appleTV keeps asking for appleID, password and authentication code circularly

Apparently the new Apple TVs will work as expected. The older ones are not designed for two-factor; but Apple should fix this via a software update (will they?).... but the work-around works.

Do not turn two-factor off because of this, just go to your iphone and get a fresh code after you type-in the password on the Apple TV and before you append two-factor code. Do this by....

(On iphone or ipad)

• going to settings, iCloud
• click on your iCloud ID at top of screen
• click on "Password & Security"
• click on "Get Verification code"

... then just type that code in the password field after your ATV password.

It works, I've done it on three older Apple TVs.

The method described multiple times on previous pages in this thread does work - but it is a PITA. If you do have a reasonable password, and have to use the little remote that came with your apple TV - you aren't going to get it in in time. Period.

I have a 22 character camelCase + specials password. Normally entered via an application, which, of course, does not run on the second or third gen Apple TV (I have one of each). Trying to flip between multiple keyboards using the remote is just too difficult. Add to that, I have multiple apple devices (the whole infrastructure - laptop, iPad, iPhone, etc.) so when I entered the password the first time around, I got the 2nd factor request on all of my devices. Including the iPhone i was using as my remote. There are three ways to get that 2nd factor request in:

1) You are the ghod of the appleTV keyboard, and can use that to type as fast as you do on a standard keyboard. Yeah not me either.

2) Change your appleID password to something stupid easy for the AppleTV remote, authenticate, don't save the password when asked, log out. Change appleID password again, and log in again. Swear and curse as you now

have to update your password on every device you own that used the old one.

3) Use some variant of the method mentioned here

4) (nobody expects the Spanish inquisition!) Turn off 2 factor, log in, then turn it back on (also mentioned in this thread, but not something I did not want to do, even for a short time.)

The sequence of steps I wound up using:

1) prepare yourself for doing this a couple of times, doing lots of swearing, and possibly testing the throw-ability of the device you are holding when it tells you there is a problem with your password for the 27th time in a row. The timeout used clearly assumes a functional keyboard. I'm not sure what it is, but I suspect less than the 30 seconds mentioned. I'm a touch typist - around 125WPM, but I sure has heck can't type that fast using anything but a decent keyboard.

2) If you have a bluetooth keyboard, pair it. Then it should be fairly simple. *IF* you have one. I don't.

3) For the rest of us - I still have to assume you have an iPhone, iPad, or other device that can be used to enter the password quickly using the remote app.

4) Take a deep, calming, breath. Prepare to work as fast as you can. Ready? Begin:

-- Enter your normal appleID password using the remote App on your iphone or iPad.

-- When the 2 factor popup shows up on the AppleTV DON"T ACKNOWLEDGE IT YET.

-- Then when your iPhone, iPad, or laptop phone or whatever also gets the 2 factor pop up, allow the device. That will give you a 6 digit code. Yay, you have a code - junk it, as it is worthless. Those aren't the numbers you are looking for, move along.

-- *NOW* acknowledge the appleTV using the Remote app. Which will give you a *new* code on a popup, invalidating the one you got when you did the mandatory acknowledgement on your phone (or whatever). If you memorize fast, great, otherwise write it down.

-- dismiss that popup

-- go back around the login circle to the password screen.

-- enter your password (yes, again) but append the 6 digit code the appleTV displayed and you just wrote down. You did write it down, right? NO SPACES. if your password is "foo" enter "foo123456". Yes, I did that.. 'foo 123456', 'foo123 456', and 'foo 123 456'. The gap in the 6 digits isn't a gap. It's based on the fallacy that most people can remember 2 3digit numbers easily. Or maybe it's true. I definitely am in the other half of "most" and can't.

-- Yay, you logged in, right? Yeah, I didn't either.

-- Next time, really write down those numbers - your memory isn't as good as you thought, and frustration is going to make it harder and harder to remember as the day wears on.

-- Try and calm down your significant other that is getting increasingly ****** off because this is taking too long.

-- Try and calm yourself down. Yes I know you are frustrated, even more so because your SO is sitting there looking at you like you are an idiot, and if you don't calm yourself down that will just make you make a mistake in the password. Extending the agony.

-- Repeat until you *DO* authenticate. It will happen. Sooner or later. Probably later. But happen it will. Took me almost 30 minutes of trying until I finally got it to work. [Does not include the hours I spent before finding this thread. oh, and searching for that darn remote after I threw it. Fortunately I missed the TV]

-- Go get yourself an adult beverage to celebrate.

Yes. That's what we're trying to say here. You do not enter Apple ID and password and wait to receive a code. You do

- enter Apple ID

- enter password and stop

- use Settings on your phone to request a code, see this link: Get a verification code and sign in with two-factor authentication - Apple Support halfway down

- add the code to your password and send it.

The only time-critical part is from when you receive the code and when you complete entering the code. Please try to do it like this.

Ok this is how I managed to solve this.

1) In your apple TV , try to go back to the Settings Menu. Sometimes you need to press menu several times but eventually you will be able to go to the Settings menu.

2) Go to the iCloud menu, press Sign Out

3) Sign in to your iCloud account

4) It will ask for your normal icloud password, input password.

5) It will ask you to authorize the login from your other device, click ok or authorise. It will give you the 6 digit number.

5) Then on the apple tv it go to a different page where it will ask for you to input the 6 digit code. (this is the step that’s missing for most of us that causes us to keep on looping to the icloud password)

6) Input the 6 digit (within 30s), and then you’re good to go!

6) After

As mentioned elsewhere, the trick is to enter your entire password, but do not click "Enter."

Ask for a Verification Code on your trusted device, then append the code to your password and click "enter."

Using this method, you only have to worry about entering the code and clicking "Enter" within the 30 second timeout.

I had the same issue with my old Apple TV when I transferred to bedroom to upgrade to new one in TV room.

This process still works. Thanks for sharing.

Note:

1. Need to first initiate the 2 factor authentication by trying to sign in first and it will fail
2. Wait for the message to pop up on your phone that ask you if you want to allow Apple TV access
3. Before clicking allow, make sure you’ve logged back into your Apple TV and entered your password but do not click submit on your Apple TV just yet
4. On your phone click allow to obtain the 6 code verification
5. Add this 6 digit verification code to the end of the password you entered already on your Apple TV.
6. When you click submit on your Apple TV you should be able to successful login.

If you follow the instructions precisely it will work unless you are entering information incorrectly.

This procedure works best for most:

1. From an iPhone or iPad, go into "Settings" => click on the top bar with your name and "Apple ID, iCloud, iTunes & App Store".
2. While still on iPhone or iPad, tap on "Password & Security", then tap on "Get Verification Code", LEAVE the supplied verification code visible.
3. Go to the iTunes login on your AppleTV settings and start logging in.
4. When it asks for your password, enter your password and add the verification code to the end of your password (no spaces: If your code is 123456 and your password is “ABC” you would enter “ABC123456”) BUT DO NOT HIT SUBMIT YET !!!
5. Go back to your iPhone/iPad and tap on "OK" on the verification code to make it go away.
6. Now go back to your AppleTV and submit the password.

Thanks to the thanks to many posters who motivated me to try yet again!

I stopped using my ATV2 three years ago and came back to this problem only because I wanted to use screen mirroring my indoor cycling app.

First, my exasperation at Apple for not fixing this problem which is solely a (30 second 2FA) timing issue as described.

Second, I spent an hour with Apple Support a week ago - who really didn't appear to know about this problem - as a result the rep and I couldn't succeed in getting the 2FA adjusted "password" - i.e. appending the 6 digit 2FA ("XXXXXX") without any spaces to your Apple ID password - which you get from your Apple device (Apple ID/Password & Security/Get Verification Code).

Timing is everything. My ATV2 works like a charm again. Apple should think different about fixing this 'bug' in software version 6.2.1. which the rep told me was no longer supported.

OK but Apple has lost an otherwise loyal customer from this; really not impressed. What would it take to extended 2FA to sixty seconds on older devices ?

First Do not try to enter password with or without code directly When you try to open iTunes and play music - this method will not work. Instead follow below:

on phone or iPad :

Settings- at top click on your name where it says Apple ID , I cloud etc

click on password & security

scroll to bottom and leave device right there for time being

on Apple TV-

Setings- on 1st screen scroll down to ITunes Store Click

click on Apple ID

sign out

then sign back in - enter log in info (should be already there) click

enter password for ITunes (Apple ID same thing)

Do not hit enter yet

go back

to your phone or iPad and at bottom 'get verifcation code'

directly after password on Apple TV enter 6 digit verification code DO NOT enter any spaces

Click ok or enter

Enjoy streaming iTunes thru Apple TV again!!

1. if you put 2 step verification on your ios device then you have 2 weeks to phone Apple or chat and get them to deactivate it.
2. the other way is supposed to be to wait for the 6 digit code to come on your ios device and put that in as the password
3. i refer to this thread;

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7533430

that didnt work for me, i had to ask apple to deactivate 2 step verification, because in id.apple.com, (apple id settings), there is no 'deactivate' button for the 2 step verification, and this messes up apple tv 3 and 2.

If you do try the 6 digit code As password i would recommend using the ios apple tv remote app so you can type the password in fast, as it times out very fast and that is why it was not working for me, as i had a long password.

That’s interesting; the append the code to the password method was necessary because it never asked for a code before, it just kept repeating the enter password phase.

I can’t really say what might be going on for you at this point and your best bet might be to visit your local Apple Store and see if they can get it sorted for you.

You may also want to post your question as a separate thread, as this thread is really for those experiencing the circular password prompt issue and a new thread might be read by someone who has experienced your particular issue.

If you are willing to try again, this procedure from a different post is a bit more detailed and has a slightly different procedure you can try:

1. From an iPhone or iPad, go into "Settings" => click on the top bar with your name and "Apple ID, iCloud, iTunes & App Store".
2. While still on iPhone or iPad, tap on "Password & Security", then tap on "Get Verification Code", LEAVE the supplied verification code visible.
3. Go to the iTunes login on your AppleTV settings and start logging in.
4. When it asks for your password, enter your password and add the verification code to the end of your password (no spaces: If your code is 123456 and your password is “ABC” you would enter “ABC123456”) BUT DO NOT HIT SUBMIT YET !!!
5. Go back to your iPhone/iPad and tap on "OK" on the verification code to make it go away.
6. Now go back to your AppleTV and submit the password.

This totally worked! I have a 1st generation Apple TV and after many attempts to connect with no success, this absolutely worked. Have to type your password and then the security code in the password field for the two-factor security log in to work. Thanks!

It is very possible to do and works like any generation once its done all you have to do is

Have a device you use that is already signed into your Apple ID

On the apple tv Go to the sign in page on and enter your Apple ID

Now on your device,

go into settings,

click on your name,

click on password & security,

go down to “get a verification code” click on it to get one, you will need this code so keep it on your phone or jot it down especially if you use your phone as a remote

Go back to apple tv click submit to go to the password page then enter your password with the verification code as one word do not use any spaces

(example marypoppins906564) then submit,

this should get your apple tv all set up and signed in without 2FA 😊

This fix did work for me. I typed in my password with my silver remote, used my iPhone to go to iCloud account and requested new code. Added this code to end of my password and I logged in OK. Finally....

I did this and it worked. I was having the same problem where I would enter the password to get the code, put The code in, and it would take me back to where I had to re-enter my Apple ID. I did a full restart on my Apple TV. Logged out of my account on the Apple TV. I restarted the device again and I was able to add my Apple ID, the password, then Enter the code and the Apple TV registered and is working.