Apple TV name followed by random number when using AirPlay

I've had the latest version on my Apple TV and the issue is still there. I have a feeling it may be a DHCP issue. I have them wired but they are also registered to the both my 5GHz network and 2.4GHz network and if they connect via WI-FI the MAC address is different so the DHCP See's the same name and different MAC so it adds the number. Why the number gets so high doesn't make sense but at this point I can really care less. I will reset all the Apple TV's in my house one at a time, release their DHCP and reconnect them via ethernet only (for the 2) and the other one will connect only to my 2.4GHz network and I will reply back here to share my findings. Also File Sharing is not the issue, I never keep file sharing on my mac, also I don't believe it has anything to do with the way files are shared to Apple TV. I will not be able to test until I get back next week so anyone else can feel free to try this (at your own risk). Please do not mess with your router settings if you are not familiar with it.

There is a solution: use fixed IP address for Apple TV, either by configuring the Apple TV to use static IP address or (preferably) by configuring your DHCP server (= router) to give fixed IP address based on Apple TV's MAC address.

Go to Settings, Airplay, Security, turn on Require Device Verification.

Leave the access control at None. Then Use the Airplay on one of the IOS or Mac devices. You will get a prompt for a 4 digit code so just enter it and enter the code that shows on the screen.

It only asks you to verify your device once. Each time after that it will remember it.

Now go to the Airplay screen again and select the Apple TV name.

I did this and both my Apple Tv's are functioning correctly.

I work in a few large institutions. In one case we have 30 Apple TV's connected on the same network. There have been a surprisingly low number of issues generally with these setups but there are a couple that are bugging me:

- Apple TV's renaming themselves. Usually just a cosmentic issues. It can sometimes result in users mirroring to a random ATV.

- Sound bug when mirroring from OSX10.9.x. Occasional bug which dissables audio being streamed but does not effect video. Rebooting the offending MacBook/iMac resolves this issue. We recently narrowed that bug down to CoreAudio by running a terminal command that restarts that service, also resolving the problem. (temporarily!)

As others have mentioned, I suspect the Apple TV renaming issue relates to the bonjour service catching sight of a device with a duplicate name. All of our Apple TV's are connected via Ethernet, so it's not a 2.4 vs 5Ghz issue. I'm about to test assigning static IP's to check if that resolves it.

Problems seem to have gotton worse with the latest ATV udpate (7.0 (6897.5))

I have the exact same issue, I have tried renaming it, and it's the same. Our setup is wired and there are 2 Apple TV's total in our home.

Also, we can not stream to them from our Macbook Pro's anymore, as there is no AirPlay icon in the top menu bar anymore... AND, if I open the Remote app on an iPhone, 3 AppleTV's show up with 3 different icons. Ultimate hotness.

Hoping Apple will exchange them since they are brand new and were broken with one "update".

Mine have static IP's through the router and this issue came about despite this previously being implemented.

Thanks. I've set a few with static IP's so i'll be able to confirm it's not the issue shortly...

Go to Settings, Airplay, Security, turn on Require Device Verification.

Leave the access control at None. Then Use the Airplay on one of the IOS or Mac devices. You will get a prompt for a 4 digit code so just enter it and enter the code that shows on the screen.

It only asks you to verify you device once. Each time after that it will remember it.

Now go to the Airplay screen again and select the Apple TV Name.

I did this and both my Apple Tv's are functioning correctly.

I was having the same issue and all I did was this. Its been working great since then so now airplay functions properly. Naming is as it should be and I am running two apple tv's off a Airport extreme (newer).

I had the exact same problem. 3 ATVs and all wireless. Only one like to assign random numbers, the other two remained the same even after switching routers. I tried nearly everything in this post, all to no avail. I want to be clear, this did not affect the ATV's functionality, it's just that my OCD hated the (2) after the name. Not very asthetically pleasing. So, I searched elsewhere and found this. It was so simple, I thought there was no way it would work. Guess what? It totally worked. Took two seconds, too!

My Apple TV has this too, but my MacBook Pro won't connect to it. I thought there was something wrong with the computer, but I just tried selecting a different Apple TV and it connected. Not really sure what's causing this.

Unfortunately the rename/reboot solution didn't work for me. I still do have this silly number behind of my ATVs name.

Does anyone where this number comes from? Is it ATV which broadcasts this number or does the device (such as iPhone or Mac) attach this number?

Today I figured out, connecting to an ATV over peer-to-peer (new iOS feature) and the ATV also showed up with a number. Therefor I suggest it is not a network issue causing the ATV name to count up.

I have this same problem. Apple TV (2) keeps appearing.

Let's hope Apple fix this soon in an update.

I too had this problem after resetting my 4 Apple TVs to factory defaults and reloading the software to troubleshoot an Airplay problem I've been having since upgrading to iOS 8.1. After trying most of the suggestions on this thread and still having a (2) after the name I found the silver bullet that fixed the problem for me. Rename each unit putting a space after the name, then reboot. Problem solved and my OCD laden brain can now have a rest!

Thats it, so quite simple! Thank you! A simple space at the end of the ATVs name erases the annoying number! 🙂