Apple TV 4K Keeps Cutting Out - How Do I Fix This?

Hello ClarkKent77,

We see that you're having some trouble with your Apple TV cutting out randomly. We'd be happy to help!

Do you have access to another TV? If so, for testing purposes, could you please connect the Apple TV to that and see if this same thing happens?

If so, could you also try connecting the Apple TV using another HDMI cable if you have one available? Does the same thing happen with that new cable?

Cheers!

Hello!

Based on what you're experiencing, at this point you'll want to reach out to Apple Support directly. They'll be able to look in to this further with you and see what options are available.

You can reach out to them here: Get Support

Take care!

Also seeing the same issue. I had the Apple TV model that was newest before this one and swapped it out, using the same HDMI cable and Vizio E65-E1 display. Video cuts out sporadically for 1-2 seconds then resumes. Just tried a restart. Will try more settings.

I’m having the same problem on both both tvs with both an old ATV box and the newest one… Everything’s updated, signal strength is good, etc… Will be fine for days then problems, then clears up, then problems again…

Same exact issue with an Apple TV 4k (new one)

im connected to an onkyo which outputs to my tv.

the only change I made was swapping out an nvidia shield for the Apple TV. Now nothing but random cutouts.

even though the cables are fine with the shield I’ve tested 3 different ones anyways. Both between onkyo and tv and onkyo and appletv.

have disabled match frame and range. Have restarted appletv. Restarted router (even though I’m hardwired).

at first thought it was a kids YouTube thing. Nope. Happens during Netflix as well. (Presumably everything else at this point)

running out of ideas.

you'd like to think so considering they require your icloud/appleid to log in. Theyre as official as it gets. I assume on some level apple employees at least peruse.

Though in all fairness this issue or some variation of it has been going on for literally years. That's because it gets confused with CEC issues and folks not understanding how match framerate/dynamic range work. Also the odd legitimate cable issue makes its way in.

Any people with the capacity to move this up the ladder or provide insight or help assume it stems from the former and they drive on through.

I'm close to swapping back to my nvidia shield. Even with apple tv's shortcomings (mainly bitstream/dts and lack of usb) I purchased this due to wanting to add another device to the apple ecosystem for ease of use/conformity.

So far its been anything but and the pro's are not outweighing the con's largely due to the random disconnecting.

Spent over an hour on the phone with Apple the other day and they ended up escalating it because none of the troubleshooting did anything…

Their suggestions were:

• connect directly to the modem with Ethernet one tv/tv box and see if the issue goes away - may point to network issue
• sign out of all tv boxes, App Store, iTunes, etc, then sign into just one and see if the issue goes away
• sign out and go back to factory settings on all tv boxes, sign back in and see if the issues go away
• power off all electronics in the house, turn on one tv, see if the issue goes away - may point to interference issues

None of their suggestions addressed why it was happening just to shows on Apple TV channel but not youtube, Netflix, other third party apps…

The only other things that came out that I’ve also experienced in the last month (time period when the channel issue started), is being signed out and asked for sign back in more often… Sometimes more than once a day, when previously I only had to sign in after signing out… I can watch shows on Apple TV from channels I’ve subscribed to through Apple, but the corresponding third party app won’t let me ‘restore purchases’/recognize that I have a subscription, ex Paramount+… No idea if it’s related but on the list of odd things that started this month…

They’re calling me tonight to follow up… Fingers crossed…

As a follow up…. My friend and his wife came over to watch Loki with us. He asked how I liked the new appletv, I mentioned it has a few issues.

About half way through the show it had cut out about 6 times, I stopped the show and switched over to the Nvidia shield and haven’t hooked up the appletv again since. My friend was shocked that Apple would put something out that had such bad hdmi stability issues.

Hoping for a software update to fix this.

Yea, ive done everything I can to stop the absurdity. Ive disabled CEC on the appleTV and it still does it. Twice this morning while my kids are watching kids youtube POOF turns tv off then back on. As a last ditch effort im going to spend some more hours of my valuable time resetting/reconfiguring the apple tv but im not holding my breath.

Tried different icloud accounts. Tried disabling airplay. Tried different cables. Tried CEC on or off. Even tried increasing the DHCP lease time in case it was somehow web related. All I havent done was reset the whole thing.

So far all that has worked is using the nvidia shield.

CEC is consumer electronics control. It’s a protocol that allows devices to control one another, often to a detriment.

without something like a universal remote it can be helpful but in this case for people with this problem it certainly needs to be disabled as part of the process of elimination.

as for nvidia shield. It’s nvidias set top box. In all honesty it’s superior in just about every way apart from not being tied to apples ecosystem and the interoperability that provides.

I see several posts is this thread that are the same issue as I’m having: the video for Apple TV cuts out for a few seconds, seemingly at random. For me this has been a recent development. I’ve had this Apple TV, internet connection, modem, router, and Samsung tv for several years. Was thinking about replacing the Apple TV with the latest version, but that doesn’t seem to have helped others. At times this is just unwatchable.

I’ve had the same issue with the second-generation Apple TV 4K — I’ll experience loss of video signal at seemingly random intervals on multiple apps. I had been using the previous generation ATV 4K on the same TV and HDMI port with no issues.

I tried factory resetting my new ATV 4K, and purchased a brand new HDMI 2.1 cable that supports 48 Gbps, 8K@60Hz but still the issue persists.

I called Apple support today and they’re sending me a replacement unit while they diagnose my current one.

Yea I’m beginning to wonder if that’s what I need to do. (Call support and get a replacement).

Ive changed cables about 4 times now, the latest being between the receiver and tv and Apple TV and receiver with new 48gbps cables (even though my tv isn’t even an hdr set)

just finished resetting the Apple TV and setting that all back up.

tried different appleids. Tried disconnecting the harmony remote from it. Tried a different outlet for the appletv and my tv.

still randomly turns my tv off then on.

ive re hooked up the nvidia shield for now juuuuust in case it was actually a tv issue and no problems….