appleTV keeps asking for appleID, password and authentication code circularly

I also apologize as it's the second and third generation AppleTVs that need the "append the Validation Code" trick.

Once again, though, are you actually seeing a screen asking for the Validation Code rather than just the password?

Yes I have the latest software on it and if I submit my password the screen comes up asking me to enter a verification code. I have tried entering that by requesting one from a trusted device. I entered it in about 10sec so it shouldnt have timed out. Then I also tried your method. Its hugely frustrating that neither works.

I cannot use my Apple TVs with the two step authentication turned on. I have read every forum and tried exactly what is recommended a ton of times. The two step authentication cannot be turned off now as some suggested and also adding the verification code to the password doesn’t work even when I complete it within 30 seconds. Apple Please help!! It is not fair to your customers!!!

This did work! However, the problem was I was trying to enter the password and authentication code when actually trying to purchase on Apple TV which does not work. In order for it to work, it has to be entered in Settings / sign-in on the Apple TV.

I have the same problem, I’ve done the steps exactly over 10 times now. I’ve even reset my apple password to make sure I matched it. This is getting ridiculous I have 3 of these apple TVs that I can’t even use now.

Super helpful, this worked. Also for ppl having trouble w the Apple TV NOT prompting for the verification code, on the Apple TV, go to settings, general, network, test network & this will prompt the login process to begin. Then follow steps provided above

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!

This worked for me.

My procedure:

1) Used the "Remote" app on my iPhone to control my AppleTV 3rd Generation

2) Navigated to the iCloud settings page in AppleTV menu

3) Entered my iCloud account and submitted (it's much easier/faster to type on my iPhone using the "Remote" app than to click around with the Apple TV remote control)

4) At Password prompt I entered my iCloud password but DID NOT submit, just left it sitting there, and then (still on my iPhone) I went to Settings->"Apple ID, iCloud, iTunes,..."->"Password & Security"->"Get Verification Code"

5) I then APPENDED the six-digit code to the password from Step 4, without spaces, and submitted.

It connected to iCloud and now I'm "back in business" - thanks for all the help!

I dont have a code at all. I think because I have an older Apple TV.

I keep getting told my password is incorrect, but I know it is correct.

THis is total horse crap. They make the technology so complicated.

People do not have all day to study this stuff and figure it out.

But they have hundreds of technology people designing stuff and not once did anyone

actually make something that is simple.

I am done with Apple TV and just watching you tube from now on.

WOW--- I have been at it for a long, and I mean LONG time (6 hours). SO BASICALLY what needs to be done is attach the code that is given to the end of your apple id password... it took a NON-APPLE tech to tell us this!!! THANK YOU GUY!

This is insanity. 3 years, and there's still no proper solution to this, doubtlessly because it forces people to upgrade hardware that would otherwise be perfectly functional. Apple creating extra waste. Nice work guys.

I am having this problem now too (despite having moved to 2-factor ages ago). On my 3rd Gen ATV it started refusing to log-in to home sharing. Because I use 1password my Apple ID pw is a 32 digit random string, and I realized that there might have been a problem with what dash the screen on the ATV was using (seemed dubious but worth trying), so I reset my password to only letters/numbers.

Still couldn't get it to log-in, so logged out of apple everywhere (iPhone, PC, ATV) and tried again. No problems logging in on the phone or PC, but the ATV still wouldn't go. So I restored the ATV and downloaded the newest software. Still wouldn't log-in. Discovered this "hack" of adding the verification code from my phone, carefully inputted the pw then generated a new code and added it then clicked submit, but still nothing. Very strangely, my ATV logs into iTunes just using my ID, pw, and then 2-factor code that it asks for (and my phone automatically shows). So without using the password hack, I can log the ATV into iTunes, but nothing else (with just the normal pw or with the fresh verification code added to the end). I thought I would disable 2-factor, but Apple won't let you do that, which is also pretty troubling.

People claim that the 2nd and 3rd gen ATVs can't handle 2-factor authentication, but they obviously are somewhat able to, as it works perfectly logging in to iTunes. Just not home sharing or iCloud for some strange reason.

I am at a complete loss here. Everything I find when I search this either explains generating a code on your phone and adding it to the password, or else clarifying that when doing that you need to generate a fresh code to add once you've inputted the pw but before you click submit, so that it hasn't expired. But none of that is helping. I'm beginning to think the obvious choice here is to replace the ATV, but obviously it won't be with an Apple product, as I couldn't care less about the actual Apple software; it's really just an easy way to watch Netflix/Prime/YouTube on my not-smart TV.

Any other suggestions?

I hear you. Not the best consumer experience by far. It may be insanity, it may be wrong, but the process works. I've done this multiple times across multiple Apple TV Gen 3 units - and though it is not documented by Apple - or poorly documented - the documentation in this thread will help you get it to work. For me, the resolution was immediate. Just add the code to the end of your password and it went right through for iCloud. Seemed almost too easy and I, too, was annoyed that they didn't make it easier to understand what to do - but at least it worked and I felt like I didn't have to go buy a new unit for no reason.

Thanks for the kind words, but I literally spent 2 hours trying different variations on this technique and still nothing. I attempted the straight password and verification code together at least 10 times. I changed my password. I logged out of all Apple services on all my devices. I can say with certainty it is not working for me on my ATV3.

This absolutely Apple not fixing the problem so that people will get frustrated and buy a new Apple TV. Infuriating! There is no window that pops up asking for the verification code. How would anyone know to append their password, within 30 seconds, with the code they got from their other device?? Completely unintuitive. And you CANNOT TURN OFF 2 Factor Verification if you set it up on an iOS 13 device. Ridiculous. Add this Apple TV 2G/3G glitch to the list of increasingly frustrating and anti-consumer choices that Apple has been making in recent years.

As I said in my post: it HAS perfectly functioning two factor authentication. It works perfectly to log-in to iTunes. I put in my email, then my password (unamended), and clicked submit. My phone then told me a device near my location was trying to access my account, and I clicked allow, and it gave me a verification code which the Apple TV was now asking for. Once I put that in, it logged in to iTunes perfectly. It just doesn’t work for iCloud or Home Sharing. Apple *constantly* makes anti-consumer choices; it’s how most businesses succeed. You force consumers to buy things they don’t actually need, by artificially creating said “need”.