Need help getting Apple TV working on multiple computers

Question

radiochem Author

Level 1

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Need help getting Apple TV working on multiple computers

PLEASE HELP.

I'm trying to use home sharing between

1) my MacBook Pro and my Apple TV and

2) my wife's MacBook Air and my Apple TV.

Here's the scenario:

It works when I use my Apple ID on my MacBook Pro

It does not work when I use my Apple ID on my wife's MacBook Air

It does not work when I use my wife's Apple ID on my MacBook Pro

It does not work when I use my wife's Apple ID on her MacBook Air

Yes I'm making sure the correct Apple ID is logged in on the Apple TV.

I do not understand.

Apple TV

Posted on Feb 9, 2016 10:40 PM

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Answer 1

Feb 10, 2016 12:52 AM in response to radiochem

Welcome to the Apple Community.

You can't mix ID's for sharing, all ID's need to be the same when setting up homesharing on each device irrespective of which ID is being used for iTunes.

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Answer 2

Feb 10, 2016 4:11 AM in response to radiochem

Some helpful reading: http://help.apple.com/appletv/#/atvbc876df1e

Not sure exactly what content you are trying to share but would this work instead: http://help.apple.com/appletv/#/atvb0753b37d

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Answer 3

radiochem Author

Level 1

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Feb 10, 2016 11:19 AM in response to Winston Churchill

I am not trying to use the IDs simultaneously.

Here's what I'm doing:

1. I login with my Apple ID to the Apple TV.

2. I login with my Apple ID to my iTunes.

3. I am able to use my Apple TV to view content from my iTunes.

4. I logout of my iTunes.

5. I login to my wife's iTunes using my Apple ID.

6. I am UNABLE to view my wife's iTunes content on my Apple TV.

ALSO. When I try to use my wife's Apple ID on her iTunes with her Apple ID on the Apple TV, it does not work either.

Does this make sense?

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Answer 4

radiochem Author

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Feb 10, 2016 11:30 AM in response to Vinceassociate

I am able to use the Apple TV perfectly fine when my Apple ID is used for both my iTunes and the Apple TV.

Let me reiterate.

I AM NOT trying to do these things simultaneously. I logout of one and login to the other.

Here's the four scenarios:

My Apple ID logged in on Apple TV + my Apple ID logged in on my iTunes = Apple TV WORKS to view content from my iTunes

My Apple ID logged in on Apple TV + my Apple ID logged in on wife's iTunes = Apple TV DOES NOT WORK to view content from wife's iTunes

Wife's Apple ID logged in on Apple TV + wife's Apple ID logged in on my iTunes = Apple TV DOES NOT WORK to view content from my iTunes

Wife's Apple ID logged in on Apple TV + wife's Apple ID logged in on wife's iTunes = Apple TV DOES NOT WORK to view content from wife's iTunes

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Answer 5

Feb 11, 2016 2:14 AM in response to radiochem

Yes it makes sense, but you don't mention anything about home sharing, if you aren't setting up home sharing correctly it won't work. Perhaps you are setting it up correctly, but you aren't mentioning it.

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Answer 6

radiochem Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 11, 2016 9:32 AM in response to Winston Churchill

I think home sharing is set up correctly. If it wasn't, then it wouldn't work at all?

Do you have an answer to this problem I'm having?

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Answer 7

Feb 11, 2016 12:23 PM in response to radiochem

I tried this for you:

iMac with one Apple ID

Macbook Air with another independent Apple ID (my wife)

Same ATV4 and same wifi network.

With both machines running iTunes and each with Home sharing turned on, I was able to switch between computers on the ATV simply by changing the ID under settings, accounts, Home sharing. Nothing else was changed. On the ATV I remained logged into my iTunes and iCloud accounts under my ID.

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Answer 8

Feb 12, 2016 1:35 AM in response to radiochem

You shouldn't have to change any ID's anywhere to be able to switch the library you use from the computer app.

All you need to do is use the same ID everywhere for home sharing (on both computers and on the Apple TV) and it doesn't matter whether it is yours or hers, You do need to log into iTunes with your own ID's though.

Is this what you are doing.

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