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User profile for user: ted2019
ted2019 Author
User level: Level 1
71 points

How to setup a brand new Apple TV (1st generation)

I actually spent some time and money to buy a brand new not opened ATV1. Yea the original one. Unlikely Apple supports it, I have no intention of jail breaking or hacking - it's a retro fun for me.


Is it possible to set this up? If so could someone point me w/ some instructions? Not sure what size I have think was 160GB so I had enough space for vids.


  • Model number: A1218
  • Year introduced: 2007
  • Color: Silver
  • Capacity: 40 or 160 GB
  • HDMI and component video (480p or 720p)
  • 10/100BASE-T Ethernet
  • Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n) 
  • Optical and RCA stereo audio
  • IR receiver
  • USB 2.0 (for service and support)

Apple Remote (white)



Apple TV (1st generation)

Posted on Jun 3, 2023 2:21 PM

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User profile for user: Urquhart1244
Urquhart1244
Community+ 2024
User level: Level 10
142,920 points

Posted on Jun 4, 2023 11:46 AM

If it is unopened, then you should probably keep it that way as an investment.

If you are going to open it, then there isn’t much you can do with it anymore.

  • It will not connect to the iTunes Store anymore. That was blocked in 2018, as a consequence of server updates, I think related to secure connections.
  • It will not sync (transfer) content through modern versions Mac/PC software. You will need the iTunes 12.6.2 application (2017) or earlier. Later versions blocked the 1st gen model.
  • It doesn’t have any third party apps. The only third party app it ever had was YouTube, and YouTube blocked that in 2015 server-side.
  • It never supported AirPlay.


That last version system software that was released for that model was version 3.0.2 per 2010-02-11. Later versions are not supported for this model. On-device updates may or may not work anymore, but if you can get your hands on a copy through a computer, then iTunes may be able to use that local copy for installing externally.


Best use for it is maybe transfer some 720p non-DRM video files, or non-DRM music files.

Apple TV (1st generation) technical specifications - Apple Support

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User profile for user: Urquhart1244
Urquhart1244
Community+ 2024
User level: Level 10
142,920 points

Jun 4, 2023 11:46 AM in response to ted2019

If it is unopened, then you should probably keep it that way as an investment.

If you are going to open it, then there isn’t much you can do with it anymore.

  • It will not connect to the iTunes Store anymore. That was blocked in 2018, as a consequence of server updates, I think related to secure connections.
  • It will not sync (transfer) content through modern versions Mac/PC software. You will need the iTunes 12.6.2 application (2017) or earlier. Later versions blocked the 1st gen model.
  • It doesn’t have any third party apps. The only third party app it ever had was YouTube, and YouTube blocked that in 2015 server-side.
  • It never supported AirPlay.


That last version system software that was released for that model was version 3.0.2 per 2010-02-11. Later versions are not supported for this model. On-device updates may or may not work anymore, but if you can get your hands on a copy through a computer, then iTunes may be able to use that local copy for installing externally.


Best use for it is maybe transfer some 720p non-DRM video files, or non-DRM music files.

Apple TV (1st generation) technical specifications - Apple Support

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How to setup a brand new Apple TV (1st generation)

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