Getting home sharing to work with Apple TV and Windows

If you've downloaded iTunes from the Microsoft Store you may find that it pays to uninstall that version and install from one of the following direct links instead:

• https://www.apple.com/itunes/download/win64
• https://www.apple.com/itunes/download/win32

In principle both versions should support the same features, but switching may resolve things for you.

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See TCP and UDP ports used by Apple software products - Apple Support and check the Windows Firewall to see if there is something you need to enable there. Is either device connecting wirelessly? Newer Wi-Fi routers can have a feature called something like client isolation that allows devices to access the Internet, but shields them from each other. This would block both AirPlay and Home Sharing if active.

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For general advice see Troubleshooting issues with iTunes for Windows updates.

The steps in the second box are a guide to removing everything related to iTunes and then rebuilding it which is often a good starting point unless the symptoms indicate a more specific approach. When reinstalling right click on the downloaded setup file and use run as administrator. It may also help to temporarily disable any non-Microsoft anti-virus.

Review the other boxes and the list of support documents further down the page in case one of them applies.

The further information area has direct links to the current and recent builds in case you have problems downloading, or want to revert to an older version if the current one won't work properly for you at the moment. Links to the most recent builds are now at the bottom of the page.

12.10.6.2 might be better than 12.10.7.3. Some people have had trouble with the Bonjour component in the recent build, which is used by AirPlay and Home Sharing.

Your library and device backups should be unaffected by these steps but there are links to backup and recovery advice should it be needed.

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It should work. You should be able to see a Home Shared library within the Computers app on Apple TV provided iTunes is running on the computer, both use the same Apple ID, and they are connected on a local network where no firewall or wireless client isolation features might block the traffic between devices. Can you AirPlay from iTunes?

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I'm aware of services in the iTunes and App stores being limited by region (see Availability of Apple Media Services - Apple Support) and that FaceTime is prevented in certain countries, but I don't recall there being regional limitations for AirPlay or Home Sharing. In particular, since these are closely related, it seems odd that you can AirPlay from iOS devices, but not Home Share on the same network. I'm inclined to suspect that you have an issue with your hardware and software as opposed to this being down to local regulations, though of course I could be wrong.

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