There’s a problem connecting for playback
Why won’t any show play? It keeps saying there’s a problem connecting for playback.
G204X,
I just unplugged my Rokuand didn’t need to reinstall Apple TV app. It is currently working for now.
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jmarse1
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Community Specialist
Hi tralyn114,
We see you came from If your Apple TV can't connect to Wi-Fi. The message you're receiving could be caused by a myriad of different things. For a targeted answer, we'd need to know which specific apps or app this is happening in, and if you're having any other internet related issues on your Apple TV.
We'd also need to know the exact message it is displaying, word for word.
If you're referring to the Apple TV app specifically, the steps in If you can't watch or stream movies and TV shows in the Apple TV app - Apple Support should help.
"If the movie or TV show won't start playing
After each step, try to stream or download the movie or TV show again.
- Check the System Status page for service interruptions or check a third-party provider's website for any interruptions. If there are service interruptions, try to stream or watch the video later.
- If you're having trouble signing in with your Apple ID, you can reset your Apple ID password or learn how to get a verification code and sign in with two-factor authentication.
- If your cellular connection is poor, connect to Wi-Fi instead.*
- Try watching on a different device using the same Wi-Fi or cellular connection. If it doesn't work, contact your internet service provider to see if there's an issue with your network.
- If other people are using Apple TV+ or Apple TV channels, make sure it doesn't exceed the limits for streaming on multiple devices."
Cheers.
44 replies
disconnect the internet and sign back in
Unplugging the Roku stick might work. But what do you do if you have a Roku TV with a built-in stick? I dropped Apple TV after I tried and tried to fix it. It shouldn't be this hard.
go to apple tv settings and clear playback history
Still no answer, I have the same problem. I can play shows on my phone but not on my Roku TV. I have Internet connection the error message is " there's a problem connecting for playback. Try again later" what is the answer to fix the problem?
I get the exact same message. Every other app on my TV works and this just started happening on my 2018 Samsung TV. If plays the series recap but won’t start the new show. No other app on the TV won’t work. The answer given is poor- there can’t be other issues that are the same in all these households. Someone should respond with a real answer.
This is not just on Apple TV. It is also with the Apple TV app downloaded on my smart Tv. Everyone is getting the same messsge after trying to troubleshoot the issue: unable to connect, there's a problem connecting for playback. Try again later. How do we fix it?
the first message is “unable to play. There’s a problem playing this video. Try again or trouble shoot the issue. Then there is a button for each option - try again or start troubleshooting. Neither option is effective. The trouble shoot button results in the first message above.
all other TV apps are working fine. This is in the software because there is no Apple TV device involved. It’s running on a smart tv. It was working 2 days ago
If you don’t know the answer, please have the Apple app tv developers address the issue.
wifi works fine for everything else. The problem only exists in the Apple App. No alerts
The message I received says:
UNABLE TO CONNECT
there’s a problem connecting for playback. Try again later.
but this is happening for about 3 day already
Same! Please help!
This problem has been going on awhile and it looks like Apple doesn’t know why. Think I’m going to have to cancel. Too many other options to waste time on figuring this out!
Having the same issue. I signed out, but I was not able to sign back in. The screen just had a spinning dot but never stopped to allow me to sign back in. This is so frustrating.
I just discovered the "cannot connect" problem tonight in Music. It sees my library of Music but I can't stream anything else. Works on the phone and pad... just not ANY of my 4K Apple TVs in the house.
Me too! Reset everything. Tried removing and adding back Apple TV app. Cannot get to the sign in screen….just get the spinning wheel of death. Everything was fine a few days ago. Obviously this is an Apple problem with so many people experiencing the same issue. Help?
This is EXACTLY what happened to us. And I agree about the only answer given thus far. Made the mistake of logging out and now it won’t even open the screen to let me log back on. Come on, Apple! Do better.
I have a firestick and have been having the same issue for several days now - tried unplugging and replugging the firestick, signed out and back into the app - still having the same issue. I can get the shows on my iPad. It not on my tv - any suggestions other than canceling the service would be appreciated.
There’s a problem connecting for playback