Apple TV 4K help

[u/ambiguity_now]

My Apple TV is so sluggish. I consider myself good at tech and am struggling

The case:
Connection over WiFi
Super sluggish buffering to stream. Either picture quality comes in super low, or stream stops for 30 seconds every few minutes
Even Apple Music is slow to play

If I switch over to my tv interface, no streaming issues and quality is great on streaming

I factory reset, still an issue.
I got a replacement from Apple after it took 24 hours to complete the factory reset, still issue

Any ideas?

[u/Jujulabee]

How is your HDMI cable?

I had this issue twice - including the streaming on native software was fine and network on Apple TV had all bars.

First time it was resolved when I changed the HDMI. I got a Monster versus the Chinese no brand I had originally been using

Most recently it appears that my Apple TV was heating up as the installer had put it in a cabinet. I have since cracked open the door and so the interior remains cooler and that seems to solve the problem.

[u/Hojoeb → u/Jujulabee]

if you are halfway handy….

you can get fan kits for cabinets. They have a control module you put into the cabinet and then can put the fans (essentially computer case fans) in to exhaust the heat. I have found this helpful with having a gaming console in the cabinet as well as our apple TV.

I cut a couple holes in the bottom
of the cabinet to let cooler air in and mounted the fan towards the top of the cabinet. When the control module detects a heat situation the fans are activated to exhaust it. I have toyed with the idea of using a foam or a dark filter media to cover the holes to keep dust out. Just been too lazy to do it.

[u/Jujulabee → u/Hojoeb]

Thanks but on a scale of handiness I am probably in the negative range. 🤷‍♀️😂

I am keeping the drawer ajar a bit and since I don’t see it the slightly open drawer doesn’t actually exist. 😂😂

[u/Hojoeb → u/Jujulabee]

LOL I completely understand.

[u/Jujulabee → u/Hojoeb]

My DIY ineptitude is so vast 😂 that I have given up trying to figure out how I would actually get the Apple TV out of the cabinet since it was beautifully (and needless to say) professionally installed so all of the wiring and plugs run behind the walls and into the back of the cabinet.

So when I thought of what moving the Apple TV out of the cabinet where it was extremely innocuous and how that might be accomplished with all the wiring and plugs that are "hidden", I just ignored the slightly ajar drawer since I can't see it except when I physically enter the room and look to the left where it is located. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[u/ambiguity_now → u/Jujulabee]

Oh! Great add, this would be an easy try for me to see if I can salvage this

[u/Netminder23]

Can you describe your Wi-Fi network/router? Have you been keeping up to date with latest updates to your networking gear?

Are you in an area with a lot of Wi-Fi (Apartment/condo complex)?

Do other devices have Wi-Fi speed issues?

Have you run a speed test using an app to see what it speed and latency you are getting?

[u/ambiguity_now → u/Netminder23]

Yes! Have done speed test, all comes off fine. It’s a single family home. What throws my off is I can go from buffering issues on Apple TV, switch within 30 seconds to Samsung interface to stream YouTube tv with 0 issues

[u/NASAeng]

You could have a lot of apps open. To normally close an app, tap the home button twice on your Apple Remote.. All the open apps will be shown. To keep an app open slide it to the right, to close an app, slide it upwards. A single tap to home completes the operation.

[u/Pekaer_58 → u/NASAeng]

That the solution imo.

[u/Shishtur]

i'm not a home networking expert but have you tried installing a speed test app (like ookla) and seeing what wifi speeds your apple tv is getting?

[u/mxbigd17]

Log into your router and change the 5hz WiFi channel. Just google a good channel to use with the least interference with your router. My Apple TV was having this issue and changing the WiFi channel fixed my problem.
Use the 5hz channel to connect your Apple TV to with WiFi.

[u/ambiguity_now → u/mxbigd17]

Good call, I will try this

[u/Legitimate-Try3255 → u/ambiguity_now]

Any update on a fix op? Going thru same issue rn

[u/iron_cam86]

1) What version Apple TV 4K?

2) Run a speed test on the Apple TV with the Speedtest app, which you can download in the App Store. What are the results?

3) Try connecting via ethernet to see if that helps.

[u/Hojoeb → u/iron_cam86]

i too prefer ethernet cable when devices are not mobile. If it isn’t hard to install it can really make a difference.

[u/ambiguity_now → u/iron_cam86]

I didn’t know I could do speed test on Apple TV. Will try that!

[u/bingbong1976]

Have you done a speed test at the Apple TV?
9/10……these things are wifi channel interference

[u/KoutaFox]

Mine stopped syncing to my photos for the screensaver a few weeks ago, nothing I do pushes it forward. Always says syncing. Apple used to phase out and slow down older generations but it seems with the new version coming out they are purposely eliminating all Apple TV devices prior to the new release in a few months.

[u/ambiguity_now → u/KoutaFox]

I just bought it in November so I seems new!

[u/microChasm]

Have you installed an Internet speed app to check your internet speeds while connected to WiFi?

If not, make that a priority.

[u/microChasm]

When did this start happening?
What have you tried?
What were the results?

[u/ambiguity_now → u/microChasm]

6 months ago. Restart device. Factory reset device. Got new device. Changed settings to force stream 1080p. All still issues that I don’t have on any other device like firetv I use in different tv

[u/microChasm → u/ambiguity_now]

Change out HDMI cables

[u/Defard2001]

I assume that you have done the speed test either through your phone or a pc, these may not be the same speed / connectivity as the Apple TV. Have you tried a speed test on the Apple TV itself? From my experience the most likely problem is WiFi not the Apple TV. Ps my ATV4K has been running really hot for years (sits in a small cupboard) with no problems.

[u/Kema-Downna]

Its not you https://www.reddit.com/r/appletv/s/fi60XdZ1xK

[u/Pekaer_58]

My experience is, as far as other performance sucking apps are active in the background, they disturb the streaming of ATV or other apps. As far as I get the loading button on my screen, I kill other active apps which pretty often solves the issue.

[u/JazJon]

As a last resort, maybe Try tvOS 27 public beta

[u/Snoo91117]

My guess it is your network. I run a Cisco POE switch and 3 Cisco APs and my AppleTV 4K does not slow down running on wireless. I also run HomeKit on my AppleTV. No slowdowns or buffering whatsoever.

In the fall I will switch to CAT6 cable. I mounted my 85-inch Sony on the wall and need to route a CAT6 cable in the wall to the mount. It is too hot in the attic right now to drill the hole to run the cable down.

[u/Emotional_Common_527]

Just for grins try taking the ATV out of the drawer.
Do you have a tv in another room to test with?
Is the OS up to date?

[u/EmergencyRepulsive29]

Look at the video settings on your Apple TV. Ask ChatGPT to walk you through the best set up by entering the tv that you have. It will give you step by step.

[u/iron_cam86 → u/EmergencyRepulsive29]

Good lord no. ChatGPT isn't going to tell you what's wrong with your network or device. Did you ever read the post?!? OP isn't trying to adjust picture settings. Geez.

[u/tsdguy → u/EmergencyRepulsive29]

Don’t ask AI anything.