Q: Apple TV Drops from Home Sharing

Ok, this is an encouraging test. After multiple upgrades, updates, network changes, all to no avail, this seems to narrow the problem.

I created a new user on my Mac and started iTunes from scratch. I loaded all my video, podcast and music (without moving or copying), enabled home sharing with the same AppleID i use on my main user at the mac.

Both ATV 3 immediately saw the new library, not a surprise so far. After two days, while both libraries (each belonging to a user in the mac) are seen, but my original one keeps the spinning wheel "loading XXX library", while the new one starts right away. So the problem disappeared using the same version of iTunes and a newly created library.

This would be great except I have several iPads, iPhones and the likes synched with my old library under my regular userid.

The problem seems to be in some corruption at the iTunes level, either the .plists or the library (a bunch of XML files) level.

I would like to know how can I recreate or cleanup this library, without loosing my podcast subscriptions, and my entries.

Maybe this can help point to a very upsetting problem. My old library suffered many iTunes updates and there might be the cause. It is very large library (more than 25,000 entries among all types of media).

Hope this helps...

I know what seems to temporarily fix this for us is quiting and relaunching iTunes.  Although I also don't think thi is a network issue, I just found out that another way to temporarily fix it is to turn WiFi off and back on instead of quitting iTunes.  That's just weird.  Why is it losing the Home Sharing connection.  How many more years until it's solved?  Just weird.

Same problem here. After a period of time Home Sharing just stops working. Turning it off and then back on again makes it work again for a few hours. The mac is left on 24/7 so the problem isn't connected with the computer going to sleep. A very frustrating bug that does seem to be affecting a large number of users...

Same problem. I have a macbook & imac hooked to ATV2. After few minutes homeshare from the imac drops. It worked fine until the OS update was done... Seriously frustrating as i am an avid Aplle supporter and now have to face my win colleagues  having jokes on me because of this one.

Can you copy items from your old library into the new library? This would give you a chance to test if it's one of the config files or maybe just the sheer size of the library.

I am having the same issue with my iMac 2008. I have an ATV 2nd and 3rd gen.

this is what i did. The new user created from scratch with empty library is working fine!!! no drops and always seen by both apple tvs. Reimported all my media, that is stored in an external disk (without copying), adjusted the settings and has been working for days with no problems.

The original user, i exported the library as playlist XML file. Deleted all .plist and library files. removed everything. Created a new library in iTunes and imported the playlist. All is working fine, but after like 2 hours of inactivity, both Apple TVs stop connecting to the old library, while they are perfectly happy with the other user library, of course in the same computer, same network setting, same stupid routers and all the mumbo-jambo that everybody tried endlessly. Sorry for the rant, but is so frustrating.

So either my original userid is haunted by some evil spirit, or there is some corruption somewhere between the Mac OS X Lion, iTunes and the network. I am tempted to reinstall iTunes, but see no point in doing so.

I just can't understand why Apple is taking soooo long to fix this or at least dedicate a guy to do some serious problem determination.

Hi Ryan

I'm experiencing the same problem as you with my ATV2 I have tried all the

usual tricks, it will not connect at all now, although Films, You Tube etc work

most frustrating

Regard

brianyates

Hi!

For me the solution for this problem was a Time Capsule. And a new network wifi with the Time Capsule. I think it is good with a AirPort extreme too.

Hi Ktophe

Thank you for your help,I have a Apple Time Capsule,not sure how to set up a new wifi

I struggled to set up the apple tv and Cie storage device, i may need to wait for Apple to

write a update I can download,I'm new to Aple and past my sell by date.

Regards Brian

Hi Brianyates

It's very simply to set up a new Network wifi with Time capsule. Your net box must be in "routeur" mode and Time capsule in "bridge" mode. You connect the Time capsule at your net box with ethernet câble. The Led on your Time capsule will be Green. After that, you can use the Aiport software on your Mac to set up the new Network wifi. It's very simply with the AirPort software. You just follow the instructions. It's very quickly too.

And the network wifi of the Time capsule is better than the Network wifi of the net box.

Excuse me for my english, i'm french! I hope that you understand :-)

Hello Ktophe

Trust your fit and well,I already have ethernet cable connected to my

time capsule to the Belkin router I will attempt to change using the Time Capsule

net work I asume the instrutions are on my Mac , its all new to me.

May I thank you for your help and support,and your English is very good

Regards

Brian

Hi Again

Have changed  as suggested still refuses to connect,however it' must be user error me ?

Brian

Hi brianyates

Thank you very much!

Does the Led of the Time capsule is green? If is green the internet connection is good.

For a good working the iMac and the Apple Tv must be the two in wifi connection

For me, i put the "routeur mode" on my freebox,  i connected the Time capsule to the freebox with a ethernet cable. The Led of the Time capsule was orange. And on my iMac i opened the AirPort application, it find the time capsule, i created a new network and follow the instruction. The Time capsule Led is green now.  After that you must change on the iMac and Apple Tv the wifi network to the new wifi network of the Time capsule, and entered the password that you have decided on the Time capsule configuration.

I hope that you helped

Hello Ktophe

Trust your well,always enjoy Fridays have the weekend off,I followed your instructions  but it still refuses

to link with ATV My T Capsule is first generation perhaps that might be the problem ? however many thanks for your time and help,we may be lucky and Apple bring out a fix,it appears there are a lot of

disappointed user's out there.have a nice week end

Best Wishes

Brian

Perhaps the apple tv 1 don't working like apple tv 3, i don't know

Have you try to listen music fron itunes on apple tv via airplay?