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New Apple TV 4K Owners Report Siri Remote Connection Issues
- Thread starter MacRumors
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The following software updates are now available:
tvOS 16.3.3
tvOS 16.3.3
- This update fixes an issue where the Siri Remote can become unresponsive in Apple TV 4K (3rd generation).
I have had this issue for about two years, but only with my Apple TV 4K 1st gen. I will get it to finally connect, but with have to keep reconnecting several times until it finally starts working properly and it will work for a couple months or more before doing it again. I hope my others don’t start doing it too.
Like many of the users on here, I have never had a pairing issue or lost connection notification ever once on any of my previous Apple TVs.
This latest version though has been virtually unusable with included siri remote two days out of the box. The remote itself stills controls the volume of my tv with no problem but needs to be re-paired several times daily. And as I write this comment it will not pair at all.
What I have noticed over the last few months dealing with this issue is that the built remote app in my phone and ipad have been reliable and work fine but recently my ipad remote app also has been losing connection which leads me to believe it’s more than just a bluetooth issue and likely not the siri remote itself but the actual set-top box.
Lastly, I attempted to use the fitness+ app this morning which requires either your apple watch or iPhone to connect to the apple tv and the phone connection was unsuccessful. This is something I have done in the past but isn’t working now along with the pairing of the remote. My thought is these newer apple tvs are extremely sensitive to interference or have poor antennas or both. I have noticed at times when there isn't much going on with devices, wifi, etc. the remote will pair itself and work fine, either really late at night when everyone has shut down and gone to bed or very very early in the morning. Just an observation and may not mean anything but I hope this gets sorted soon. Be well!
This latest version though has been virtually unusable with included siri remote two days out of the box. The remote itself stills controls the volume of my tv with no problem but needs to be re-paired several times daily. And as I write this comment it will not pair at all.
What I have noticed over the last few months dealing with this issue is that the built remote app in my phone and ipad have been reliable and work fine but recently my ipad remote app also has been losing connection which leads me to believe it’s more than just a bluetooth issue and likely not the siri remote itself but the actual set-top box.
Lastly, I attempted to use the fitness+ app this morning which requires either your apple watch or iPhone to connect to the apple tv and the phone connection was unsuccessful. This is something I have done in the past but isn’t working now along with the pairing of the remote. My thought is these newer apple tvs are extremely sensitive to interference or have poor antennas or both. I have noticed at times when there isn't much going on with devices, wifi, etc. the remote will pair itself and work fine, either really late at night when everyone has shut down and gone to bed or very very early in the morning. Just an observation and may not mean anything but I hope this gets sorted soon. Be well!
I also have the 3rd generation 4k ATV and right from the start I had issues with the remote. It was pretty much unusable. I called Apple and they sent me a replacement, but still the same issues. I went to the genius bar and there it worked flawlessly. The guy from the store told me to try to replace the hdmi cable with the one Apple is selling (a Belkin cable). I was a little bit sceptic, but I replaced the cable and my problem was solved immediately. The cable I used before should have been a high quality cable, but this Belkin cable solved my problem completely. I was really sure the device was faulty, but it “just” was stupid interference from a bad cable.
Problem confirmed after second unit replace. I also have an old HD version which works perfectly.
History
We play Crossy road cast with 2PS5 and 1PS4 controller connected.
Works fine on HD version. 4K version is glitching and drops connection often. Then happy if you play with just one controller or the Siri Remote.
The first 4K unit I purchased had a fault with the battery not charging. Sent it off and they replaced it for a brand new unit. Arrived today
Confirmed say issue with just one remote connected.
Going to follow up with Apple.
Some complications I may try eliminate.
Using a HomePod stereo pair
Have the Apple TV about 1meter from the wifi router… connected over network cable though.
Wish me luck!
History
We play Crossy road cast with 2PS5 and 1PS4 controller connected.
Works fine on HD version. 4K version is glitching and drops connection often. Then happy if you play with just one controller or the Siri Remote.
The first 4K unit I purchased had a fault with the battery not charging. Sent it off and they replaced it for a brand new unit. Arrived today
Confirmed say issue with just one remote connected.
Going to follow up with Apple.
Some complications I may try eliminate.
Using a HomePod stereo pair
Have the Apple TV about 1meter from the wifi router… connected over network cable though.
Wish me luck!
It’s not working, Apple! Steve would not be pleased. This is been going on for over a year. Fix it. You’re embarrassing yourself.
For me it’s been resolved for months, it was definitely a software issue, if your Apple TV is up-to-date you should consider a HW issue.
I just bought a new Apple TV 4K 128gb and sat it on top of my existing Apple TV 4K 32gb which is located 3 metres away in an entertainment unit and instantly have connection issues with my ps5 controller.
I never had these issues with my old Apple TV.
The new one has stuttering while moving around the app interface a gets stuck in one direction or keeps moving after multiple presses and finally catches up.
I pair back to the old Apple TV and have no problems whatsoever.
I find if i have my ipad on my lap obstructing view it blocks the signal intermittently with the new Apple TV but when i do the same thing obstructing view with the old Apple TV it works PERFECTLY!!!
Please apple fix this with software or is hardware and we need to return for a replacement?
on the latest tvos16.6 also.
UPDATE…I fixed the issue By using a Belkin HDMI cable with the new Apple TV 4K 128gb and have no stuttering whereas my other HDMI cable which I’ve never had an isssue with the old ATV gave me stuttering 🤷🏻♂️
I never had these issues with my old Apple TV.
The new one has stuttering while moving around the app interface a gets stuck in one direction or keeps moving after multiple presses and finally catches up.
I pair back to the old Apple TV and have no problems whatsoever.
I find if i have my ipad on my lap obstructing view it blocks the signal intermittently with the new Apple TV but when i do the same thing obstructing view with the old Apple TV it works PERFECTLY!!!
Please apple fix this with software or is hardware and we need to return for a replacement?
on the latest tvos16.6 also.
UPDATE…I fixed the issue By using a Belkin HDMI cable with the new Apple TV 4K 128gb and have no stuttering whereas my other HDMI cable which I’ve never had an isssue with the old ATV gave me stuttering 🤷🏻♂️
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I have an Apple TV 4K 3rd gen WiFi (64gb) and an 3rd gen Ethernet/WiFi (128gb).
Both are running the latest TVOS 17 beta 8 - but my ethernet model Apple TV 4K continues to have the remote disconnect/connected issue.
It happens randomly throughout the day. For example; just watching a movie, nobody is moving, remote not moving, but screen will display remote disconnected, then remote connected a number of times randomly throughout.
It is really annoying.
I've tried restarting remote, re-pairing, power off TV and ATV.
I've even bought a brand new Siri remote at over £50 but the issue is still there, even on the brand new remote.
Weirdly, the WiFi only model of my ATV 4K doesn't seem to have the issue (yet).
Anyone any advice, and is anyone else still having this issue, as clearly TVOS 16 updates didn't permanently fix the issue
**UPDATE**
I've realised that my Sony TV had Bluetooth turned on, so you can connect to it or cast things.
I've turned OFF Bluetooth on the TV to see if that's what's causing interference and issues with the Apple TV.
I'll report back & keep updated
**FURTHER UPDATE**
Turning off the TV's Bluetooth to prevent any interference made no difference at all.
Still getting random disconnected/connected issues
**FINAL UPDATE**
Moving the Apple TV 4K box away for everything else, so it's completely alone - but also in line of site with the remote has completely resolved the remote disconnected/connected.
I'm very disappointed that the Apple TV has such poor Bluetooth hardware in the Apple TV box itself (not the remote) - that any slight interference from other devices, power cables, metal frames, plasterboard etc - seriously impacts the stability of the Bluetooth connection.
I'm not happy that the hardware issue is clearly there - but now I've identified what the issue exactly is - I can work to mitigate it, to adjust to live with the issue rather than the issue itself being fixed.
Both are running the latest TVOS 17 beta 8 - but my ethernet model Apple TV 4K continues to have the remote disconnect/connected issue.
It happens randomly throughout the day. For example; just watching a movie, nobody is moving, remote not moving, but screen will display remote disconnected, then remote connected a number of times randomly throughout.
It is really annoying.
I've tried restarting remote, re-pairing, power off TV and ATV.
I've even bought a brand new Siri remote at over £50 but the issue is still there, even on the brand new remote.
Weirdly, the WiFi only model of my ATV 4K doesn't seem to have the issue (yet).
Anyone any advice, and is anyone else still having this issue, as clearly TVOS 16 updates didn't permanently fix the issue
**UPDATE**
I've realised that my Sony TV had Bluetooth turned on, so you can connect to it or cast things.
I've turned OFF Bluetooth on the TV to see if that's what's causing interference and issues with the Apple TV.
I'll report back & keep updated
**FURTHER UPDATE**
Turning off the TV's Bluetooth to prevent any interference made no difference at all.
Still getting random disconnected/connected issues
**FINAL UPDATE**
Moving the Apple TV 4K box away for everything else, so it's completely alone - but also in line of site with the remote has completely resolved the remote disconnected/connected.
I'm very disappointed that the Apple TV has such poor Bluetooth hardware in the Apple TV box itself (not the remote) - that any slight interference from other devices, power cables, metal frames, plasterboard etc - seriously impacts the stability of the Bluetooth connection.
I'm not happy that the hardware issue is clearly there - but now I've identified what the issue exactly is - I can work to mitigate it, to adjust to live with the issue rather than the issue itself being fixed.
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