What is the maximum number of Apple TVs (3rd gen) you can connect to 1 Mac running iTunes?

Hi Winston Chruchill,

I have the problem to get a connection to iTunes after 5 ATVs. I have done a test in my lab with the following devices

• 16 Port Gigabit Switch
• 7 ATVs 3rd gen and latest Software
• all devices are connected direct with an ethernet cable to the switch
• IP-Adresses are fixed configured
• each ATV has a unique name
• latest iTunes Version on a MacPro 2008
• latest iTunes Version on a MBP 2013
• iMac 5K
• one connection a Business Internet Access with 75mb/s down and 10mb/s up

Summery

• It doesn't matter which Mac I use, the problem is excactly the same
• the first 5 ATVs can connect to iTunes (it doesn't matter to which mac)
• the sixth get the error message, that the it cannot connect to the "Computer"

Does anyone have an idea if this restriction is only a value in plist file or somewhere else?

Regards Thomas

So, I just spoke with an Apple rep. I had the same question. I have 4 Apple TVs, 2 iPads, 2 iPhones. Would like to use homeshare on all devices at the same time. He informed me that the limit is 3 devices at a time on homeshare. I am constantly logging out of iTunes and back in to reset. He did say there is a third-party device/program that does allow for more devices to share iTunes content, but would not give me any more information. I found this article while searching for help. Hope this helps.

Apple TV is by it self in a category.

With Apple TV 1 the limit was 5 Apple clearly stated that. The reason? Probably because the Apple TV 1 had a hard drive and was able to store content locally (quite a bit actually). This would make it more in line with authorized devices.

You authorized device limit is 5 but this does not pertain to home sharing again something different.

When you play content from an Apple TV you are streaming from an authorized device and as long as you have the same iTunes account on that Apple TV as the iTunes you are connecting to you will be ok.

Now to the error. I have also had this error and I had it on a network with only 1 Apple TV connected and it is since iTunes 11. It seems every time Apple updates iTunes it has a bad effect on Apple TV. So I would not relate this error to the number of Apple TV's you have, every time I get this error I restart the Apple TV and its fine again.

On a side not I used to run MANY Apple TV's off my xserver. I had my families homes networked with VPN. I would prefer to not say how many but it was quite a few. biggest problem there was multicast over VPN....whole other story.

I have found the max # of devices I can have watching movies that I have downloaded to my iTunes is 3. I am able to have all devices watching movies purchased through iTunes, but from home share it is 3. If you know of a way to have more than 3 using home share, please let me know.

You can have up to 10 associated devices. You can look in your iTunes account details via iTunes to see how many associations you have used.

Apple clearly states that up to 10 devices can use homesharing and that 5 Apple TV1's only can be used, so it's not the case that limitations are not advertised anywhere.

The only trouble I've ever had in over 7 years of using and experimenting with the Apple TV is about once every 4-6 months with the Apple TV1, in which case it's easily fixed by going to add another library (a passcode is then generated) and then cancel, no need for any restarts, restores or the like. With the later models, the only issues I've had connecting are when I've deliberately created interference on the network, other than that I've had no connection issues.

I think your issue is likely network related, which of course is for you to fix and not Apple.

Mmmm.

Just to correct that which I posted above. The associated devices are associated with homesharing not the account and therefore aren't what is shown in the associated devices in the iTunes account info.

I am aware that you can only home share to 5 computers and while I'm not entirely sure it's 10 other devices, I'm less convinced its 5, since I have more, however I'm not sure we don't have more than 10. I have 5 Apple TV's (g2 and g3), 3 iPads and my phone, but I think others in the house have homesharing set up on their devices, but it's too late to check right now.

I thought it was still 5 for ATV2 and 3, based on some threads in the last 18 months or so, but Apple should really be the official source for this info.

AC

Somebody did. Apple did. They put limitations on things like this and NEVER MENTION IT ANYWHERE. I have 8 ATVs and now I know why they nearly drive me insane with constant Cannot not connect messages. All because loser iTunes cannot service more than 5? And Apple wants people to build an ecosystem around their crap?

Frankly, I do not care whether or not it is true. I have CONTINUAL problems with connecting to itunes from my ATVs. I literally have to sit there on my laptop with remote access to my mac mini and close and restart itunes probably 8-10 times just to get it to finally connect and then if I go to another ATV, it does the same thing. This goes on and on version after version of ATV and iTunes upgrades and APPLE STILL WILL NOT FIX THIS

Authorization per device is for the iTunes and app store access via the device for things like apps and etc. It is not supposed to be for devices such as ATV and no such limitation is advertised ANYWHERE. Also, the local content on each ATV should not have anything whatsoever to do with limiting the number of connections in a centrally-shared iTunes "server". It is a streaming server. So what. If Apple cannot correctly do something as simple as a streaming server then perhaps they should find something else to do.

Rebooting each ATV every time this occurs does not really align with "it just works", now does it. Fact: Apple screwed this up and refuses to fix it. Perhaps they should TEST this crap before they ship it and ADVERTISE these LIMITATIONS. Five ATV devices?? REALLY?

Oh.....in addition to the ATVs that I have on this iTunes, I also have 2 iPhones and 2 iPads. So much for the "5-device" myth that is going around. Again, I don't care WHAT the limitation is. What I care about is WHY THE LIMITATION IS EVEN THERE.

FIX THIS CRAPPLE!!!

Network related. The cop out of every Apple network problem. Well, it is NOT network related. I have both wired and wifi ATVs in the home. I have two dozen other computers and other devices using this network with no issues. This has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with "network issues". It has to do with poor Apple product software development.

Apple does not "clearly state" anything of the sort. If it were so "clearly" stated, then why this thread in the first place? Perhaps it would be good to read the title of this thread. ATV "manual" - no mention. iTunes manual - none to be found. Oh yes....it is CLEARLY "stated". WHERE?