appleTV keeps asking for appleID, password and authentication code circularly

I just ran into this problem last night with my 2nd and 3rd generation AppleTV's. I wanted to finish watching a movie I had started on my laptop - truly frustrating. I just found the solution on this Apple page:

Two-factor authentication for Apple ID

Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page to find the "What if I use two-factor authentication on a device running older software?" section to find the solution:

"If you use two-factor authentication with devices running older OS versions, you might be asked to add your six-digit verification code to the end of your password when signing in. Get your verification code from a trusted device running iOS 9 or OS X El Capitan, or have it sent to your trusted phone number. Then type your password followed by the six-digit verification code directly into the password field."

This worked successfully for my 3rd gen AppleTV; I'm hoping it works for my 2nd gen as well.

I tried this on a second gen Apple TV, but no dice. Just went in an endless loop of entering the username, password and then verification code. Apple TV has basically been utterly useless because I can't buy or rent anything anymore.

Your only choice for the 2nd generation ATV may be to disable 2-factor authentication.

I had this same challenge tonight after purchasing a movie via iTunes. I kept trying to get into viewing it on my 3rd gen AppleTV. I finally got fed up and turned off 2FA and it worked successfully.

Agreed. Apple's implementation of 2FA has made my Apple TV device a brick. Steve Jobs must be turning over in his grave.

Solved it on 2nd gen. my password is 14 characters long and by the time I was getting to enter The code I think it had timed out. I entered my password, got the message to enter with the six digit code and the pop up on my phone - ignored the pop up, entered my password in full then went to my phone to generate the code and entered immediately.

i Think the 6 digit code expires after 30'sexonds.

hope that helps!

People, Jeffrey Miller1's solution worked on a 3G AppleTV

On Apple TV 2, under Airplay, Verification, there is an option to select Device Authentication. Turn this off and all will be well.

So Apple does NOT support 2 Factor Authentication on Apple TV on any generation. I cannot get it to work on Gen 2 - what about Gen 4?

Solved it on 2nd gen. my password is 14 characters long and by the time I was getting to enter The code I think it had timed out. I entered my password, got the message to enter with the six digit code and the pop up on my phone - ignored the pop up, entered my password in full then went to my phone to generate the code and entered immediately.

i Think the 6 digit code expires after 30'sexonds.

Boom, your in! 😀

Hi !

I activated 2FA two weeks ago. Today my ATV 2 demanded the code for 2FA?? Finding this post solved the problem.

As said, log on to Your iCloud account, on the ATV 2/3, use Your ordinary password but append the 6 digit verification code on the tail.

You can request a verification code when ever You want from a trusted device Get a verification code and sign in with two-factor authentication - Apple Support

After the succeful logon You will have another request for Apple ID Sign In, but just skip it.

/ Mats

Thank you, I also got this to work on a 2nd Generation Apple TV. But it was quite a dance of timing.

On an iPhone go to Settings->iCloud->Password and Security and scroll down to Get Verification Code.

But don't press that yet because they expire after 30 seconds(?) and given the time it takes to enter a reasonable password on an Apple TV you will want to wait until it is needed.

Enter your password on ATV2 and then click on Verification Code and append the 6 digit number.

If you're getting the verification code from another source you will a) have to be in the same room, b) have a partner shout it to you.

Unfortunately, when you enter a password with an expired Verification Code it's just a bad password.

/Jeff

Thank you. This worked for me.

That worked for me on ATV gen 3, thank you.

Note. That is far from intuitive and I have not been able to find that listed on any Apple website. It's also a terrible user interface, especially on a device with the least user friendly text entry selecting from the alphabet grid). I'd rather somebody just steal the ATV than have to type lengthy upper- and lower-case text strings.

i have this problem. I've gone through the complete process 6 times. instead of once. You'd think they'd fix this problem.