Suddenly my Apple TV remote does not control the Apple TV at all. I have to guess this happened after the Apple TV updated itself to TVOS16 because it worked perfectly fine up until a few days ago. This is model number A1625 32GB, so its a little older. I have tried the supposed "fixes" from this link: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203777 (my remote is the all black one on the left), and even did a complete restore on the Apple TV, but nothing works. I can still use my iPhone to control everything, but no matter what I do I can't get the remote to work again. This Apple TV did lose its ability to connect to wifi close to a year ago, so maybe it is a hardware issue? It just seems awfully convenient that this happened after TVOS16. Besides throwing the thing out the window, does anyone have any more suggestions?
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TVOS16 Broke my Apple TV
- Thread starter treimche
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Do you have an iPhone? I would be curious if the software Apple Remote works. This may also help in determining if your hardware remote is bad.
The only real way to test whether the remote is dead is to use a known working remote with the AppleTV.
Have you checked whether the remote's battery is charged? The AppleTV Remote App should be able to tell you the battery level of the device (go into Settings > Remotes and Devices > Remote on your AppleTV). If you charged the remote for 30 minutes or more, it should indicate as such there. If the battery level is low, your device may no longer be charging (bad cable, connector on remote, or dead battery).
If you find that the remote is indeed dead, you're faced with the option to replace the remote or continue using your iPhone to drive the device. Only other option would to be to replace the AppleTV which would in turn replace the remote as well.
Have you checked whether the remote's battery is charged? The AppleTV Remote App should be able to tell you the battery level of the device (go into Settings > Remotes and Devices > Remote on your AppleTV). If you charged the remote for 30 minutes or more, it should indicate as such there. If the battery level is low, your device may no longer be charging (bad cable, connector on remote, or dead battery).
If you find that the remote is indeed dead, you're faced with the option to replace the remote or continue using your iPhone to drive the device. Only other option would to be to replace the AppleTV which would in turn replace the remote as well.
You have the Apple TV HD (known as the Apple TV 4th generation). Those were made prior to the 4K versions which are the 5th generation.
Regardless of model, the tvOS 16 update should not have broken your remote. However, there is a separate update for remotes, at least with the newer models. Whenever I get an update to my Apple TV 4K there seems to be a second update that follows shortly thereafter that is specifically for my remote. Sometimes that second update takes a while to show up, or fails to update properly. There is a thread here somewhere on how to force the remote to update, so search for it.
BTW, NEVER do a full reset, even if Apple CS tells you to. Full resets are almost always a total waste of time for most issues, and they require a lot of action on your part. Do a restart only, not a full reset.
Regardless of model, the tvOS 16 update should not have broken your remote. However, there is a separate update for remotes, at least with the newer models. Whenever I get an update to my Apple TV 4K there seems to be a second update that follows shortly thereafter that is specifically for my remote. Sometimes that second update takes a while to show up, or fails to update properly. There is a thread here somewhere on how to force the remote to update, so search for it.
BTW, NEVER do a full reset, even if Apple CS tells you to. Full resets are almost always a total waste of time for most issues, and they require a lot of action on your part. Do a restart only, not a full reset.
This could indicate a failing unit. Ebay right now has completed listing 4th generation units for as low as $14.00 without remote, 5th generation for $45 with remote.
I'll try to answer all the questions the best I can.
Yes I have an iPhone, and that's the only way I was able to set up this Apple TV after doing a reset, was by using my iPhone as the remote.
I have charged the remote, and there was no change.
I have another working Apple TV in a different room so I tried learning that other Apple TV remote to this unit and it didn't work. I have not tried learning the non functional remote to my other working Apple TV though, so I will try that.
Hopefully another update comes out to fix the remote issue, but until then I'm stuck with using my iPhone to control the system, which sucks because its all older stuff, so I now have no volume control.
Yes I have an iPhone, and that's the only way I was able to set up this Apple TV after doing a reset, was by using my iPhone as the remote.
I have charged the remote, and there was no change.
I have another working Apple TV in a different room so I tried learning that other Apple TV remote to this unit and it didn't work. I have not tried learning the non functional remote to my other working Apple TV though, so I will try that.
Hopefully another update comes out to fix the remote issue, but until then I'm stuck with using my iPhone to control the system, which sucks because its all older stuff, so I now have no volume control.