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Apple TV (4th Gen) won't play iTunes content from library

Is anyone else seeing this behavior? My new gen4 aTV won't play some movies from my library - it says "this content cannot be played because it's format is not compatible with this device", but it plays fine on my Mac and my gen III aTVs whether I stream it or airplay it. The gen IV won't even let me airplay it which seems really crazy. What's going on? Otherwise I'm loving this box, but this is insane.

Mac OS 9.2.x

Posted on Oct 30, 2015 4:20 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 2, 2017 3:32 PM

ghostgrafik wrote:

We may not be talking about the same function per the TV app in iOS. In the old Video app, it allowed you to connect to your iTunes library on a desktop/laptop and stream both ripped video files and video files purchased through iTunes. In the new TV app, it appears to only support streaming of iTunes purchases. Ripped files don't appear as playable unless you actually copy the file directly onto your iPad.

That's not what I'm finding. Here's a view of the TV app on my iPad. It shows the 2 computers (iTunes Libraries):

User uploaded file

If I then select one of the computers shown, I then see the recorded shows in that computer's iTunes Library:

User uploaded file

I have not copied these videos onto the iPad; they play (stream) from the computer.

144 replies

Nov 10, 2015 2:32 AM in response to Briansyddall

Thanks Brian for response but that not the issue lots of people are facing. Depending on the software used to rip stuff the new ATV won't play them. You have to convert them using H.264 (Handbrake for example) and they play fine. I have already re-done 1/4 of my library and they are ok. Quicker than re-ripping DVD's as its already converted them and on my Mac it was taking 4 mins per file.


Its stuff that was done using MPEG-4 that won't play for me and lots of people.

Apple TV (4th Gen) won't play iTunes content from library

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