I just can't login my iCloud account on Apple TV (3rd gen)
I checked password, restored Apple TV settings and changed my password, but none worked.
Any suggestions?
Not intuitive, but documented: HT204915, Two-factor authentication for Apple ID
"What if I use two-factor authentication on a device running older software?
If you use two-factor authentication with devices running older OS versions—like an Apple TV (2nd or 3rd generation)—you might be asked to add your six-digit verification code to the end of your password when signing in. Get your verification code from a trusted device running iOS 9 and later or OS X El Capitan and later, or have it sent to your trusted phone number. Then type your password followed by the six-digit verification code directly into the password field."
I too am having the same issue. Now aware of the need to add the 2FA code and within some time limit but no luck after numerous attempts over the last couple of days. This is really frustrating.
Flappy, it sure is. I ended up with the most simple and easy system, ROKU :)
I have a roku. I also have another apple TV and strangely it accepts my password.
Do I understand what is going on? No. Am I going to badger Apple to find out? Yes!
If you are trying to enter the password and code together then that will easily exceed the limit. This will result in an error or it will loop back. You need to enter the password only, then request the code, and then add it to the end of the password.
What is the limit? I thought it was 30 seconds? I’m typing my password on the ATV, then requesting the verification code on my iPhone, adding the code to the end of my password, selecting ok on the phone and then submit on the ATV. From requesting the code to hitting submit is no more than 10 seconds.
If I just put in the password the ATV says “can’t connect to server”, if I add the verification code it says “wrong username or password”.
The good news: it appears that Apple has made a change (at least for Apple TV 3) and now you can sign in normally using your password, after which you'll get a notification on your other devices of a new sign-in attempt, and when you accept that then you will get a the 6-digit code you can use to complete the sign-in on the Apple TV. So in other words, it appears to have been updated.
The bad news: even after I get signed in, I still get "iCloud Unavailable" when I try to get to my iCloud photos.
So it appears that Apple has made some changes here...but they've actually broken things. Please fix this, Apple. I want my photos back for my screensaver!
By the way, I can still use the 6-digit code at the end of the password, that produces the same results (that is, I get signed in but iCloud photos are still unavailable).
But I do find that it's key to not clear the 6-digit code until after you have entered it. That is to say, you can't close the display showing the code on your device until after you've entered the code into your Apple TV. Some people are talking here about having trouble using the code from their iPhones; I think the code from the iPhone will likely work just fine so long as you leave it displaying on the iPhone while you enter it into your Apple TV. Where I ran into problems with this is that I was using the Remote app to do the entry into the Apple TV and so I had to clear the code to get back to the Remote app. Because you have limited time to enter the code and because it's so much faster to enter the code from the Remote app, it is ideal to use a code from another device if possible, but if not just be sure to enter the code using your Apple TV's physical remote while the code displays on your iPhone.
What I did is get to the point where it asks for the login on the AppleTV (maybe after the first login attempt is rejected). I then entered my password but did not submit. Went to iPhone and requested a new code, and then quickly appended the code to my password to avoid the rumored 30 second timeout
I’m glad it worked for you, but the suggestion to keep the code visible doesn’t make sense to me.... and it hasn’t worked for me on Home-Sharing. Oddly, I have no problem now signing in and out of iCloud on the ATV.
If you request the code through settings (under password and security) and clear it, you can re-request it and you will get the same number until the 30 seconds clicks over. For me, it is also the same number that is offered under the sign-in alert.
I keep requesting the code until it changes, then I know I have 30 seconds.
You will need to give that feedback directly to Apple, this is merely a user forum so they won't be reading this.
can't connect iCloud account in Apple TV
