Apple TV app pixelated on Sony Bravia Android Tv

I had trouble at first finding how to force the relevant software update. My Sony Bravia (model KD65A1, purchased March 2018)is a Google one and last year I could not even install the Apple TV app. It wasn't offered in the Google store. Then in January this year I discovered it was now available and so installed it to be able to watch Bad Sisters. When it was unwatchable I, I searched for help and stumbled upon this thread, and by switching to SD only was at least able to watch the series with minimal picture problems.

I thought my TV was set to automatic software updates, so when I checked last week to see if problems had been resolved by an update (as other writers had found) and discovered they weren't, I was puzzled.

Instructions on how to locate software update controls did not apply to my TV model so went exploring and finally found the answer. Might help others.

Go to Home Screen

Go to Apps

Go to Help

Go to System Software Update

Select System Update - "check for update and install"

As soon as this was done I checked Apple TV and everything was perfect in HD - finally!

Looks like the issue might have stemmed from Apple/Google compatibility issues perhaps. And in future I will check for software updates manually rather than assuming Sony will supply them automatically.

Hi All,

Many thanks to behickey for pointing out that Update Automatically doesn't always do what is implied and that a manual update to the latest appropriate firmware for your Sony Bravia may fix the Apple TV pixel problem - it fixed mine. Here is my story. My Sony TV is a KD-75x780f (2018 model from Costco). Step 1 - Hit HELP button on Sony remote. The existing software version appears on the upper right of the screen underneath the model number. Mine was PKG6.6555xxxx. Write that down. Step 2 - Using the internet, navigate to Sony.com. Step 3 - Choose Business & Products. Step 4 - Choose Electronics. Step 5 - Choose Consumer Electronics. Step 6 - Choose TV & Home Theater. Step 7 - Choose Smart TVs. Step 8 - Choose Product Technical Support. Step 9 - Search for KD-75x750f (obviously you would search for your model). After Step 9 I was at the KD-75x780f Model Support Page. Step 10 - navigate to the Downloads tab. Appearing on my laptop, once I hit the download tab, was a Firmware Update v6.7220. There was an option to view all applicable models for this Update and mine was among them. Step 11 - download the update file. Step 12 - follow the instructions on the download page for methods to manually install the update.

Remember the number you wrote down in Step 1? PKG6.6555xxxx (for me). The new downloaded software for my TV was PKG6.7220xxxx. Because my current software was clearly out of date I used the USB method to update my software (it is described on the download page). It was pretty simple. I copied the downloaded update from my laptop to a USB thumb drive. I plugged the USB thumb drive into the back of my TV. The TV recognized the drive and did the rest. The software update took about 20 minutes. Afterwards when I hit the HELP button on the remote the software version displayed as PKG6.7220xxxx.

Most importantly - Apple TV now works perfectly! Total time (once I knew what to do) was about an hour.

After trying a few times to update the system software through the internal menu on the TV (Home>Settings>Device Preferences>About>System Software Updates>Software Update), I found the most recent version of the software on the Sony website using my model and “current version of software”. I downloaded it to a USB on my laptop and followed the instructions on the Sony website and uploaded the software via the USB on the TV. Now my TV is up to date and the pixelation is gone. If you want to use the USB method make sure that you follow the instruction to make sure you don’t corrupt the software on the TV. The update took between 15 and 20 minutes.

I think I've found the fix. It seems to be an issue with the Android TV software in the Sony Bravia TV. I had my TV set to Update Automatically, but it seems that wasn't really the case. You have to manually update the Android TV software by going to the TV's home screen, Settings, Device Settings, About, System Update, Update Manually. After doing that, I can finally watch Apple TV+ with a 4K stream without glitches.

So here is what worked for me. Go to Settings, About. Uncheck automatic software updates. Click check for software updates. Download and install update. AppleTV Worked fine after this procedure. For some reason when automatic is checked there are still uninstalled updates. Hope this works for you.

FIXED

i had the pixel problem for 2 years. Settled with by watching on SD with some remaining pixel problems. Kept updating the BRAVIA software and the Apple TV+ app. Today ( June 22, 24) I updated only the app from google play store then restarted my tv from the settings menu on homepage . Immediate fix ! I then changed my settings in Apple TV+ from only SD to HD ! Works perfectly now No pixelation and looks amazing.

JudyR52 wrote:

I had trouble at first finding how to force the relevant software update. My Sony Bravia (model KD65A1, purchased March 2018)is a Google one and last year I could not even install the Apple TV app. It wasn't offered in the Google store. Then in January this year I discovered it was now available and so installed it to be able to watch Bad Sisters. When it was unwatchable I, I searched for help and stumbled upon this thread, and by switching to SD only was at least able to watch the series with minimal picture problems.

I thought my TV was set to automatic software updates, so when I checked last week to see if problems had been resolved by an update (as other writers had found) and discovered they weren't, I was puzzled.

Instructions on how to locate software update controls did not apply to my TV model so went exploring and finally found the answer. Might help others.

Go to Home Screen

Go to Apps

Go to Help

Go to System Software Update

Select System Update - "check for update and install"

As soon as this was done I checked Apple TV and everything was perfect in HD - finally!

Looks like the issue might have stemmed from Apple/Google compatibility issues perhaps. And in future I will check for software updates manually rather than assuming Sony will supply them automatically.

Very Helpful navigation to settings I forgot about as it’s been ages since I first set up my Sony.

Still a few occasional blips but watchable, which it wasn’t before.

Did the system updates (not that I can tell anything was done, am set to automatic) then uninstalled and reinstalled the app via google. Have also set to SD, I might change this later but for now I just want to watch something now it’s watchable!

If you have a Sony TV check for updates the newest update fixed this problem for me. 30 minutes ago I was watching it it looked like a scrambled p*** channel now it's crystal clear

I was wrong. The firmware update WILL solve all problems. However, you do have to FORCE an update because just following the prompts and going through the process does not always result in a complete update. You have to get to the point where the message comes on the screen announcing a successful update and indicating it will be applied once the set is turned off. Otherwise you didn’t get an update.

Thank you for the post. Happy to report that I did in fact force the latest update & all is well now. I assumed since I had “automatic update” selected that it was already updated. Still don’t know why it didn’t update when it was first available.

Sony software update installed overnight and the picture is great now. I guess the problem was on Sony's end.

Can confirm, just forced the new Android update on my Sony TV, and the problem has been fixed when using the Apple TV+ app.

Thanks for the info!

Try updating the TV mate. Fixed mine, in 4K now. Cheers!

It was also solution for me (manually updating system from settings), image glitches are gone but there are still problems with sound, it looks like tv is not good enough to handle Dolby digital and Dolby Athmos.

Seems Apple TV does something to the android tv that other apps don't! I tried everything but only resolved this when I restarted my Sony TV.

It would be great for Apple to share facts about what causes this and make it easier to avoid or resolve quickly for regular users.