HT201836: How to restart your Apple TV

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MagicJosh

Q: My new Apple TV screen freezes and I cannot move cursor to SETTINGS. I have tried pressing both buttons down, followed by taking plug out and putting it in.

I have pressed both Menu and Down buttons for 6 seconds, removed plug and replaced it.

The screen is still frozen with movies on top line, and other boxes below it--but cursor cannot move to settings.

Help, the Apple TV is only a week old!!

Posted on Feb 10, 2014 12:45 AM

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Q: My new Apple TV screen freezes and I cannot move cursor to SETTINGS. I have tried pressing both buttons down, followed by taking p ... more

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  • by Brian Cook4,

    Brian Cook4 Brian Cook4 Feb 11, 2014 11:50 AM in response to MagicJosh
    Level 4 (1,964 points)
    Feb 11, 2014 11:50 AM in response to MagicJosh

    You are saying you unplugged it and the screen was still frozen and nothing changed?  What ever you unplugged was not the AppleTV.

  • by mkavia,

    mkavia mkavia Feb 18, 2014 8:37 AM in response to MagicJosh
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 18, 2014 8:37 AM in response to MagicJosh

    Hi,

     

    I had this same infuriating problem a couple of days ago. I would switch off everthing, inc Apple TV, take ALL leads out. put back in and restart and still cursor in fixed/ frozen position. I tried everything. And then by shear luck/ process of elimination and I managed to guess a key press combination on silver apple tv remote and it worked!! can't remember exactly, but think it was menu+down or menu+left. just try a few combinaitons and it will work. you'll get a sign pop up in top left hand side of screen which looks something like the remote in middle with two square shapes either side of remote shape. and then it will work. trick is to keep buttons pressed for at least 6-7 secs. All apple products have a similar process for restarting or resetting. It would really help if Apple could have a quick guide to restarting/ resetting their products on their website. Would save so much anguish!

     

    Mukesh

  • by Brian Cook4,

    Brian Cook4 Brian Cook4 Feb 19, 2014 2:20 PM in response to mkavia
    Level 4 (1,964 points)
    Feb 19, 2014 2:20 PM in response to mkavia

    just try a few combinaitons and it will work. you'll get a sign pop up in top left hand side of screen which looks something like the remote in middle with two square shapes either side of remote shape.

    You un-paired the remote.  If this fixed it then it means you paired ATV to some other remote control.  That would cause ATV to stop responding to this remote if you paired ( or locked it ) to another remote.

  • by curtispsf,

    curtispsf curtispsf Feb 27, 2014 5:55 PM in response to Brian Cook4
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 27, 2014 5:55 PM in response to Brian Cook4

    I have exactly the same problem. Screen is frozen in the same place. There are no other bluetooth devices in my place for the remote to pair to. I am using my backup remote today, but that has never been a problem in the past The hardware/software has always allowed me to access setup and pair to whichever remote I wish to use.

    Can't find the 2nd remote at the moment.

     

    Any ideas. I've done the plug oof/plug back in thing.

  • by curtispsf,

    curtispsf curtispsf Feb 27, 2014 6:01 PM in response to curtispsf
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Feb 27, 2014 6:01 PM in response to curtispsf

    additional info:  I have restarted ATV. I've also removed HDMI plug, Haven't (yet) tried testarting router. It's not that I can't access to WIFI...I can't even get ATV to respond to the initial settings button.

  • by curtispsf,

    curtispsf curtispsf Mar 23, 2014 9:26 PM in response to curtispsf
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mar 23, 2014 9:26 PM in response to curtispsf

    Very simple fix, suggested by Apple: change the batteries in the remote. Did that and it worked, even though ATV was flashing when I used the ATV remote with weak batteries.

     

    Apple TV, Change batteries in remote worked 4 me.

  • by aelethea,

    aelethea aelethea Jul 26, 2014 5:54 AM in response to MagicJosh
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 26, 2014 5:54 AM in response to MagicJosh

    You are brilliant ..it worked after DAYS of trying…Thank you Aelethea

  • by dmbtr3,

    dmbtr3 dmbtr3 Dec 27, 2015 5:31 PM in response to mkavia
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Dec 27, 2015 5:31 PM in response to mkavia

    Thank you!  This worked for me.  It was menu+left key for about 5-6 seconds.  Then I was back in action.