Apple TV Gen 4 - A1625 - Preset on ethernet

Check the ethernet port on the Apple TV, there may be something in there causing a short that makes the Apple TV believe there's an ethernet cable plugged in and it self assigns an address.

hcsitas wrote:

Wrong on both counts, however can we agree on this? A1625 was introduced in 2015. Are you able to stream a non-Apple streaming service? Netflix for example.

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/c8510765-6c75-4430-827a-6a365758c6cb

Yes. I can Stream all current services including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Paramount+, Max and Disney+ on my Apple TV HD running tvOS 18. It is still working fine and is supported by Apple.

And as was reported by the OP, the device works fine after cleaning the port.

So if an update bricks the box, Apple Store won't touch it, won't service it. Hmm, let me think about that :

Wrong. They won't offer hardware repairs or replacements, but being bricked by a software update is not that.

I'm fairly certain an Apple Store would be happy to help you restore the device if a software update caused some issue if necessary.

Specially considering the HD Apple TV is the last version to still be able to be restored by connecting it to a computer with iTunes or Finder.

Reset Apple TV - Apple Support

Please also restart the router and/​or Wi-Fi access point and/​or other optional network gear, so that Apple TV can try to connect freshly. The router may be denying an IP address to this device.

169.254.x.x IP addresses are self-assigned and not connectable to IPs outside that range. Instead, it should be getting an IP address from the DHCP ‘server’ on the router, in the 192.168.x.x (most often) or 172.x.x.x or 10.x.x.x blocks [3]; from the same block as the router’s LAN IP address.

Only very old obsolete Apple TVs are useless. The Apple TV HD, is still works fine and can access all Apple services including the Apple TV App and the Apple TV+ subscription.

In fact its still being supported with the newest tvOS 18.3 update.

The OP suggests they have updated to TVOs 18 so it is updated and as such can still access services at this point.

The issue seems to be a hardware one in the port and nothing else.

They could always take it into an Apple Store to be looked at.

Trashing it at this point seems wholly unnecessary.

Thanks for the chuckle! Your high opinion of Apple Support isn’t widely shared tvOS 14 Bricked my Apple TV HD - Apple Community

I like to roll the dice too but not on something that costs less than $200. SO, my advice remains unchanged: the box is obsolete: replace ASAP, or roll the dice and be forced to one day (but disable auto updates to postpone it for as long as possible) 🥂

It’s officially obsolete and probably disabled for networking by Apple. Replace with new.

Yes they can if upgraded - from personal experience. Also obsolete Apple TVs are essentially useless except for AirPlay - App support is dwindling to zero. Replacement is the only option.

Wrong on both counts, however can we agree on this? A1625 was introduced in 2015. Are you able to stream a non-Apple streaming service? Netflix for example.

hcsitas wrote:

It’s officially obsolete and probably disabled for networking by Apple. Replace with new.

Apple can't do that remotely. And it would not simply default to ethernet even if that was the case.

No need to replace it if something can still work. I own an HD Apple TV and it still works fine.

We’ll see. At least their disabling is creative, this one went after Ethernet as opposed to WiFi. With WiFi, people have pulled hair out re-typing the access password 😁 - use Search to see the posts.

Your HD low mileage i.e. limited exclusively to Apple services, will soon drop to zero. Be sure to disable auto-updates to extend its handicapped life as long as possible…have a nice day!

hcsitas wrote:

Great, thanks for updating. I’m happy to know there’s some use for the Apple Pencil 😁

I would disable auto updates to extend service.

I would not. That would do the opposite. Always keep devices updated to extend their life.

Again, Apple cannot and will not remotely disable a device.

That is about hardware servicing. If you bring it in to an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider, then they’ll tell you that they can’t service this model. They probably won’t even touch it, to prevent accusations that the staff broke it.

But as long as Apple says that new version tvOS will run on it, then by all means take the improvements and install. It is meant to run on it, or else Apple would have it return “no updates available”. That would be bad for apps as well, as always some ‘critical’ app will need the latest version tvOS to run (like Netflix with tvOS 17 in 2023).