Directv single sign on not working, 205.4 error

Ok so there’s 2 different ways to login. An App can use what is incorrectly referred to as single sign, or in most cases authenticate directly. If your getting the message 205.4 error code, then the app is trying to use the credentials found in

Settings > Users and Accounts > TV provider. If you log out from there and try to log back in you‘ll get the same 205.4 care code error message. Try this goo to Settings > Apps andselect the app you’re trying to login with.

If it says ALLOW <app name> TO ACCESS TV Provider always, change it to never, open the app again and try opening a show or login via settings if present.

You should now get and activation code with instructions to go to www.<name>.com/activate or whatever type url is.

You can then enter the activation code, and will be asked to authenticate via the web site. So far the only app this hasn’t worked for for me is ABC.

I talked with directv earlier and they weren’t blaming Apple but did say they’re working with Apple engineering to figure what’s busted.

I contacted ABC support about this issue and this was their reply. It worked for me.

Thanks for reaching out! Let's try logging in with these steps instead:

1. In your iPad settings locate the ABC app
2. Turn off "Allow app access to device TV provider"
3. When you re-open the app you should be prompted to "Allow app access to device TV provider", select "Cancel" or "Don't Allow"

After that you should be able to log in using our app menu rather than the device settings.

Jumping in because I have this same issue. iPhone iOS13. Yesterday it was fine, today it wants me to login. So usually I have to sign out of the main TV provider and log back in. I tried that, got the care code 205.4 issue. Rebooted the device. Tried to login under TV provider. No dice. So went to Food Network App (I like mindless cooking shows) and tried to login that way. Same look as the TV provider one. Same issue. Rebooted again. No dice. I can login on a google webpage into the directv provider side of the website and watch through the site, but that's sort of ridiculous when there's a full screen much easier to handle app. That page still gives me the very old login with your email directv page, not the new AT&T page.

There's no way in the phone app to get the whole 'go to website/activate and type in this code' like I get on my Roku or consoles which it sounds is what you were able to manage with your Apple TV. The apps on the phones, at least in the newer OS all rely on the tv provider entry and not individual ones.

Amazing information. Good to know someone may be working on it lol.

I have been doing Per Channel authentication for a week now. It works and I don't mind since I only have 5 Cable TV Network apps that I use.

Yeah, I now have this problem too. I used to be able to use my DirecTV credentials in the TV provider field on iOS (iPhones/iPads) and on Apple TV, but it no longer works. I can go to the individual app and enter my DirecTV credentials for authentication and that works without an issue, but that is frustrating to do.

I am guessing this is not an Apple problem though. This is probably something with AT&T.

Yeah that's what happened to mine. I messaged AT&T with screenshots and info and troubleshooting and all they said was call a number, press a couple numbers for prompts and talk about it with a 'specialist' but for me, calling AT&T is like having dental surgery without anesthesia so as long as the individual work-around works, I'm not calling right now. 1-877-267-2859 Option 4 Then option 3 is the number they gave me if you want to give them a chance and see if they can help you.

I’ve been on DTV/ATT tech support with 7 different people over two days now. They blame apple.

Now on with Apple and their advice is to sign out of every single app on every device and authenticate each one all over again???

are they nuts? What a pain!

ridiculous.

just fix the **** problem.

FYI I got ONE honest person at DTV last week who told me they were working on product “enhancements” and they’d be done in 4 hours and the problem would resolve. Well that was like four days ago and still not working. So I think it’s something they changed at DTV but it’s not fixed yet.

Thanks a bunch for your input.....your solution worked for me and I’ve found too that ABC is the only one not cooperating. I’ve been on with ATT/DTV help for the last three days and have been told that my case has been escalated! Ha! Thought this was only me till I started investigating.

I ran into the exact same error message last night when I was trying to use my TV provider (Directv) log-in to access the Adult Swim app. The 'delete your tv provider login from the settings menu and login to the app directly' work around worked for me. Unfortunately now it will be an inconvenience when using the other streaming apps. Hopefully Directv and Apple will have a solution soon.

I am getting the same error code as described above. I had success by deleting the app (fox sports go, HBO GO, NBC Sports, etc) on my 11 pro and downloading the app again. When I sign into the app it took my directv credentials and seems to work. However, when I try and sign into the "TV provider" in settings I still get the same error code, 205.4 and I am still getting the 205.4 code when I try and use the apple TV.

Here us the deal: @ATT is trying to dump @Directv. They are not spending any money to maintain it. I suspect there is a small fee due Showtime, HBO, etc each time the app is accessed using Directv’s credentials or ATT just doesn’t care. Dish will own ATT by this time next year and what a PIA that will be. It’s ridiculous to have to sign in to each app. Are those who are using the workaround having to sign in each time the app is opened?

BTW, I have 4 IOS devices. The first times it’s happened to me was tonight and I upgraded just one iPad to the newest version last night. Other 3 are the last upgrade away from being current. Coincidence?

The workaround being what? Logging in with your DirecTV account on every application that needs your TV provider credentials individually on every iDevice you own? If that is it, it is not a good solution. lol.

I noticed that the iOS 13.5 update didn't make any difference. I really think this is an AT&T issue and not an Apple issue.

I, too, think it’s an AT&T issue. But I’m not holding out much hope that they’re going to fix it. I discovered that many apps (at least the iPhone ones) use the same log-in protocol, so it was very easy to select the provider. No, we should NOT have to use a workaround. But since there’s no guarantee that the issue is ever going to be resolved, I’m not going to sacrifice functionality to stand on principle.

instead of choosing DirecTV as provider, I selected ATT U-Verse- even though I do not have a UVerse account. But it brought up the ATT login screen instead of the DirecTV screen.

I just downloaded HBO Max app on iPhone and it worked with ATT login and free subscription b/c of DirecTV.

So I followed your steps however my issue was with my Directv App. I couldn’t sign into it. So what I did was after step number 4, I shut my phone down and turned it back on. That “cleared it out”. I was then able to sign in to Directv.

it seems that if I log out of my Directv app, I will have to go through this process every time if I choose to use the tv provide feature.