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Apple TV Device and Paramount +

I cannot figure out, or understand, why my subscription to Paramount +, purchased and active thru my iTunes account, using my Apple ID, doesn't work. The Paramount + app on my Apple TV device gives me an error that my user name and password (Apple ID) are invalid, and when I try to restore from iTunes, it says my account doesn't exist. Direct call to Paramount + tech support went nowhere. They tell me I don't have an account. Several calls to Apple tech support haven't yielded results. The weird thing is the Paramount + app works fine using the Apple TV app on my iPad, iPhone, and iMac. All of those devices are logged on using my Apple ID. Why does it work on three out of four Apple devices?

I have reset the Apple TV device, restarted it, deleted and re-installed the Paramount + app, several times. Nothing works. I am stumped, and obviously so are Apple and Paramount tech support. Does anyone have any fresh ideas?

Posted on Jun 12, 2021 8:27 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jul 9, 2021 6:52 AM

Yes, and it was simple, after tech support at Apple researched the issue and explained it to me. There is a Paramount+ app built into the Apple TV device, but a user can also add the app in the Apple TV device, resulting in two Paramount + apps. If one subscribes thru Apple, then one must use the built-in app in the Apple TV device, and not one that can be added to the Apple TV device. Also, if one downloads the Paramount + app from the App Store, not as a part of the Apple TV device, the subscription purchased thru Apple (iTunes) won't work. Bottom line: don't add the Paramount + app to your Apple Devices; use the one available in Apple TV, on the Apple TV device, your computer, iPad, iPhone, if you purchased your subscription thru Apple.

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22 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 9, 2021 6:52 AM in response to MamaLx3

Yes, and it was simple, after tech support at Apple researched the issue and explained it to me. There is a Paramount+ app built into the Apple TV device, but a user can also add the app in the Apple TV device, resulting in two Paramount + apps. If one subscribes thru Apple, then one must use the built-in app in the Apple TV device, and not one that can be added to the Apple TV device. Also, if one downloads the Paramount + app from the App Store, not as a part of the Apple TV device, the subscription purchased thru Apple (iTunes) won't work. Bottom line: don't add the Paramount + app to your Apple Devices; use the one available in Apple TV, on the Apple TV device, your computer, iPad, iPhone, if you purchased your subscription thru Apple.

Jun 13, 2021 12:18 PM in response to leahspy

Thank you for the reply and recommendations. I have gone to all of these references, tried the solutions, and they do not fix the problem. I have my Apple ID set up on Apple TV device. It is the one and only Apple ID used to set up Apple TV and its subscriptions. I have no account directly with Paramount +, and no other email on file with them. A call to their tech support shows that I don't exist in their system. Paramount + works fine on my iPhone, iPad, and iMac; it does not work on my Apple TV device. All other subscriptions do. When I try to enter my user email and password, I get an error message that they are incorrect. When I try to restore from iTunes, it says the account does not exist. There must be a problem between iTunes and Paramount + with the Paramount + app on Apple TV using the Apple TV device. Paramount thinks I don't exist. Apple is taking my money monthly for a subscription to Paramount +. Paramount + does not work on my Apple TV device. My question is why? I have no idea what to try next, I have done everything hardware, software, app related, all with no success. Am I the only one having this problem?

Jun 13, 2021 10:25 AM in response to sidfromfranktown

Hello sidfromfranktown,


Welcome to Apple Support Communities!


We understand that you’re unable to access one of your subscriptions on your Apple TV. We’d like to help.


Have you set up your Apple ID on the Apple TV? If so, is it the same Apple ID you used to purchase the subscriptions? Rather than signing in through the Paramount app, check out the steps under “Sign in on Apple TV” in Sign in with your Apple ID. Here’s some more information on how to Set up your Apple ID on Apple TV.


In addition, you may find this discussion helpful as well: Sign into Paramount Plus on Apple TV - Apple Community


Also, here is more information we found on Paramount+ Help website that seems useful: I’m an existing subscriber. How can I watch Paramount+ on my connected device?


Have a nice day!

Jun 13, 2021 1:39 PM in response to sidfromfranktown

A Paramount+ subscription started outside of the Apple TV app, will require the separate Paramount+ app.

A Paramount+ Channel subscription started inside of the Apple TV app, will require it to be viewed in the Apple TV app.

These two types of subscriptions are generally not exchangeable (although Paramount+ makes provisions for a one-way crossover).

Jun 13, 2021 2:03 PM in response to Urquhart1244

The subscription was purchased on the Apple TV device app using my Apple ID, it was not purchased from Paramount +. It was originally a CBS All Access and converted to Paramount +. It works fine on Apple TV on all other devices, just not the Apple TV device/box itself. It's all within the Apple world, no transactions with CBS or Paramount +.


Aug 7, 2021 11:30 PM in response to Urquhart1244

^^this doesn’t work the other way around. If I have a Paramount+ app subscription (paid through my Apple ID) I can’t access paramount+ anywhere other than the app on my phone and the app on Apple TV Device (not appleTV app on television nor the paramount+ app on my TV…).

this. Is. REALLY. REALLY. REALLY. Frustrating.

So what did I buy, exactly? It’s not a channel subscription through Apple OR Paramount. It’s access to the paramount app only on an Apple device without an actual account with paramount.

who did this and are they still employed in the tech industry!?!


Aug 8, 2021 7:02 AM in response to mhoyt

this doesn’t work the other way around.

Indeed.


If I have a Paramount+ app subscription (paid through my Apple ID) I can’t access paramount+ anywhere other than the app on my phone and the app on Apple TV Device.

Consider canceling and re-subscribing with Paramount+ directly, to be independent of device brand, and use the Paramount+ app on any supported platform.

Or cancel and re-subscribe to the Apple TV app channel, and then verify for the additional account. Then it would even work in the Apple TV app.

Aug 23, 2021 5:15 PM in response to sidfromfranktown

I had similar issues and final resolved. Turned out my internet connection/ router had a built in ad blocker. One I found on my router setting and turned it off, paramount plus worked on my Apple TV and other devices on my network. The way I figured it out was by turning off the WiFi on my phone and saw that it worked without a problem. When I turned WiFi on paramount plus did not work. Sane issue happened on a web browser until I disabled the ad block I Had.


hope this helps!

Sep 29, 2021 9:22 PM in response to sidfromfranktown

I had the same/similar problem where the Paramount + app wouldn’t let me restore my subscription purchase thru iTunes. At first the would give me the same error of not recognizing my subscription but in the end the app wouldn’t even let me click anything and stopped working. I tried deleting it and reinstalling it but it was the same. I realized that the app kept re-downloading from the iCloud (the cloud logo shows when you delete and try to go back and reinstall) so I looked to find how to even remove it from my iCloud history so I can download a fresh new app from the App Store. Once I did that, the app worked and was able to restore my purchase from iTunes.


Make sure you’ve deleted the Paramount + app from you Apple TV device.

Go to your account and manage purchases. And find the Paramount + app purchase. It only lets you “Hide” your purchase but go ahead and hide it.


Then, you go back to the App Store on your Apple TV and open the Paramount + app purchase module. The download icon should show “Get” instead of the usual “cloud logo” if you’ve ever downloaded the app on your account before.


This worked for me.

I hope this helps!

Oct 16, 2021 9:20 AM in response to mhoyt

^^^ exactly! We plan to cancel our subscription through iTunes/Apple ID and just subscribe through Paramount. I like the idea of subscribing through Apple because it’s one less sign-in I have to remember, but the limited access makes it not worth it. Also, the fact that there are two ways to subscribe through Apple (either the P+ channel or the P+ app) makes this all even more confusing for users. Apple is just getting in the way.

Oct 20, 2021 7:53 PM in response to Joembx

Thank you for the solution! I have an Eero router and was able to keep the ad blocking in place and just allow the sites that Paramount + uses and were being blocked. They are as follows for anyone else with this problem who has the ability to allow ad sites and keep others blocked:


cbsinteractive.hb.omtrdc.net

pubads.g.doubleclick.net


It also worked for the Roku, where the app was also blocked.



Apple TV Device and Paramount +

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