Apple TV doesn’t have a “resume” option

Apple’s system for resuming is to use the Up Next feature for that. It would store the progress online, linked to your account. Verify that you are signed in to the Apple TV app with your Apple ID account. Watched episodes would also be marked with a checkmark.

I have the same issue, with the same setup (apple tv+ app on Roku). And the UP NEXT feature does NOT resolve the problem of starting play where you left off within an episode. Currently, if I stop an episode in the middle, when I go back in later it gives me no option to resume at that spot. I only get the "Play this episode" option and have to FF from the beginning to where I left off (if I can even remember). Also, if I pause my tv in the middle of a show for too long (meaning, more than just a brief couple of minutes; I haven't actually timed it yet), it sends me back to the "Play this episode" screen and I have to start and FF all over again! It's maddening and is REALLY turning me off to this app. If Hulu, Netflix, Prime, HBOMax and all the other streaming apps I have include this basic feature in their tv apps, I simply cannot fathom why the tech geniuses at Apple (not being sarcastic; I live fully in the Apple world, lol) haven't put this in. PLEASE tell me I'm just missing something. I can't find anything in the settings on the tv app to fix this, nor on the Apple TV+ app for iphone.

I have the same issue on my Smart TV. It’s so frustrating whenever I pause to do laundry or cook and come back I have to start from the beginning and fast forward to where I was. It makes no sense why they don’t have resume. It makes me want to stop watching any shows on Apple TV. I will cancel if not resolved soon.

Solution: I had the same problem for a long time. I after reading the article and being frustrated by Apple Support’s lack of any actual answer.

I deleted the Apple TV app (something you might want to consider if this doesn’t fix your problem) and the restart my Five Tv Cube Gen 2, then finally reinstalled the Apple TV app.

I agree with everything this shouldn’t be happening and this shouldn’t fix the problem, and the problem is with the Apple TV app. No idea why this work because Apple Support hasn’t provided any guidance and I don’t have any debug logs so I don’t know why the app isn’t working to begin with. If this works I don’t know how it will fix the problem because again Apple Support hasn’t provided any guidance and I don’t have any debug logs.

I hope this helps people as frustrated as with Apple Support and malfunctioning Apple TV app.

I am 76 years old and I think I may have resolved this issue too. I was frustrated beyond words not being able to resume where I left off on my roku tv with my appletv app. I did Google for solutions and kind of got some ideas that didn’t work.

What I did was on my iPhone I opened the appletv app for the first time actually and started a program and stopped it and closed the app and reopened it and it worked. I am not sure if it had something to do with turning my iPhone completely off or not but As mentioned you can do this. I did not remove and reinstall the app.

Then when I went to my Roku TV I discovered when I turned the Apple TV app on it resumed where I had previously left off on the same program in a different spot. Which was what I wanted anyhow. I turned the Roku TV totally off and when I turned it back on and re-opened the AppleTV app it resumed resume too!

In both cases they are on up next and have a line showing minutes played. So i guess you have to add them to up next.

unfortunately I also did something else I think but I can’t remember. Hey I’m 76. However maybe the answer is by opening the Apple TV app on my phone that allowed it to also work the Roku to resume since it is the same apple account.

Bottom line the roku tv now resumes play. It can be done.

It isn’t just series. I started watching the Velvet Underground documentary a few nights ago. Came back the next night to finish and it starts over. Couldn’t find where I’d gotten to, so ended up rewatching quite a bit, which resulted in me still not getting thru it all. Sure enough, next time I bring it up, to try and finish, it starts from scratch. It just doesn’t work at all on Roku.

I have the same issue and I’m guessing that this must be by design to give us an incentive to by an Apple TV. I hope that I’m wrong and that it will eventually be fixed. It’s hard to believe that such a basic feature would have been left broken for so long. I’m an Apple fan btw, but don’t always love their marketing strategy.

This is an Apple problem and based on the responses they have no urgency to fix. I have the same issue on ALL DEVICES (Roku stick, Amazon firestick and my iPhone). It it also the case with content through Apple TV (Paramount+, Showtime). If you exit in the middle of a show/movie next time you have to start at the beginning and fast forward to where you left off.

No wonder Apple isn’t killing it in the streaming market. Content lags the others and it’s annoying to use

Same here lg c9 tv - it’s been like this with Apple TV plus from the start so I don’t think they will fix it - I can only assume it’s a intentional ploy to get a few more Apple TV box sales . Dissapointed.

Just last night I had this issue (again) when trying to watch an episode of "The Morning Show" using the app on my Roku tv. Show went back to the beginning when I paused for a few minutes to take a phone call. Even worse, once I fast-forwarded to the spot where I left off, I had new problems. Video froze for several seconds, then started again, but audio wouldn't sync with the video. Tried to rewind and start that section over again, and the whole thing froze up and then shut down the Apple TV app altogether! I was so annoyed that I went over to Netflix and watched something else. I've decided to cancel my subscription. I only watch 2 shows, Ted Lasso and The Morning Show, and I've finished Season 2 of the first and lost interest in Season 2 of the latter, so... j'ai fini!

I have the same issue AppleTV app on Roku. Returning to a paused show does not allow you to resume. Always starts over from the beginning.

I'm using a Macbook to access Apple TV+ via Safari. I see no "Up Next" link on the "home" page of tv.apple.com

Thanks, I will try. Not sure why Apple makes so user unfriendly?