Apple TV 3rd gen activation fail

After a million tries.... the following process worked! This is using all legitimate tools, so no drama!

1. To fix failed activation, and therefore restore AirPlay capability, on a Mac, install Apple Configurator 2 from the app store.
2. Plug in your Apple TV 3rd Gen to power and to a Mac using a micro USB cable from the Apple TV to the Mac.
3. In the configurator, perform an Apple TV OS "Restore" using the "Prepare" gear icon in the top menu bar (it should prompt you that you must do this anyway).
4. Once it has been restored using the configurator, do what the prompts say: "Unplug USB cable and power."
5. Then, "Power it back on" and wait for it to boot.
6. When the status light is solid (booted), plug in the USB cable connected to your Mac again. You will then see a "mirrored" display of a TV and Apple TV icon with the setup screen as if it were plugged into a TV.
7. Click on it, and it will then display the Apple TV home screen and version info, etc. on the right. A menu of 4 items will now be available in the left-hand column of the configurator app.
8. Click on the second item "Apps". You will see a message "Apple TV not activated".
9. Click the button that says "Activate".
10. Bam!
11. Unplug from Mac and power, plug into the TV you would like it on, and carry on with a normal, activated setup!

Hope this helps - let Apple know that they should use this method. IT WORKS!

I can´t use airplay ether and my device is activation failed. Is it therfor i can´t use airplay ?

I have tryed everything to get airplay to work one my gen3 apple tv

Oh my... does it mean the apple tv 3rd gen cannot be used for airplay anymore? Then its useless..

YOU ARE AMAZIN!!!

Funny though to activate an apple product we need an application that is only available in windows :)

i had the same issues. I had to reset Apple TV and i couldnt get Airplay working anymore. Modem Resetting, Apple TV resetting, restart - nothing worked. I chatted with an Apple support person and was able to connect to ITunes to reset Apple TV on my Mac. Still didnt work.

i read an insteresting message on the german community and it showed me the way to solve the problem.

After resetting on ITunes i had to download Apple Configurator 2 and follow the instruction on that forum contribution.

And it worked. I attach the forum message - please feel to get the thread and use google translation. It worked for me and airplay is running again on my iphone and ipad.

thread:

https://communities.apple.com/de/thread/253323316

Verify the time zone settings. If ‘Automatic’ is not functional, then try to manually select a city near you (for the same time zone).

Faulty time settings may prevent secure connections, and therefore activation as well.

Sorry for my bad english.

I just wait one night with apple tv on standby and screen tv off, and in the morning the "Activation Failed" message disappears and airplay works.

But yesterday I looked at the apple tv settings and saw this message again. At the same time, airplay worked.

I rebooted my apple tv and airplay stopped working.

I waited one night, but this time it didn't fix the problem.

Now I also have the message "Activation Failed" and airplay does not work.

I keep on waiting ... :)

I am extremely surprised by this attitude towards customers, this is the first time I have seen this from Apple. I may have to think about switching to another ecosystem. On the phone, as well as the rest here, they said that you need to wait for an update or a message that there will be no update

Not a solution, but talked to an Apple rep just yesterday, she said they don't know what's causing the issue nor how to resolve the issue but are working on it. Most likely, it sprung out of the last Apple TV update on Nov. 2nd. All she said is Apple recommends Apple TV 3 users just check software updates for a new one frequently. Pretty disappointed as my Apple TV is just a brick at this point. So much for the Apple ecosystem..

I can confirm that this solutions works perfectly, just as described... at least for the moment.

My Apple TV is still connected to the network... So I don’t know if the activation will remain.

But for now, airplay works fine again.

And I simply uninstalled the software after the configuration.

Thanks Lilly-chan

On Mac I installed Apple Configurator 2 via AppStore. Then I connected the AppleTV 3 with micro USB. Select "profile" and activate.

For Windows: via 3utools -> usb connect -> batch activation.

Done.

I try activate my Apple TV 3 with 3utools (version 2.58.001) , but "Batch activation" button not active.

If I push "Batch activation" button then "Please connect iDevice to PC using the USB cable" message appear.

Apple TV connected to PC and in "iDevice" window status "iDevice connected (recovery mode)". But serial number and ecid only see (not device type and product type).

Same issue above.

Could i check if its correct to click

Toolbox > batch activation?

The weird thing is , it seemed to detect my apple tv as an iphone. I have switcheed a number of usb micro cables withou success

I activated my apple tv 3 with 3utools too.

Turn on apple tv and wait whare led is light (not flashed) then connect USB cable to apple tv and PC. Then 3uttols see apple tv and Batch activation button will be active.

Thanks Lilly-chan for solving!

Hi albram, thanks for the detailed instructions. I will try again. How did you manage to solve thia issue which you mentioned earlier? What have you done? Change the wire?

"but "Batch activation" button not active. If I push "Batch activation" button then "Please connect iDevice to PC using the USB cable"

Thank you