HT205358: Set up your Apple TV (4th generation)

Learn about Set up your Apple TV (4th generation)
Wyked Angel
Level 1 (4 points)
Apple TV

Q: Beginning to think I've been lied to  

So I'm in a bit of a financial bond right now and had to temporarily drop a few things until I get back on my feet again. Two of these things were my cable TV and wifi internet. I figured I have my iPhone 6+, I have Sprints crappy network; if needing extra entertainment is fire up Netflix or Amazon Video apps. Well that works just fine. But it's a bit*h on the eyes to watch movies on phone screen. Since many, many, many people have successfully mirrored their phones screen on to their tvs, it would be a dream for me! First I was told I needed to get some Lighting ATV cable to hook from my phone to my 46" Sanyo HDTV. But was also told the same can be done using AppleTV. I figured since I will be back on feet again financially soon, the AppleTV would be more practical. So I have the 4th generation AppleTV and an iPhone 6+ running on OS 9.2. Plugged up AppleTV to the wall and to my tv's HDMI, select my language, made sure the remote paired up properl, and then got to the frustrating part (See picture)

image.jpg

  • Yes. My iOS Device (in this case my iPhone 6+) is unlocked
  • Yes. My Bluetooth is Enabled and working
  • Yes. AppleTV detects my iPhone 6+ (...that is quickly the first time, the second time it took a couple minutes. Now it won't detect. Smh)

 

But when it DID detect my iPhone 6+, a pop up came on my phone saying I need to be connected to a wifi network. Huh? Are kidding me?! The goofy sales guy at Best Buy said I don't need wifi - it's needed for most of the features but not for mirroring. Not only that all evening I've been reading AppleTV can be connect without Internet. Well, if that is so I CANNOT get past this part setup.

 

All I wanna do is just mirror my phones screen on to my tv, right now I don't care about all that other stuff. Oh and yeah btw, AirPlay has magically disappeared from my phone. But that's another subject for another "Please Help Me" forum. 

Posted on Apr 14, 2016 11:28 PM

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Wyked Angel

Q: Beginning to think I've been lied to  

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  • by ckuan,

    ckuan ckuan Apr 14, 2016 11:36 PM in response to Wyked Angel
    Level 7 (33,190 points)
    Apr 14, 2016 11:36 PM in response to Wyked Angel

    Yes you'll need Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection to your router.

    Read here for steps on how to setup TV

    http://help.apple.com/appletv/#/atvb73e46488

     

    Use AirPlay to view the screen of your Mac or iOS device directly on Apple TV and share it with other people in the room.

    In order to share the screen in this way, both Apple TV and the shared device may need to be connected to the same network. For more about peer-to-peer sharing, see Apple Support.

    To display AirPlay connection instructions on Apple TV, see Use Apple TV as a conference room display.

    View an iOS device on Apple TV. On the iOS device, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open Control Center. Tap AirPlay AirPlay icon, then select Apple TV in the list of AirPlay devices.

  • by Vinceassociate,

    Vinceassociate Vinceassociate Apr 15, 2016 4:36 AM in response to Wyked Angel
    Level 4 (1,738 points)
    Apr 15, 2016 4:36 AM in response to Wyked Angel

    Making hard choices is the most valuable lesson in life.  It's no fun but you become much wiser.  Also that saying "it's complicated" really has some ironic meaning.

    Bottom line is take back the ATV and buy the lightning to HDMI adapter and HDMI cable and you will get the functionality you want.

    http://www.apple.com/shop/product/MD826AM/A/lightning-digital-av-adapter

    Why:

    Using your iPhones internet connection to run an ATV would require you have the hotspot feature turned on for your phone which usually cost extra every month.  This allows the iPhone to access its wireless network while at the same time create a WiFi network that devices such at the ATV could connect to.  To mirror the screen wirelessly the phone and ATV both need to be connected to a wireless or wired network.  The phone cannot do this while accessing its internet connection without hotspot turned on.

  • by Diana.McCall,

    Diana.McCall Diana.McCall Apr 15, 2016 4:31 AM in response to Wyked Angel
    Level 4 (2,900 points)
    Apple TV
    Apr 15, 2016 4:31 AM in response to Wyked Angel

    Hmmm... You would like to use your mobile service for internet connection, and AirPlay to mirror the iPhone screen on TV. Bad news here, I'm afraid. AirPlay, including mirroring, from iPhone to ATV requires that they both be on the same wifi network. It will not work over bluetooth, which is the only other possible way they could communicate. Note that an internet connection may not be required, just a wifi network. But you may not be able to complete ATV setup without internet, since ATV is meant to be an internet device. Does your phone service include wifi hotspot capability?; that would be ideal. Otherwise, you might be able to setup ATV on someone else's network, then bring it home and change the wifi. You'd still need a wifi router to provide a local network, since wifi devices cannot communicate directly.

  • by Diana.McCall,

    Diana.McCall Diana.McCall Apr 15, 2016 4:51 AM in response to Vinceassociate
    Level 4 (2,900 points)
    Apple TV
    Apr 15, 2016 4:51 AM in response to Vinceassociate

    I must agree strongly with Vinceassociate. If your phone can send HDMI over a cable, that should work great. A little unhandy, but workable. Just to clarify further, you may have read that "peer-to-peer" AirPlay doesn't require both devices to be on the same wifi network but it does require them to both be on wifi (Use AirPlay to wirelessly stream content from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support). It just uses bluetooth to extend the discovery process.