Apple TV asks for my iTunes password to play purchased movies or music

I also have separate iTunes and iCloud ids. Also, I signed up for my iTunes ID back when it you could use just a "handle" -- not an iCloud/Mac/Me email address. Not sure if having such an old id is part of the problem.

My iTunes and iCloud accounts match and I have the problem.

I hope they fix this before my kids buy something stupidly expensive on my unrestricted Apple TV.

I have had the same issue. I found that I could enable most of the restrictions without causing the issue to appear, but as soon as I enabled the restrictions on the age rating for apps, then it would immediately start asking for the iTunes password when I tried to view or listen to purchased content. Only doing a "rest all settings" clears the problem. I have successfully enabled restrictions on explicit music, movie ratings, tv show ratings, purchases and in-app purchases. Until a fix is released, just avoid setting any restriction on opening apps.

Hi,Thank You! This hjelp me.

Already posted on another shorter thread. Adding my voice to this one.

FiX THIS!!!!!!

I'm also having this problem. Specifically every song from my library I try to play requires a type in my entire Apple password. This problem first appeared several days after owning the product after I enabled restrictions. Removing the restrictions does not eliminate the problem.

If I were to rate this product within the first couple days I would've said it was one of the best gadgets I've owned in many years.

As of now, this product is essentially unusable. I am amazed there is no official response to this.

Same issue and clearly a case of not functioning as designed. I setup the restriction because I didn't want to get an iTunes prompt each time I went to purchase an app or media. This never worked. Now I went to play my own purchases on a device where I am listed as the account owner, and boom password popup each time.

Restoring the box to factory but poor execution here Apple.

I've had success with Gabe H's approach:

* Restored the Apple TV

* Enabled restrictions, but ONLY set the iTunes Store "Purchases and Rentals" to "restrict" (purchases and rentals will require a passcode).

I did not enable any other restrictions. From Gabe H's research, it appears that the only setting that you NEED to avoid setting is the age rating for apps, which will make the Apple TV start requiring an iTunes password every time you try to play purchased content.

So now the Apple TV is safe to use in a household with kids -- they can't purchase content or (more importantly and potentially costly) can't purchase in-app coins and crud. However, they CAN play purchased movies!

Thanks Gabe! (And Apple -- please fix!)

Same issue here, clearly a bug. Incredibly annoying. Please Fix soon.

This is so frustrating to those of us used to a product that allowed us to password protect certain apps/content from our kids. Apple password everytime I want to watch a movie that I already paid for? The new unit is going back! Why would I want less control all the sudden. Also if I want to watch a movie that we already purchased, why the password if it falls into the settings I established for my kids. And if I select a movie thats already purchased- Take me right to that movie, not a screen that asks if I want to play it or add it to my wish list? I already bought it! This was never broke. Way to mess up a good product!

WE had to stop upgrading OSX on our laptops about a year and a half ago because parental controls started having lots of problems too.

I guess they are on the bottom of the list for QA.

I spoke with Apple support about this. It is a known bug with restrictions on tvOS. The only fix is to restore the device and not enable restrictions. No ETA on a fix.

It looks like yesterdays (Dec 8) tvOS update may have fixed it. At least, I upgraded, and then watched a few different shows w/out having to enter my password.

Haven't tried music yet, but it looks promising.

I just set up my new ATV4 a few days ago and this just happened to me...I reset all settings and am in the process of entering everything in again. Seems to be working again ok. So...am I missing an update or did the December update not fix it?