appleTV keeps asking for appleID, password and authentication code circularly

Did you follow the instructions above to do it at Settings/Sign-In?

I know it's frustrating, but it does work as can be seen by the many here for whom it has.

If you continue to be frustrated, you can take your device to an Apple Store and they may be able to help you.

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

William Kucharski wrote:

Which is basically the procedure outlined here.

I understand you referencing the procedure you outlined and I followed your specific set of instructions more than once, but it brought no success for me. Perhaps that simply highlights why many people still struggle to get their Apple TV's working.

As I said though, for me, once I waited for my "trusted device" to pop up the alert that a connection was being attempted and subsequently, once it was allowed and provided an authentication code, then once I used that authentication code it worked for me.

The stated adjusted sign-in procedure is intended for Apple TV (2nd or 3rd generation).

Apple TV (1st generation) (the big 7.7" silver/white colored aluminum box) is obsolete, not able to connect to the iTunes Store anymore since May 2018, and not able to sync from computers using a recent version of iTunes anymore.

Actually quite a bit, as the AppleTV 2nd Generation is on the Obsolete list and as such is no longer supported and is unlikely to ever receive a future software update.

I'm just happy Apple added support for 2FA at all as it wasn't widely used then.

Vintage and obsolete products - Apple Support

This worked for me on ATV 3 without disabling 2-factor authentication. You will need to use both the Apple remote and the Remote app on the iPhone to set this up:

1. Make sure your software is up to date. Reset your Apple TV and under Settings, give it the name you want
2. Under Settings, select "Add a remote" (to use the Remote app) which will prompt you to turn on Homesharing. Please do so, and enter your Apple ID and password when prompted
3. You'll receive a 6-digit authentication code on your iPhone, and the Apple TV will ask you for this code. You must enter this code using the physical ATV remote, as the entry box displayed on the iPhone has room for only 4 digits and using that will cause the login to fail. Your Apple TV will now display as a device in the Remote app.

From then on just use the Remote app on your iPhone, including for logging into the iTunes store.

Please let Apple know by reporting here https://www.apple.com/feedback/appletv.html.

Maintaining 2 factor authentication is an important way of keeping devices secure so I avoid turning it off.

There is (apparently) a time limit to enter your password & the generated 2FA code. The following worked for me:

1. type in your password but do not submit, then acquire your authorization code from a second device running iOS, enter that number immediately after your password and submit.
2. I connected my bluetooth keyboard to make entering my 20 character password & 2FA number easier and faster.

This is from a post by CorsairVelo:

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.

This has frustrated me for a while too. But... This method from CorsairVelo posted on September 21, 2018 worked for me. I used my iPhone 6 to get the verification code. The timing and sequence of events has to be done just right or the code will expire before you can use it. (It takes a while to enter your password using the apple remote that comes with that version of AppleTV)

1) Get to the login page on your apple TV and put in your apple id e-mail address but NOT your password.

2) Use your iPhone or iPad as described below to get to the screen where you request the verification code by clicking on "Get Verification Code" as mentioned below.

3) Go back to your AppleTV and enter your password followed by the verification code you just got on your iPhone or iPad.

4) Bask in the sweet success of making use of your existing tech that is perfectly good for what you want to do without having to buy new stuff just because. 👍-1F3FE;😃😎

This is from a post by CorsairVelo:

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.

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.

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.

This procedure from William Kurcharski, and others, sounds insane, but actually worked!

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 did help. I struggled with the 6 digit code not knowing whether to add a space but nothing worked until I read this tip. The 6 digit must expire quickly. So….I added my password (the normal apple ID password) then selected the "allow" option on my trusted device, got the 6 digit code and quickly added right after my password with no spaces and all is good.

If you're using two factor authentication with any device that requires Apple ID (like your phone) then all devices that use Apple ID must also comply.

Follow the steps above and enter user ID and password, but do not enter. Then use your phone to generate a new 6 digit authentication code. Type the 6 digits on to the end of your password (NO SPACES) and then enter. It should work.