An unexpected error occurred. Apple TV (4th Gen)

A possible workaround.

Open the Apple TV app, select Library in the menu bar at the top of the Apple TV app (to the right of Watch Now, tv+, Store).

Select TV Shows in the left menu.

Programmes that give the "An unexpected error" play from here for me.

I've been having the same problem all day. I've tried contacting Apple but they were of no help. I posted this elsewhere as well but it appears that their url pages are broken as well. Check out how it just keeps looping over and over. The Flash, Season 8 on iTunes (apple.com) I'm pretty sure that's what is causing the error.

Anyway, hoping someone at Apple can fix this.

• I’m really frustrated about this, too. I’ve restarted and reset. Still getting the same message, “unexpected error occurred.” I have an Apple TV 4K first generation Model number: A1842. We know Apple makes our technology obsolete so we upgrade. Is this the same Apple TV model others have?

I’m having the exact same problem as of yesterday! Purchased shows I’ve been happily watching via the TV Shows app suddenly getting this ‘unexpected error’ message. I do seem to be able to play the programmes via the Apple TV app or via airplay so it looks like some problem with the TV app itself

I am having the exact same problem. I know the routine of restarting and even resetting and reinstalling the iOS and still the same issue. Apple should notice as it even prevents users from making purchases of TV show box sets. Seems like they will only care once it hits the bottom line. Well this certainly will at some point.

My issues started on Thursday night (Feb 9th), about half my purchased content wouldn't load with that error, in the iTunes TV App only. I can view the content using the Apple TV app, but then that app doesn't keep track of what I've watched and loads the next episode without a pause, which I find really annoying. Apple really needs to get this fixed, I am tired of spending tons of money on content when they make it difficult to use.

I have two 4K AppleTVs, first generation, with max memory. 

About 2 out of 3 of my purchased TV series will not open. Instead, I am receiving a message that reads: “An Unexpected Error Occurred.” I am not experiencing this issue with purchased movies.

I have taken the following steps to troubleshoot the problem and been unable to resolve the situation on either device.

-Made sure the AppleTV software was up to date

-Restarted the AppleTV

-Shut down and restarted the wifi router

-reset my AppleTV

-disconnected the AppleTV power and reconnected

-disconnected the AppleTV from the network and tried to access via ethernet cable.

None of these steps fixed the problem.

 I find I have no issues accessing any TV shows on my iMac or my MacBook Pro. I can watch, for example, the final episode of His Dark Materials on my computer, but I cannot access that series and roughly 20 others on my AppleTV. I will note I was able to watch the next to last episode of His Dark Materials two nights prior, but last night (2/10/23) the error messages appeared, preventing access to the product. 

Additionally, as I was going through the aforementioned steps to troubleshoot the problem, I discovered recent edits to my music playlists performed on my iMac are not being relayed through my iCloud account to my other devices. I have confirmed these updates have not appeared on both of the AppeTV devicess and on the MacBook Pro.

Given all the above, the suggestion is that these issues are not device issues, but a cloud or similar issue originating with Apple.

The Apple TV app Library only shows other Family members for me, not any of my own purchased content, which is a lot. But I searched for one of the TV shows that doesn't play in the TV Shows app, and it plays just fine under the Apple TV app. Thank you for your insight. This is a great workaround until Apple gets the TV Shows app problem solved.

MarHenBro - Your personal purchases being missing is probably a separate issue, on top of this. I’d suggest checking if your store settings need to be refreshed in the account settings section on the Apple TV. These can go out of date from time to time.

My son came up with a workaround.

In the TV section of AppleTV, use the search tool to find your purchased program, then click on it. You should be able to access the program you want to watch from there.

Yes, that works. But something is broken with the tv shows iTunes application, and it needs to be fixed.

This error started on or about 2/9/2023. I've completely reset my Apple TV and it is still happening.

There are several work arounds. But I don't buy Apple stuff to use work arounds.

I’m having the exact same issue a few certain shows purchased on iTunes all of a sudden as of yesterday 2/10/23 give me the error “ an unexpected error has occurred “ and it won’t load I have watched these purchased shows em without issue in the past. I have tried 2 separate Apple TV devices with the same outcome. I tried watching the shows on my iPhone and they work just fine

Its great that we have all found a "workaround". Yet there is something wrong with the software in that it can access TV shows in one app, and not in the iTunes TV app. So, the creativity of the Apple Discussions group should not necessarily replace the need for Apple to address this issue. It is frustrating. Since the means of observing episode data between Apple TV and the iTunes TV app is very different. But it makes NO sense that accessing these shows should work in one app and not the other. Let's go Apple!!!

The creativity of the user community is not an excuse for letting this issue continue. It is definitely not an interference issue, and is unrelated to configuration as I have already gone through the relatively painful process of

restoring my Apple TV to factory defaults, and then returning it a working configuration in my home.

Yes… me too. I spent an hour on the phone with Apple Tech Support. They had no clue. I reset, logged out and back in, rebooted the router (the usual things when they have no idea).

The work around does it for me, so there’s that.

whew… I thought it was just me! All

of my Apple TVs are doing the same… The way around I found is to airplay from my iphone. Works well enough but NOT what I paid for!

Sadly for Apple, my Samsung TV has Apple TV app and it works perfectly. Now Apple knows they have an issue and a big problem when their competitors app works better than the OEM… I’m embarrassed for Apple