Apple TV 4K video static/snow after app switch

When switching shows in many apps (google TV, prime, etc) i will lose the video. Audio remains but the video turns to snow or static. Often you can’t back out and power on / off is the answer. Tv 4K running 26.3

Apple TV 4K, tvOS 26

Posted on Mar 3, 2026 6:42 AM

Similar questions

Aerial screensavers only shows 5 then goes to black screen tvOS 18.6 Hello, has anyone else noticed this happening following the 18.6 software update? If so I’ll submit feedback. After updating Apple TV 4K 2nd Gen, the Aerial screensavers cycle through a few then go to black screen while music still plays. If I try swiping to find others it still stays black and can’t even return to the previous that did show. I only have a few now; golden jellyfish, Utah, downtown Dubai, Greenland ice fjord and an earth aurora Antarctica one, so these 5 and then it stops. Have selected “show during music & podcasts”. It’s set to download daily. Apple TV is not sleeping. Have restarted Apple TV and this does not resolve the issue. Double tapping the menu button to force them to get going again always starts on Utah. Any ideas on how I might fix this or do I need to do a complete Reset? I’m assuming the next update release won’t be until tvOS 26? Thanks
792 2
Appletv not responding to video control input once movie stream has started. Appletv not responding to video control input once movie stream has started. Firmware is latest version I can find and start a purchased movie (using either hardware or software 'remote') I can play and streaming starts BUT.. the TVApp does not then accept any control inputs - no pause/stop or ability to navigate. The menu for Input / Chapters / Start from Beginning remains on screen but can't navigate to it. The only working input is to hold/press the Menu to exit or to call up the 'tv' app switcher then close the AppleTV app. Rebooted and total power off/unplug, s/w update checked, remote battery checked - so I am fairly confident this is a bug relating to the new AppleTV app. Prime/Disney and other streaming services all running and responding fine. Ideas ??
298 2
Screen saver on ATV 4K goes black I have 4K ATV and all of a sudden, after the upgrade to tvOS 26, my screen saver stopped working. It has worked find for years, and all of a sudden, when the screen saver kicks in........I see the name of the first screen saver pop on the screen, but screen remains blank/black. Hitting any key returns to Apple TV home screen. Changing the start time of the screen saver for inactivity does not fix this. Rebooting the the Apple TV does not fix this. Turning the Apple TV screen saver off and then on again, does not fix this. If I start the screen saver manually I can see SOME of the screen savers, but some show up black. I have found MANY threads on this topic with no solution other than a full factory reset of the Apple TV. Anyone have an easier solution, to perhaps force the ATV to update its downloaded photos perhaps. This occurs with ATV OS 26 and now still there with 26.1. This is with the standard Aerial photos and as mentioned, some of photos seem fine when hit left or right arrows and started manually, but I have yet to see any recently using the screen saver timer. (I have also tried several different time periods, 5, 10, 15 minutes, etc.) (this seems to show me that the ATV is able to successfully show some pics with Dolby Vision in 4K, but for some reason, not others, and seemingly never when the screen saver works by turning on after inactivity) And please......no links on how to use and turn on a screen saver as I have seen in other threads with this same issue. I know how to turn on and use a screen saver. This is a bug or some sort of corruption of the screen saver data, and I hoping for a fix. Thank you in advance. (all other threads that I have seen for this seem to already be closed.) Judging from the other threads that I have seen, this similar issue has happened to many others.
1005 6

1 reply

Rudegar

Level 10

183,800 points

Mar 3, 2026 8:31 AM in response to Rick Moore1

are you sure you need to power it off?

if an app misbehaves for me then I can usually fix it by force-closing the app and then start it again

Force quit an app on Apple TV 4K - Apple Support

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Apple TV 4K video static/snow after app switch

Welcome to Apple Support Community

A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.

Learn more Sign up