.

 

[richard4339]

if its of any help... this hasnt happened to mine at all.... always connected always responsive and the appleTV gets a lot of use.

It hadn’t to me either until yesterday. Good luck!

 

[petieg]

It happens to me as well but I find the hard reboot “hold both buttons” still hard resets the device. Strange indeed. There must be something seriously wrong with Apple’s Bluetooth stack. When I walk by an Apple Store my AirPods blip out. Happens at busy NYC intersections too. I’ve always hated Bluetooth.

 

[robbietop]

16.2 has been nothing but a headache. Siri responding from a HomePod when I have AirPods in my ear, or from my iPad when I am holding my phone, or Siri stating I have no devices in my bedroom one second and then the next everything just magically turns on when I ask, or predictive text keeps wanting to autocorrect Georgia, where I live, to Greg. I don't know a Greg. There is no Greg in my contacts. But Georgia is not a word. Neither is King. It gets autocorrected to kind.

Is Apple even doing QA on their OSes or are they so far up their ass about this "groundbreaking" helmet or Cage Manager that they just don't care?