Level 1

19 points

AppleTV3 stuck in ethernet - no cable connected

Ever since I replaced my household router with a new D-Link 655, the AppleTV's (I have more than one) have had a really hard time.

They can the server, then they don't... they can make changes like "Show as watched" but can't start video streaming... I can't start a show from the AppleTV but can 'push' it to that unit from the server iTunes... Meanwhile the unit surfs the internet just fine. And all other network services are fine including things like wi-fi streaming from a laptop to my network enabled bluray player. All of that I can half blame on the router doing weird stuff.

What I can't blame on the router is...

As part of my diagnosis of the problems I tried putting the living room apple tv 3 on ethernet to see if it the above problems got better. Nope.

So I put it backin the living room, meaning its on wi-fi again... Only it won't flip back to wi-fi. It still thinks its on ethernet even though there is no Cat6 plugged into it. No amount of restart or resetting will get it to change to wifi.

Is there some way to force it back to wi-fi? Leaving it unplugged from power for 2 weeks didn't reset it.

Posted on Sep 8, 2013 6:51 AM

29 replies

øivind

Level 1

13 points

Aug 21, 2014 4:27 AM in response to øivind

The service shop now confirmed it´s a hardware failure. They´re going to change the part that´s not working.

Wish I had sendt it in earlier. :/ Oh well. At least I´m going to have a working Apple TV again soon.

Sep 25, 2014 11:35 AM in response to øivind

I thought I found the solution, alas, that solution :

Ethernet cable in + restart = switch network mode.

Ethernet cable out + restart = switch mode again.

does not work for me :-(

I do have the exact same problem and gone through all similar steps.

Anyone with other ideas?

Jan 19, 2016 7:24 AM in response to jminhudson

this works for me following:

1. insert live working ethernet cable (so that you can obtain IP address), boot it up

2. go to settings and it might be switched to wifi, connect to wifi

3. do some testing traffic (i.e. youtube video)

4. pull ethernet cable out

5. DON'T go to the network settings, otherwise it will return to ethernet mode

6. set sleep timer to infinity, otherwise step 5 will occur.

barstard

Level 1

4 points

Aug 22, 2016 1:39 AM in response to øivind

Great work. Helped me get to this state:

The only way I can get to the wireless mode from the persistently not working ethernet mode is to have the ethernet cable IN and restart.

Any other restart, including when WiFi is working, ethernet cable in or not, causes the unit to go back to ethernet.

So basically, never restart it once it's working...

Absolutely nothing, though, gets the ethernet to work. All cables and other devices working beautifully when run through the same port.

Interestingly, if I connect ethernet to the MacBookPro via thunderbolt adapter, it also doesn't work. Self-assigned IP again. So obviously, the ethernet part is cactus, but it still effects the state of the modes...

Jan 19, 2017 5:18 PM in response to tlhintoq

this solution works. Couldn't get my apple tv to see my wifi. Plug ethernet cable into Apple TV only not into your router. Go to settings/general/restart. After restart unplug cable and repeat restart. Go to setting/general/network and you can select a wireless network.

THanks you're a life saver!

diesel vdub

Level 7

22,184 points

Sep 8, 2013 10:12 AM in response to tlhintoq

Restore the device via iTunes.

øivind

Level 1

13 points

Jul 13, 2014 4:49 AM in response to Rudy386

Hey.

Still nothing?

I am also stuck on "Ethernet" no matter what.

Rudegar

Level 10

180,858 points

Jul 13, 2014 10:03 AM in response to øivind

could be dirt in the ethernet port or could be a broken detector in the port

Alley_Cat

Level 7

20,560 points

Jul 26, 2014 3:50 AM in response to øivind

Personally I think this is a hardware fault and you've just stumbled on a workaround.

If still under warranty I'd get the unit replaced by Apple.

Dec 9, 2014 6:50 AM in response to øivind

Thank you so much for this "Find" to bad Apple could not let us know this ! It worked immediately after spending several hours doing restore after restore.

Jul 29, 2015 3:36 PM in response to jminhudson

Can you explain exactly what steps you're taking here?

I have the same issue and despite a restore it still is stuck in Ethernet mode and won't talk on my network at all.

rebitte

Level 1

0 points

Sep 26, 2015 7:19 PM in response to øivind

Its really works. Thank you so much!!!!!!

rebitte

Level 1

0 points

Sep 27, 2015 6:49 AM in response to rebitte

After shutdown and restart, stop working.

I cant do this works again.

Alvanita

Level 1

12 points

Jan 20, 2017 10:13 AM in response to Rudy386

tap how??

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AppleTV3 stuck in ethernet - no cable connected