Can’t login to iCloud on Apple TV 3rd generation

I had this issue too. And just found a workaround.

It seems that older generation Apple TV’s time-out too quickly before the verification code can be submitted. The solution is to append the verification code to the end of your password right in the same password field. The. AppleTV never asks for the verification code separately. Do this:

1. After you enter your Username then type your Password but don’t hit Submit.
2. Manually request a verification code on another device: On your iPhone / iPad go to Settings > Tap your name > Password & Security > Get Verification Code
3. On your Apple TV, type this code directly into the same password field after your password, no space in between, then submit.

Depending on what screen in AppleTV you started from which it requested your password, you may have to do this twice.

Hope this helps.

Best,

JZKeys

So here's the thing. The Apple TV 3rd generation is limited now, but still useful.

I felt I was struggling with this too, but then I remembered that I didn't use iCloud on this device anymore anyway.

How to get connected

• I went the route of just Signing in with my account into iTunes, which I can do just fine with my Apple ID and password and then entering in the Verification code.
• I then went to Home Sharing setup and signed in, and it asked me if I wanted to go and use the same Apple ID used for iTunes with Home Sharing, I said yes, and it just asked me for the verification code.

In short: don't use iCloud to sign-in, just sign-in with iTunes and Home Sharing and you'll get most of the features you need.

There really isn't any reason to connect your Apple TV with iCloud anymore as there is no more Photo Stream, iMovie Theatre nor any of the other iCloud services that the Apple TV 3rd generation was able use as they have all now been discontinued.

iTunes Purchases (audio and video) & Apple TV+

I now can listen to my Apple iTunes purchased music on the Apple TV again and I can even watch from my Apple TV+ subscription shows. You can't access Apple Music, because that wasn't out when this device came out, but it will stream from any music you have in iTunes Match (iCloud Music Library) and not rely on your device. I was apple to enjoy watching Apple TV+'s Greyhound movie and any other show on with the service on this Apple TV.

Home Sharing

With Home Sharing on, you can go to your Mac and under Sharing (Media Sharing) you can enable the sharing of your computer's Music and Photos. From there you can stream any of your Media you have (Audio, Video and Photos for the Screensaver). Download the iTunes Remote app to your iPhone and then you can control any Media on your Apple TV independent of your Mac. (This is also how you get around the AirPlay limitation [see below].)

To access your computer's media libraries, just go to the Computers app from the Apple TV Home Screen.

Screensaver

Once connected with Home Sharing to your Mac, you can go to the screensaver settings and you should see your Mac listed at the bottom and you can select any of the Photo Albums that you share in you Media Sharing as your screensaver. (I haven't tested this, but it may load in a copy of the selected photo album so that your Mac doesn't always have to be connected.)

AirPlay

As for Mirroring video to get video to your Apple TV, you need to use an older iOS or Mac device that still uses AirPlay 1, AirPlay 2 devices are not supported on the Apple TV due licensing agreements to get AirPlay to work on non-Apple devices like Samsung TVs. But you can get around some of this by using the older device or accessing your Mac's media using Home Sharing.

Summary

So, don't totally fret, the Apple TV 3rd generation is not a complete brick. You just can't use iCloud anymore (but none of those services the Apple TV 3rd gen used are no longer active). But you can still use, via the iTunes sign-in, iTunes Purchase, Apple TV+; and use, via Home Sharing, all the media on your connected Mac devices that use Home Sharing with the same Apple ID.

The Apple TV 3rd Generation is a great Media streamer for my Home Sharing audio when coupled with a stereo receiver with the digital audio output that the newer Apple TVs don't have.

iTunes Remote

https://apps.apple.com/app/itunes-remote/id284417350

If you have a MacBook, remove the hdmi cable and under it you should see a port for a micro-USB. Use a micro-USB connect the Apple TV to a MacBook. And under the finder folder on macbook(blue/white smiley face) you’ll see the Apple TV connected on the left side.

click it then hit restore and let the Apple TV download update and restore then once done. Unplug Apple TV from power and plug back in. And it should restart

ATV 7.9 (8163)

Very sure. Logged in both.

Just write the user and password by apple remote not phone or other.

Netflix says the same solution: If you are using the Remote app on an Apple mobile device: Switch to the original Apple TV remote, then try signing in again.

https://help.netflix.com/en/node/10538

I have turned off Advanced Data Protection under iCloud settings of my phone and this has helped me enable iCloud photos on my Apple TV. This will still take you through 2FA by sending code to your other iOS devices.

Showing iCloud photos on Apple TV gen2 and gen3

When 'my photo stream' was discontinued by Apple I have not been able to sign in to iCloud with my Apple TV gen2 and gen3.

I have been in contact with Apple support and they tell me that it will no longer be possible to use iCloud with Apple TV gen2 and gen3.

This is very disturbing -- I have used these units (have 4 of them) to show pictures on different screens.

I don't think that it is ok to discontinue this service.

Apple support tells me that it is no longer possible to use iCloud on these units - but that is a strategic move from Apple as I see it.

Is there a walk around for this -- and if so what to do ?

Best wishes for now !

Hi curtmeiss,

Thanks for posting in Apple Support Communities.

We understand that iCloud is unavailable when you're trying sign in on Apple TV. It seems iCloud may have had a few system issues recently that have been since resolved. You can view system status on Apple's website. Restart your Apple TV and try to sign in again. If this continues, go to the Apple ID site to ensure that your Apple ID is able to be used for sign in.

System Status

Apple ID

Regards.

When 'my photo stream' was discontinued by Apple I have not been able to sign in to iCloud with my Apple TV gen2 and gen3.

I have been in contact with Apple support and they tell me that it will no longer be possible to use iCloud with Apple TV gen2 and gen3.

This is very disturbing -- I have used these units (have 4 of them) to show pictures on different screens.

I don't think that it is ok to discontinue this service.

Apple support tells me that it is no longer possible to use iCloud on these units - but that is a strategic move from Apple as I see it.

Is there a walk around for this -- and if so what to do ?

Best wishes for now !

It seems many people have this issue and as of 3-16-23 Apple has not fixed it. I guess they will not.

Apple Chat had no clue. After an hour, phone support gave up and said it was an old device. There was a theoretical solution that involved putting the verification code after the password, but you don't get the code until you enter the password and once on the verification code screen there are no letters to type a password.

If this is a known issue with no resolution, Apple might update the documentation used by Support and be more transparent about the reduced functionality. As with some others, I, too, made matters worse by resetting and restoring as instructed by Apple Support.

I think I'll just get a Roku for this guest bedroom.

YES i have found a solution.

The solution is quite simple:

enter the apple id and the password with the apple tv remote and it works like a charm

I missed this step in How to get connected:

• Go to your Mac and (depending on your macOS) go and enable Home Sharing (Media Sharing) with the same Apple ID.

I can't see my photo stream …

Nobody can see the My Photo Stream on any device, as the service has been discontinued.

My Photo Stream - Apple Support

… my playlists or anything related to my iCloud account on my Apple TV

Advanced Data Protection for iCloud as an account property may invalidate some iCloud services on devices with older software. It may have been turned on through one of your other devices. It can be undone if wanted. 

Checked that too, to no avail. Tried this, but nothing worked:

• Hard reset via USB cable and iTunes
• Ask verification code from other device and type in directly
• Use original remote as well as remote app on iphone
• Advanced data protection (I found it!) is off (and has never been on)

'unable to sign in, Photostream is not set up for this Apple ID account, for more information go to apple.com/support/icloud'.

Photostream doesn't exist anymore, but apparantly it is activited by default in the old apple TV software. Couldn't find a way to turn it off (never used it anyway, only use the ATV to stream music from iTunes Match).

Looks like Photostream is blocking the whole iCloud, Apple ?!

Photo Stream is gone, there's nothing we can do about it. I liked Photo Stream too, but usage was down (because it was defaulted to off and apparently some couldn't understand how it worked). But it's gone, they're not going to set it up again.

If you really need to see your photos on these, then use Home Sharing on a Mac and share your photos to your devices that way. I've detailed how to do it in my post elsewhere in this thread. You can watch any video and listen to any music on your Apple TV 3rd generation streamed from your home Mac. Home Sharing isn't going anywhere anytime soon because there is no hosting or networking on Apple's part. Plus it's probably the most Privacy respecting solution too because it's on your own network. You still have access to your iTunes Purchases and Apple TV+. Some of the other apps still work too, which to me is surprising.

But with any network based devices, eventually they all will stop working.

If Home Sharing doesn't work for you and you live in an area with ice, you could use it for a nice hockey puck I'm sure and take your slapshot anger out on it.

Apple purposely shut of the previous updates which were supporting the iCloud login for Apple TV 3rd gen.