Apple TV can't load iTunes library that has gone to sleep

Has anyone had this configuration work properly? If so, under what software version(s)? I would be happy to install older software and/or OS as I only use this to run iTunes for ATV.

Same issue here.....bought a new AEBS to replace older unit that was unable to wake iTunes from sleep. Very disappointed to find out it still doesn't work. Home sharing and wake on network access is turned on. In all I am very disappointed with the ATV3!!!!!!!! The only reason I have it is to access the computer so ths kids can watch their movies. I don't need all the other stuff (aps) because the TV already has it (Netflix, vodu, radio, etc.).

Apps better be working an a fix.....I spent $200 needlessly.

I've been having the same issue and just to add something into the mix - it's not an ATV - iTunes issue. I have the same issue accessing my shared library over iOS devices - both iPhone and iPad latest models. fix is the same just quit iTunes and relaunch. The issue is in iTunes around either wake on lan access or home sharing wake up.

It's very likely iTunes because a restart of iTunes "fixes" the issue and ATVs and other devices cannot connect to it even if you wake your Mac before trying to connect. I don't know if someone out there has the resources to revert back version by version until they find the iTunes version that works. I know that I do not. It would be interesting to see if other similar applications like iTunes experience the same thing though, if so then it may be an OS issue.

now we are on to something, it must be iTunes, I allready said this but this is really been a pain, hopefully Apple is aware of this issue

I store my itunes library on a Promise Pegasus storage system

My iTunes library is on an external drive... do you think it has something to do with the HD going to sleep?

I've got a mixed solution - iMac with a USB 2 connected external drive with Movies and Tv Shows stored on it. My iTunes library is local with Apps, Music and Books stored locally.

My library is on the local mac with all media on a Synology NAS that is connected via gigabit. Again, this has been bullet proof for close to 4 years even with the addition of my ATV2 and then ATV3 via home sharing. I alwasy do upgrades whenever they are called for so not sure when this first started, but since my 1st gen ATV's are also effected and they have not received a software upgrade in over 18 months (maybe longer) this has to be something in one of the iTunes upgrades. I might try time capsule and see about going back a few versions of itunes. Anyone saying this is because of an ATV2/3 upgrade I suppose could be therotically correct, but if the ATV1 is also dropping and needing to be restarted, iTunes is at least in discussion of being the main culprit.

I think this issue, where ATV sees the library but cannot make the connection most likely involves a combination of the ATV update, iTunes AND Macs running Lion. I have an ATV 3. I have 3 external Hard Drives, all of which run the most recent version of Lion (10.7.4). However, I decided to keep the internal Hard Drive on the Mac running Snow Leopard (10.6.8). The connection issue manifests itself whenever I'm running a drive with Lion. However, if I boot from the internal with Snow Leopard, everything runs as it should.

I have all the energy saver preferences set to never engage on all the bootable drives. Except for the Snow Leopard installation, everything thing else is consistent: same version of iTunes; same ATV; same network configuration.

Having said all this, I'm left with the conclusion that something in Lion's interaction with iTunes Home Sharing feature is the instigating variable.

Same exact issue, I have 2 ATV 2 and one ATV 3, I havent had a problem for nearly a year, my old Power Mac G5 has been running strong and never had an issue. I just did the most recent iTunes updates 3 days ago, along with the updates on my Apple TV's and ever since then it has been a nightmare. I did all the updates at the same time so I wasn't sure which one caused it but it seems to be the iTunes is the culprit.

I don't think it is an energy saver thing, I set everything to always on etc and it still gets stuck at the Loading screen. It sees both my MAC and my PC that have shared librarys, but it gets stuck on both so I don't know if it is a MAC only thing or what. Subscribing to this post for a fix, we use our ATV's everyday!

I have the same issue. I have an ATV 3, Intel iMac (2009), latest versions of all software and firmware, and my library is mixed: music on the local drive, movies and TV shows on an external Firewire 800 drive. All connections are via Ethernet. I do not allow the Mac to sleep, but I do allow the screen to sleep.

Just chiming in with "me too."

Didn't have problem with ATV2. Upgraded to ATV3 about three weeks ago which also coincided with an iTunes update and it hasn't been the same sense. I'm running it all on a wired LAN with iTunes on an iMac and my library residing in its default space on my internal HDD. It never sleeps.

My problem is solved! ATV sleep settings changed to 'never'. Done.

To recap my configuration: ATV3 in living room plugged in by Ethernet to AEBS. Mac Mini running iTunes with all media stored on external drive, mini also plugged in to AEBS. ATV2 in bedroom plugged into powerline. Mini set to wake on LAN, but currently set to never sleep (I will try to let it sleep next and see if this brings the problem back or not). I only set one of the ATVs to never sleep, this seems to keep the iTunes connection alive and allows for the other ATV to have access at any time after it wakes. Been running strong without a break in the connection for three days now.

As a side note, I had begun troubleshooting with apple on this problem. I went ahead and purchased apple care for $30 on the ATV3 to access phone support. I ended up finding the 'never sleep' solution on my own, but they were very helpful and expressed interest in this problem. If my solution doesn't work for you then it may be worth the $30 to get the tech guys involved. Good luck, hope that's helpful.