Set Up Apple TV with No Remote Trap

Older Apple TV's require an input device in order to navigate it's interface and pair with the remote app. You can borrow a remote or purchase one from Apple, or go back to the seller and ask. The alternative is to use a BT keyboard, however you would need to restore the Apple TV and then pair with the keyboard during setup.

Be aware that the 3rd gen has long been discontinued and many 3rd party providers are dropping support. The 2nd gen is classified as obsolete and no longer supported by Apple.

To piggy back off of this because I just went through it.

You will need to hook the Apple TV up to ethernet if it was never on your wifi.

Then you will need to open Itunes on a computer and connect to the data port on the back of the Apple TV. Do not plug in the hdmi yet.

Itunes should see it and ask you if you want to factory reset or restore, do the factory reset and wait.

Somewhere in the process it may ask you if you want to connect a bluetooth device, say yes if you don't have a remote.

If you do have a remote, press menu and the right arrow buttons at the same time until the Apple TV blinks at you. Then it'll be paired.

It should get done and then update itself. Then you can take the USB cord out and plug in the hdmi to your TV.

Now, if everything went right, you can navigate, set up your ID and Wifi, etc.

This is the only way I could set up my second hand one a friend gave me without having the original remote. You may be able to use the remote app, it didn't work for me at first, but if it doesn't uninstall the app and redownload it to clear out the device memory. I went ahead and bought a new remote two days before my friend found the original after 6 months. LOL.