appleTV keeps asking for appleID, password and authentication code circularly

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 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 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 ?

I got the 6-digit verification code from my iPhone and added it to my password in the password field prompt. So when it asked for my password I put in “password123456”

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!!

I tried the advice of adding the verification code at the end of the password, all quickly enough to time out, but it didn't work on my gen 2 appleTV. And even if it did, how annoying is that? So I had to turn off 2 factor authentication entirely just to use this AppleTV, and now it works again. Shame on Apple for such poor execution—forcing us to either use a lower tier of security or throw out a piece of hardware. I guess they'd prefer we went out and bought a new appleTV...

You can solve this problem without turning off two-factor authentication. For the 6-digit expires issue, actually you can get the code before inputing the password of your Apple ID on the old Apple TV --- by going to your iPhone's

Settings -> your Apple ID -> Password & Security -> Get Verification Code

then add the 6-digit code after your Apple ID's password like others said.

Pay attention that the code you get from the iPhone is somehow already published(on the cloud server?), so it could have less than 30 seconds before it expires. So make you get a new one by tapping the 'Get Verification Code' button repeatedly until you get a truely new code.(Before the new code is published from the server, you will get the same code again and again, just from my observation)

The current iOS on my iPhone is 10.3.3.

Yep. This works (entering code number at end of normal password). Get the password entered in then ask for a new code enter that in and good to go. Very frustrating.

To get a new code go to Settings, (Apple ID, iCloud etc), Password & Security, Get Verification Code. I also have device verification turned off in Home Sharing, not sure if that played a factor or not.

Edit to add, this is on an Apple TV 2

Code Timeout problem looks to be the issue I was having. I teed up the password on my AppleTV, then requested a 2 factor code on my iPhone, appended it to my password, worked first time. I tried a hundred times before that, it was definitely timing out.

Same problem here on a Apple TV G2.

After many frustrating circular loops with the password+verification code, found this page.

I was unable to find a way to 'disable two-step authentication' (listed elsewhere).

Eventually, I searched every menu - and in doing do realised that i had not filled out all the geographical options (time zone, language etc). Once this was done, problem solved.

Disabling 2-factor authentication was the Apple support solution when I called them earlier. The support tech said my 2nd generation Apple TV was created before 2-step authentication was available and was not adaptable for it. Instead, I now have three security questions. Not perfect but better than nothing. Thanks for your help, though, with the question of where to enter the verification code.

I have been able to resolve this issue by the following:

1. Go into settings on your Apple TV

2. Sign out where it’s your current profile

3. Click on add new Apple ID

4. Add your Apple ID in again and follow prompts

5. This process worked for us just then 27/01/2018

the solution is rather easy: instead of trying to sign in through movies, or tv shows, or while trying to access any feature of the apple tv, simply go to settings > itunes store > apple IDs > sign out, and sign back in. hope that works, it worked for me!

Thank you!!! This worked. After many days of attempting this, I never new of seeking my own request for a verification code and the 30 second delay. I couldn’t believe that you could enter a password immediately followed by the verification code in a single string of consecutive characters, but it took it in. I am very grateful for your advice! Yes, as others commented, Apple has their head in an ostrich hole and they don’t make this easy. Very very frustrating against apple designers. Totally not Steve Jobs’s easy and delightful human interface.

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.