Direct TV / ATT care code 205.4

As insane as it is, this work around works. Just don’t allow the app to use the directv subscription from the Apple TV. Then go to the app activate page on a web browser. So while I thought this was directv’s fault, clearly, this is Apple’s fault. At least I can watch Nat Geo again.

I found an answer on an AT&T forum. This worked for me. I am pasting below.

Hello!

Here’s an update on the issue and a solution that works (until AT&T fixed the underlying root-cause). After spending several weeks talking with DirecTV Now and AT&T U-verse TV technical support, there is an issue that occurs whenever you attempt to authenticate into the Apple TV or iOS TV Provider settings using an email address that is in the domain @att.net or @sbcglobal.net. The error: ‘you are not authorized to access this web-site’ occurs for ALL customers of DirecTV, DirecTV Now, and even AT&T U-verse TV whose AT&T User ID (formerly Access ID) is in AT&T owned domains such as @att.net or @sbcglobal.net. The issue seems to be that those domains are internal to the AT&T network and don’t have permissions to the TV Provider authentication page (somewhere within cprodmasx.att.com).

The solution is to change your AT&T User ID (formerly called the Access ID) to a domain other than AT&T, meaning external to AT&T (such as gmail or hotmail, or yahoo) or basically any e-mail address other than att.net or sbcglobal.net.  For example, I changed my AT&T User ID to my old yahoo address but you could also change it a gmail account or hotmail, etc.

Note: If you merged your AT&T accounts and services under one profile and have an AT&T Wireless number bundled with your other services, you can use your primary AT&T wireless number to authenticate AT&T as your TV Provider.

To change your AT&T User ID, follow these instructions:

1. Login to att.com
2. In the upper-right menu area, click your account name and select Profile from the drop-down menu.
3. When the Profile page loads, click on the section that says ‘Sign-in info’.
4. In the User ID section, click the link to Change your User ID.

By the way, even AT&T recommends you don’t use an AT&T email address for your User ID. They even post a suggestion at the top of the page that reads: “Want to change your ID? Keep in mind – It's best to enter an email address that isn't an AT&T email.” That suggestion seems more like a warning to me… and it should be heeded, as if you use an AT&T email address, it definitely causes this TV Provider authentication issue.

Note: This is safe to do. Changing your AT&T User ID does not change your billing e-mail address or your Member ID. If you have an AT&T email address such as @att.net or @sbcglobal.net, this will not affect those. Your ATT.NET Member ID will remain your @att.net email address.  And, you can still login to your att.com account to manage your bundled services, bill, etc. using either your User ID or your Member ID (or your phone number).  An easy way to think about this is that your AT&T User ID (formerly Access ID) is just an identifier for your profile that manages all your bundled AT&T services under one profile, but your Member ID is specific to your ATT.NET or SBCGLOBAL.NET email service. Apple has the same concept, they call it your Apple ID, and it is normally an external e-mail address like your gmail or hotmail account (although Apple recently allowed your Apple ID to be an iCloud.com email address, but I digress...).

Now that you’ve changed your AT&T User ID to something NOT at AT&T email address, let’s use your new User ID to authenticate into Apple TV or iOS’s TV Provider Single Sign-On.  Before we start, keep in mind, this error never occurred when trying to login directly to the DirectTV Now App.  The error only occurred when trying to authenticate AT&T as your TV Provider within iOS Settings on an iPad, iPhone, or Apple TV.

OMG, your work around is the solution for now.

so I have a 4th gen Apple TV, kept getting the 205.4 error when doing single sign on with direcTV.

so I signed out the TV PROVIDER account in the Apple TV Settings.

then opened each app I use to watch on demand shows, went to settings to sign on. And if it asks your to “allow subscription single sign on” I always say no, and it takes me to that screen where it shows you a code and a website to login at.

logged in each app with the directv login, works perfectly again.

thanks for your advice.

I wondered how long this has been going on! I have the same issue on my iPhone 11 Pro. I spent about three hours yesterday being passed from one person to another (10 in all), explaining the issue to each. Finally, I was transferred to “Digital Assistance”. There, I was told that Error 205.4 is a known database-handshake issue. Because of COVID-19, there is no ETA for a fix, but that someone would call in 3-5 business days. I am skeptical that I’ll get this call. I raised the issue of AT&T withdrawing support for DirecTV, and I was “assured” that they’re working to resolve the problem. I’ll believe it if/when I see it. In the meantime, streaming via all TV-related apps on my iPhone is impossible.

I am also receiving this error. I have been on the phone with directv and att support for 1.5 hours. For the record Care Code 205.4 means that "Login not authorized to target native applications". They are escalating the issue to an "engineering ticket"... Have you had any luck?

SAME HERE!! I was setting a new Apple TV when I got that message. Then I went back to my other Apple TV that was logged into before and now I’m getting that message on that one now too.

I have spent NUMEROUS HOURS with DIRECTV. Zero help, no answers. Other than to say it’s Apples problem. Then said they looked at my account and saw no reason why it doesn’t work with Apple TV. I doubled checked that I am running all update to date software.

I have a case number with Apple. Sent them some screen shots. But no answers yet.

I literally spend time on the phone with someone, they get no where, an hour later I hang up wait a few and call back and start over again. that’s been my day so far........ So yeah I’m being persistent.

it never hurts to look at a forum, see someone else having the same issue. And maybe someone get some advise on what to say to DIRECTV or whomever to get a fix.

So until then...... I will continue what I am doing.

Others are having the issue, there's no debate on that. I never said anything about not writing on the forum. I was referring to the fact that you have submitted a case to Apple and are awaiting response from the side, when they aren't the ones who can fix it. I also wasn't implying that you weren't being persistent, merely that DirecTV is the body that you need to continue to persist with.

You are totally free to wait for advice, but it will be up to all customers who are having the issue to reach out to them and if enough are as persistent as you have been then ultimately they will be forced to take it seriously.

Apple may from time to time inform a developer about issues, but that would not be a typical case scenario. It would be no different with issues that occur via 3rd party apps on other platforms.

Same problem here. I'm guessing that directv does not really want us to use other streaming devices to access the content we pay them for. I think it's the same kind of problem that causes directv to constantly lose its connection to wifi that is not AT&T, which is why we need other streaming devices in the first place. I doubt we will keep our directv after our contract time has passed. Sorry if this sounds too conspiracy-theory but directv seems to be the root of the apple tv connection problem. Let's see if apple comes up with any other answers.

Unfortunately no I haven’t. I keep getting folks that have no idea what is going on. They still blame Apple. Just blows my mind.

ATT should have never bought DIRECTV. I agree tho, it does seem hinky. If you or anyone else reading this finds a solution please let us know.

I am continuing calling DIRECTV.

I have this same problem! I never had an issue until yesterday, I went to go watch tv through my Apple TV and couldn't watch anything, so I tried signing back in through the tv provider with Directv and I get the same error code, and I know my credentials work. This is so frustrating, but I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one having a problem. Thanks for your guys' comments so far, they have been helpful. Please let us know if anyone finds a solution to the problem!

I haven’t. I sent them a chat message, it was 2.5 hours of my time yesterday. There are workarounds. In the HBO Go app, you can choose “other provider” then choose the DirecTV provider from that list and it shows you the web login and it works. In the DirecTV app when presented with the iOS DirecTV single sign on dialog, hit cancel and it will present a different DirecTV login that I assume is a rendered web page. Sign in to that one and it will work. So if it gives the option for other provider, then that should work.

I also found this temporary solution from an older Apple discussion and it worked for me (I guess this problem has happened in the past).

I just encountered this problem with my Apple TV (4th generation). After setting up a new account with DIRECTV, I was having trouble signing into many apps. I noticed was that the single sign-on in my settings did not seem to work with DIRECTV. This also did not work when I tried to sign-in through my provider through certain apps. The way I fixed this was to sign-in NOT ON MY APPLE TV but on my computer, tablet or phone. First, I had to go to my settings on my Apple TV and go to apps; then, click each individual app and select NEVER for the TV provider option. After that, I was able to sign-in on each app (unfortunately only 1 at a time) by going to each specific website the app provides to enter in the activation code. After you enter in the activation code, you will get redirected to sign-in with your cable provider, and then you can use that app. It is very annoying to have to do this for all apps that give you this problem but at least it works.

Want to contribute that we have this problem on mulitple apple products (iphones, ipads and appletvs) BUT ONLY when I use the integrated apple "TV Provider" setting. If I use the individual apps internal "kick out for authentication" feature, it works fine.

I ran a combination of tests trying different logins on different apps and different apple devices using different method on different networks.... All sorts of permutations. To me, this points to a problem BETWEEN Apple and DirecTV. Someone is more than likely blocking IP addresses (someone as in Apple or Directv it could be either of them)

This seems to be a problem with the TV provider setting that Apple added as a feature so that you did not constantly need to provide login credentials each time for each app. It takes two to tango so it could be either or both of them causing this problem.