Can’t log in on Old Apple TV?

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Level 1

9 points

Can’t log in on Old Apple TV?

This post is to help people login on old Apple TVs, since you can no longer manually generate a verification code on an iPhone or trusted device with two factor authentication turned on

Apple TV 4K, tvOS 18

Posted on Jan 3, 2025 11:40 AM

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Answer 1

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jhengstler Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 3, 2025 11:55 AM in response to jhengstler

Get old Apple TV to sign in (2024)

If 2 Factor Authentication is on for your Apple account, you can no longer manually generate verification codes to have in advance and add onto the end of your password for the old Apple TV sign-in—-so the process got a bit tricker…

Sign in on old Apple TV with current ID & password.
It generates a message on your iPhone (or other trusted device) to trust the new device (old Apple TV) sign-on. Select “Allow”.
A verification code will appear on your iPhone (or trusted device you’re using).
Quickly get back on the old Apple TV & get to the sign-in stage again. Begin sign-in process again on old Apple TV.
Quickly add that verification code from your iPhone/trusted device to the END of your normal password when signing -in on the old Apple TV.
In QUICK SUCCESSION, FIRST press “OK” on the iPhone/device & THEN “Submit” on the old Apple TV sign-in.

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Answer 2

Urquhart1244

Level 10

146,184 points

Jan 5, 2025 2:13 AM in response to iPreben

Where is it, I have to log in on the old Apple TV - is it below the iTunes or the the iCloud menu?

None of these work for me, and I only get a verification code sent, when trying to log in below the iCloud - not when I try to login below iTunes..

On the legacy models Apple TV (A1469, A1427, A1378), you can’t sign in for iCloud services anymore. It is not about the sign-in procedure, but about the iCloud service itself. iCloud has changed, but the old device system software hasn’t adapted to those changes. Also see: discussions.apple.com/thread/255664587

You can still sign in for the iTunes Store and use the remaining functionality on legacy devices.

If you have two-factor authentication for your Apple Account, then a verification code may be required. If you didn’t get one or want a new one, then you can request a fresh code on iPhone, iPad, or Mac, at any time. Newly send codes supersede any previous code. Get a verification code and sign in with two-factor authentication - Apple Support

If you have an Apple TV (2nd or 3rd generation) and two-factor authentication for your Apple Account, then you may be asked to type your password followed by the six-digit verification code directly into the password field. Additionally, there is a time limit, after which the code becomes invalid.

Try this: First enter the characters of your password (do not submit yet), then manually request a new verification code, then append that code to the password (no spaces or other separating characters), and then submit. That should help you get past the time limit (as that code sending resets the timer).

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Answer 3

jhengstler Author

Level 1

9 points

Jan 3, 2025 11:59 AM in response to jhengstler

I have seen a number of replies to questions about how to logon to old Apple TVs that relied on the previous ability to manually generate verification codes. In the past, you could temporarily turn off 2 factor authentication and get your trusted device (eg iPhone) to manually generate a verification code. Now once you have turned on

2 factor authentication (2FA) you can’t just toggle it off temporarily—and have to contact Apple. Turning off 2FA is a safety risk anyway—so likely a good thing in general, but it makes it a little tougher to login on your old Apple TV.

You still have to get Apple to send you a verification code for logging on to the old Apple TV—and it won’t send a code until you try to sign-on. With an old Apple TV, you will need that verification code to add to the end of your normal password before you can successfully sign in. It’s a bit of a loop, because you can’t get that verification code sent to your iPhone/trusted device until you attempt to login with your normal password on the old Apple TV. Once you have the code, you have to turn around to quickly log in on the old Apple TV putting the verification code at the end of your normal password & QUICKLY IN SUCCESSION—click OK on iPhone/trusted device FIRST & THEN “Submit” on old Apple TV . The timing and order matter. If you aren’t successful on the first attempt, try a time or two more.

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Answer 4

iPreben

Level 1

26 points

Jan 5, 2025 1:53 AM in response to jhengstler

Where is it, I have to log in on the old Apple TV - is it below the iTunes or the the iCloud menu?

None of these work for me, and I only get a verification code sent, when trying to log in below the iCloud - not when I try to login below iTunes..

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Can’t log in on Old Apple TV?

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