Why Does My Apple TV Keep Cutting Out? (4 Fixes)

Having an Apple TV randomly cut off can ruin your viewing experience. For such a complex device, there must be several reasons for this weird behavior. In this article, we’ll explain the possible causes behind your issue so you can stop worrying and get back to watching.

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Why Your Apple TV Keeps Cutting Out

Your Apple TV keeps cutting out because of outdated software, poor connectivity issues, software glitches, and HDMI cable issues. As you’ll see, this can be fixed through updates, router adjustments, restarts, and cable replacements.

Your Apple TV Is Not Up to Date

Apple TV software must keep up with the new features app developers constantly add. Some of these changes are more complex than others, and if it’s been a while since the last time you updated your Apple TV software, these can take a toll on your device. This can translate to glitches such as your Apple TV suddenly cutting out.

Your Apple TV Has Connectivity Issues

Your Apple will keep cutting off if it does not have a strong Internet connection. Sometimes, the router may not be able to deliver the signal steadily due to obstructions.

Objects like walls and furniture can prevent your WiFI signal from passing through, so be strategic about your router and Apple TV’s placement.

It could also be that the issue stems from your internet provider. You can check this by seeing if similar problems appear on other devices.

Your Apple TV Has a Software Glitch

Glitches are expected to form as Apple continues to upgrade the Apple TV software, usually because of unexpected compatibility issues or human errors.

Although you may never find the exact cause of these glitches, you can definitely tell when they’re gone. Most of the time, restarting or updating the Apple TV fixes the problem.

Your Apple TV’s HDMI Cables Are Faulty

If you’ve had your device with you for a while, it’s very likely that your Apple TV will have cable problems. And if you have children or pets in your house, it’s also very possible for them to have unknowingly caused the damage.

You can easily determine if this is the cause of the problem by connecting your Apple TV with a different HDMI cable. If the issue goes away, then the first cable is broken.

Check the entire cable length for dents, scratches, or bites that may have come from a child or a pet. If the cable is broken beyond repair, you’ll have to replace it.

4 Easy Fixes for Apple TV Cutting Out

Update Your Apple TV

1. Using your Remote, go to the Settings app.
2. Go to the System tab.
3. Go to Help.
4. Under Maintenance, click on Software Updates.
5. Click on Update Software.
6. If an update is available, you should be able to see a message displaying the update name and asking whether you would want to install it. Should you proceed, you cannot unplug the device throughout the entire update installation process.
7. Wait for the update to complete.
8. Click on Update Software again under Software Updates to check if the update is successful. If a message pops up that your device is up to date, check if the problem still persists. If the device continues to cut off, proceed to the next possible cause.

Move Your Router

If you’re sure your router isn’t faulty, then moving to a better spot might fix the problem. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Place your router near the Apple TV.
• Make sure the router will not pass through mirrors and aquariums if you have one at home.
• Ensure the router can reach your electronics without having to pass through walls.
• Place your router in an open space. Make sure you can see it so you know immediately if the power supply goes out, the display light signals a weak connection, or if there is no connection.

If you can’t manage to move your router and there are walls between it and the Apple TV, at least make sure the device is connected to the 2.4 GHz network. Most modern routers are dual-band, with a 2.4 GHz and a 5 GHz network. 2.4 GHz is slower, but it’s much better at getting through walls.

Restart or Reset Your Apple TV

Dealing with glitches might entail having to restart the device. For the Apple TV, there are multiple ways to go about this.

Here’s how you can do it through Settings:

1. Go to the Settings app.
2. Go to the System tab.
3. Scroll down to get to the Restart option.
4. Click and wait for your device to boot up again.
5. Check to see if the problem persists.

Here’s another way to do it:

1. Press the Home and Menu buttons at the same time.
2. You will suddenly see the screen turn black.
3. Once it has booted up again, check to see if the problem persists.

You can also unplug the device:

1. Unplug the Apple TV.
2. Wait around 20 seconds, and then plug it back in.
3. Once it has booted up, check to see if the problem persists.

If the bug persists, consider doing a factory reset. This should be your last resort. It will wipe out any glitch behind your Apple TV cutting off, but it will also remove some of your saved media and modifications.

Here’s how you do it:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Go to System.
3. Click Reset.
4. You will be given two options. One is to do a simple reset, and the other is to do a reset and update to the latest version.
5. Wait for the reset process to finish. Once it is booted up, check to see if the problem persists.

If you’ve tried every option on this list and your Apple TV doesn’t work even after the reset, there might be something wrong with its hardware. This is a very unlikely scenario, but it’s not impossible. In that case, you’ll have to take it to a professional.

Get a New HDMI Cable

If your HDMI cable is damaged, there’s sadly nothing you can do but buy a new one.

We recommend getting the Mediabridge HDMI Cable. This reliable cable supports 4K and UHD resolution. It also supports the highest number of frames allowed on your Apple TV.

It is also very durable and made of pure copper conductors. It’s blended with aluminum and adequately coated with a thick insulator layer, so don’t worry about having broken or chewed-off cables.

Another option is the Ibra HDMI High-Speed Cable. It has excellent durability, the copper wiring for this one is oxygen-free, and it has a heat-resistant outside layer. As with any decent HDMI cable, it supports up to 4K resolution.

Conclusion

Despite being among the best entertainment products in the market, the Apple TV can have its occasional flaws. Generally, the cutting off can be solved through simple adjustments and doesn’t require taking apart the device’s components.

Having your Apple TV cut off is a massive pain in the neck, but what if you’re completely unable to cast through your Apple TV? That’s a worse headache altogether! If that’s your case, we got you covered with this article.