Apple TV Won't Accept iTunes password

ditto.

I recently experienced the same thing when trying to rent movies. I use a AOL screen name to log-in to my iTunes account and purchase content. Yet whenever I tried to log-in I got the error message that my log-in failed.

For the first movie I just made the purchase and downloaded it to my computer. I then transferred it over to my Apple TV.

For the second purchase a few days later, I had to log-in using an email address and password I use to log-in to these support forums. Fortunately I must of used this email and password before with iTunes because it was able to log-in.

The disappointing part was I have credits under my AOL account so I had to pay with a credit card for the rental using my email.

I think all Apple needs to do is place a check box on the log-in screen say Apple or AOL just like on the iTunes log-in.

I only have set it up with WPA2 so I don't know if it matters, but, yes I just turned it off, put in my password which it accepted, then turned it back on and everything is fine.

I recently had a similar problem and was trying to get it fixed through apple support for over three days.

Finally, I found this thread and was able to fix it. I did two more things based on replies here - I think #2 did the trick:
1) removed my wpa encription on my wireless (although, i doubt this was the issue since it didn't work after that)
2) Unplugged the Apple TV, deauthorized my computer, authorized my computer, replugged in the apple tv.

Seems to have done the trick. Yeah! I was about to get fed up and return the darn thing!

My current wireless setup is using Internet Sharing, sharing the connection from Built-In Ethernet, to computers using Airport. In Airport Options the channel is set to Automatic, using WEP encryption in a 128-bit Key Length. In this setup the Apple TV sees the iMac with no apparent problem. I can access Flickr accounts, stream podcasts and movie previews, sync all of my iTunes content. However, I can not access YouTube, play any of my purchased iTunes content (except for iTunes Plus) or "sign in" to the iTunes Store on Apple TV.

Here's what I've tried so far to fix this problem:
-Checked for current software
-Deauthorized and reauthorized my iMac on the iTunes Store with Apple TV unplugged then replug.
-Restored Apple TV to factory settings
-Ran Apple TV Diagnostic indicating the unit is fine
-Recreated my iTunes Library
-Temporarily changed my iTunes ID's password to sign in to iTunes Store on Apple TV...no luck.
-Tried my wife's iTunes ID & password to sign in to iTunes Store on Apple TV...no luck.
-Ran a direct ethernet cable from the Apple TV to my cable modem for iTunes Store sign in...no luck.
-Opened ports on my D-Link EBR-2310 router for Apple recommended Apple TV ports.
-Turned off Firewall in iMac G5.
-Disabled WEP encryption in Airport settings...no luck.
-Tried both128-bit and 40-bit WEP password options.

I don't know much about wireless details since the first time I've used Airport has been now with Apple TV. I'm assuming that the entry above has to do with a wireless router since I can't find a way to enable to disable WPA or WPA2 as this guy suggests. Of course, since I had trouble with a direct ethernet connection it may not matter.

Ken,
Having the same exact problem that you are. Did you ever solve it?

Are you using an Airport Base Station with encryption?

If so, see my posts below.

Good luck, I know how frustrating it can be.

Having the same exact problem, try everything and nothing using apple id. Help

This worked for me. Thanks for the information!

I had the same problem. I could sign into iTunes on my Mac but not on my new Apple TV. It took awhile to figure out, but it wasn't a WPA issue or even a problem with certain type of Apple IDs. It was an issue with my router's firewall setting. I had it set to allow inbound traffic from only IP addresses that I had established outbound connections to. I'm guessing the server to which the Apple TV sends your Apple ID and password is not the same server that returns the authentication message. Therefore, my router was basically blocking the validation from iTunes and causing the Apple TV to time-out and return the dreaded "The Apple ID you have entered could not be found or password is wrong" message. I had no problems signing onto iTunes with my Apple TV after changing my router setting.

Message was edited by: blip14me

Forget to mention that the feature causing the problem is called "endpoint filtering" on my router.

No. I'm using a shared connection through my iMac. I turned off all encryption but it had no effect.

Also did pretty much everything else that has been suggested here. Not sure what's going on. I'm usually pretty good at troubleshooting technology but this one has me stumped.

That's great that your ATV is now working. However, with my problem I bypassed my router completely going straight into my cable modem and still had my issues.

My replacement 160GB ATV arrived yesterday and it works. However, it doesn't appear to be hardware related, even though I still couldn't get my original one to work properly before installing the new one at home.

I first tried the replacement ATV out at work via an internet connection only. On the first try it still would not let me sign in to the iTunes Store or access YouTube. I called Apple Tech Support and jumped right away up to a "specialist". He mentioned that the problem I've had is a "widespread" issue, and Apple isn't sure exactly how to fix it yet. It seems to me more trial and error at this point. After seeing the long list of what I've tried already with my original ATV he had me change my iTunes Nickname and confirm my billing state. Then we tried signing on using my iTunes Nickname instead of my iTunes/Apple ID....no luck. He then told me to try signing into the iTunes Store repeatedly using my iTunes/Apple ID and password....still no luck. He then said that he was going to talk to Engineering and gave me his direct phone number to check back with him after I tried all of this at home. THEN he suggested that I unplug the ATV and try signing on again in about a half hour or so. BINGO! Upon doing that it accepted my password and allowed my to connect to YouTube.

Success! Here's what happened...

Later that night at home after installing the new ATV it showed me as already being signed on and accessed YouTube and plays all of my iTunes purchase music and other media. I was also able to purchase a few TV shows.
Who knows why the original unit new would work? I guess we never will.

...Maybe this is why Apple hasn't really started much marketing for the ATV. Imagine a non-Apple fan having an issue like this. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have stuck with it as long as I did.

Ok guys this is what work for me after talking to tech support. I had to do a factory reset while connected to the cable modem by passing the router. I had 2.0
and try to do software upgrade and it said i had 2.0 but after doing like this in the middle of the reset it dowloaded something and now it works. The apple tech had no idea what dowloaded since i already had 2.o and nothing new is out.. but now it works. I had tried everything else and nothing had work.

Message was edited by: Eddie B