apple tv keeps dropping home sharing connection.

I just upgraded to the latest iTunes and ATV s/w and it is all working again.

With the last version I had to downdrade the ATV before it would even connect, and this version would not work with my downgraded ATV, forcing the upgrade of both.

Hi Colin,

I hope that works for you, my fear is that its the process of restarting iTunes that has cured the issue for now. I hope I am wrong at everything works as its supposed to for you.

Apple have asked me to try and restore the OS, I'll keep this media and apple updated on its success. Can't help but think its linked to how the two communicate with each other as previously stated in this discusion.

You might be right because I only ever run iTunes (on WinXP) when I want to use ATV to show pics from my PC library, or to sync my iPad.

However the failure mode was solid and invariable in both scenarios.

ATV immediately said home sharing was not enabled anywhere on the network.

Only the report page layout differed.

Well, I tried using the ATV downgraded version, and I still have the same **** problem (that the Apple Store 'genius' and other store employees were 'unaware of', despite the fact that the forum has been full of it for months). When I restart the ATV, I get the same helpful message to turn on home sharing on my computer. Is there some sequence that must be followed? Do I have to reboot my Win7 laptop? Do I have to restart my wireless router? I've tried those in the past with varied success. The router makes no sense because Netflix is always available on my ATV through all of this homesharing mess. Occasionally rebooting works, but mostly not. Anyone have any other bright ideas? I'm so ready to dump this **** device and switch to a PS3 or Xbox 360. All I want to do is stream movies from my 1TB drive on my office laptop and watch Neflix streams.

I think you may have missed the 'window', because if you have the latest iTunes you have to have the latest ATV s/w, and then after all this time IT WORKS.

Okay, I gave a try too. iTunes is at the lastest update. Restored the ATV. Turned off homesharing. Initialized the ATV. Connected it to my wireless router. but did not turn on homesharing. Went back to my laptop and turned on homesharing in iTunes. Returned to the ATV and turned on homesharing, whereupon I got the same useless and entirely frustrating message to turn on homesharing on my laptop....which was turned. Again, I was able to connect to Netflix without issue so my WIFI router was working fine. Deleted all temp download files that I could and am trying once again to restore the ATV. I have no faith that this will work any better.

My experience was exactly as you say when using updates between Oct-Dec.

iTunes and ATV from last summer worked together, as do issues this month.

It doesn't work at all. It's unforgiveable to sell a product that works marginally and not do a proper product recall or put forth a public apology or even acknowledge that there is a problem of Apple's creation. It reminds me of the Audi problems in the early 90s and the recent Toyota problems with unexplained accelleration. Blame the user. Deny there is an issue. Quietly replace the buggy software and make believe nothing ever happened. I've never been religious about Apple or Microsoft, but this experience has me completely turned off to Apple products. I'm considering getting rid of my iPhone as well and avoiding anything with Apple in its trademark. What a disaster.

I used to have this problem as well but after consulting with apple support I went to energy saving preferences and click on the never sleep tab and the problem is solved. I only do this when I am accessing my personal content such as movies and music channelled from my computer hard drive and to my apple tv device.

Hi guys,

I had these problems too. I think I found the solution. I have a iMac, ATV3, iPhone and iPad connected to internet via Huawei router. It caused me problems since last summer. I bought a 2TB Time Capsule and the problem is gone. What I did is the following:

1) switched off WiFi on my Huawei router

2) connected with cable the Huawei router and Time Capsule and disconected every other cable connection including printer, etc.

3) started using Time Capsule for back up via Time Machine + switched on WiFi on Time Capsule (the set up is easy)

4) conected every device via WiFi including my HP printer

Since that time everything works well. Problem solved!

J

when is apple going to fix this SERIOUS issue? iTunes on Windows keeps on dropping all Home Sharing even though I've restarted itunes, re-logged in home sharing and rebooted. This is a iTunes issues as my ios devices like my iphone and my kids ipod's can ALL see the 2 Apple TV's on my local network.

The ONLY way I can get it back going is DELETING my entire Windows profile and create a new profile. This leads me to believe there's some iTunes specific config files that are getting messed up somehow.

VERY frustrating!!!!! 😠

I had everything working fine with 2 Apple TVs hitting a share on an XP laptop running iTunes 10.6.3. Unfortunately my wife updated one of the ATVs last week and broke the sharing. Setting the ATV to never go to sleep seems to work for me - share has been up for 3 days with no issues. Also proved along the way that running the very latest version of iTunes on a Mac doesn't help - share still goes down once the ATV sleeps - glad to know the update plays poorly with iTunes on both platforms. Also, restarting iTunes and/or rebooting the machine running iTunes did nothing - only a reboot of the ATV works to get the share back up. Try setting the device to never sleep - you may get lucky.

Seriously Apple, 10 pages of posts here and 26 on another post about iTunes Sharing dropping with ATV. I'm currently on the latest versions of both iTunes and ATV and its been dropping daily since about iTunes 10.6 have you guys heard of testing your product before rolling it out. At least post a response saying your working on the problem. Google TV sounding better everyday.

Setting each of my Apple TVs to never sleep worked for me, mainly.

Funny, but when you go to Apple Support Community, you can't find this discussion...10 pages....and it's invisible in headline areas for Apple TV. In any case, I gave up. I bought a used PS3 slim console for $150, made a couple of configuration changes on my Win7 Laptop and Windows Media Server, configured the PS3, and I can watch my movies sitting on my 1TB drive downstairs over my wireless router. Didn't have to upgrade my G routert to N; didn't have to reinstall all software; didn't have connection drops going down more often than a $3 whore. About the only issue is my movies in MP4 format for iTunes now need conversion for some of them to MPEG-4 for the PS3. Some are okay, some not. No big deal....freeware "Any Video Converter 5" does the conversion and WinX DVD ripper will pull from DVD to any format. Anyone want to buy an Apple TV cheap? Did I just see that Apple stock lost 25% of it's ridiculous over-valuation? Anyone listening at Apple? Microsoft blew away IBM; arrogance and fatuity and Apple blew away Microsoft; now Apple is behaving in the same stupid way - don't they ever learn?