appleTV keeps asking for appleID, password and authentication code circularly

I had this problem too, and for me, this is what worked (ATV 3rd gen):

1. In Apple TV's Settings, sign out from iTunes Store (Settings -> iTunes Store -> Apple IDs -> Sign out).

2. Sign back in (In the same menu: Add New Apple ID).

The system kept bugging me to login in in other places in the app too, for example when trying to rent a movie. But it seemed to me that in those scenarios the whole login process didn't go through fully, and I got thrown back to the first screen of the login process, the one where I had to type in my e-mail address. But when I did the whole thing from that section in Settings, I got logged in.

Hi flyingolfguy. If you need help, you'll need to describe your problem a little. If your problem is logging in to your Apple ID on Apple TV 2 or 3 using 2-factor authentication, the solution is repeated several times in this thread. Just work up from your post. For Apple TV 1, you have to turn off 2fa.

Yes. But my multiple attempts to log in using that process were unsuccessful. There is ONLY one comment about timing, that the 2fa code is only good for a limited time and -apparently- it was taking too long to enter my password and the 6 digit code. Once I paired my apple keyboard and was able to enter the password and authorization code quickly from a keyboard, I was able to log in. I also logged in to iTunes Store AND iCloud separately from settings. It all seems to be working now.

We had the exact same issue with my Apple TV not allowing me to login with two-factor authentication. It didn't matter if I used the Apple TV remote to enter the password (excruciating) or the Remote App on my phone.

I had to login to my Apple Account page to turn off two-factor authentication but then the Apple TV login worked fine as usual.

I contacted Apple Care with the same problem. They had me take the following steps:

1) Get to the prompt on AppleTV where it asks you for AppleID and password

2) Enter your AppleID

3) Enter your password, but do not hit submit

4) From an iOS device, go to Settings

5) In Settings, click on the "name" at the top of the screen (your AppleID account name)

6) Click on "Password & Security"

7) Click "Get Verification Code"

8) A 6-digit code will appear on the iOS device

9) On your AppleTV, enter the 6-digit code immediately after your password. Do not use any spaces or characters

10) When you have your password and the 6-digit code entered, press "Submit" button

This should fix the problem. Apple is aware of the bug and is working to fix it.

It really is a rubbish experience.

Write down the 6 digits from your phone. Click OK on the phone.

On the Apple tv, Literary type in your password, then add the 6 digits and then click ok.

What a terrible terrible experience.

Buy Amazon stock.

On the 3rd generation, Instead of selecting option to get verification code from trusted device, you can go to settings>iTunes store>Apple ID>sign out, then add new Apple ID and sign-in as normal then should be able to access your content (I.e. Movies &TV shows) also if you get error can't connect to iTunes during ANY of the sign-in process you need to reboot modem/router w/ Apple TV un plugged from power and keep unplugged until network is back online

Terrible. Brilliantly disastrous. How about a note that tells the user that the verification code times out in 30 seconds? Jeez, spent an hour thinking I was entering my password wrong because I've got one of these inanely stupid ones with hyphens in it that was auto-created by the secret society to be more secure, except now it takes 8 minutes to enter in the aTV because the hyphens are on a third screen. UX is going to crap Apple. It's all insanely cryptic and utterly impossible. I doubt most of my university students would be able to sort this out, let alone my mother or wife. The only reason I can figure it out is because I know how to search for this kind of insanity as I've been doing it for my own tech support for the last 20+ years. One needs to have an IT person on staff to figure all this crap out these days. What should be instructed is to change your password to 000 and then add on this verification code. After all this, I still can't get a reliable playback on NBCSports app, bounces out and reboots the aTV after 30 secs or several minutes of play, totally unpredictable, which is a whole other challenge between the AppleTV, the ISP, and the channel. Good luck folks. Best to throw all these stupid devices in the trash and go enjoy the outdoors. Too much of our lives wasted on this useless crap.

I just wasted another 1+ hours of my life trying to figure this out. Could they not anticipate this problem and include the solution in the process?! I was finally able to enter both my password and the verification code within the time limit and was really excited that this athletic feat allowed me to re-access my own property!!!

When added to the countless hours I've already spent (wasted) rescuing bricked devices after upgrading and trying to re-establish communication between them afterwards, I easily reached the Android threshold months ago and will be regrettably switching to a Google Pixel within a year. Thanks again Apple for continually making things unnecessarily complex!! (ie. forcing the Podcast app on users - I've been ripping mine into mp3 format ever since so I can listen to them in the Music app that syncs with my pedometer earbud controls.)

WORKS!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you!

My lord - honestly, how are you supposed to know that, my blood has been literally boiling!

Apple please go back to basics and sort out the user experience - that used to be your usp!

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!!

Wasting over an hour and giving up. Tried all solutions noted so will just stop using Apple TV and will use my amazon TV instead for all new online purchases. I can still airplay old iTunes movies but done wasting time with Apple TV

Ok, I just ran into this loop of entering my password and 2nd factor code on my AppleTV at my vacation home. Pain in the rear. I finally solved it by going to Settings > iTunes Store > Apple ID and signing out then starting from scratch. I tried just about everything else such as restarting and was just about to figure out how to disable 2 factor authentication. Give this a shot first.

This may work but once again another example of Apple doing things the wrong way... Complex password or some work around you have to search for and figure out without apple direct support. I know this is not the forum for feedback but the fact is that Apple does not have one! I am so over Apple after being a user for over two decades now and all my experiences are now more frustration than anything else.

Thank you! Was driving me insane. I have movies I have burned to my MacBook Pro into my iTunes library and they won't play on the AppleTV fourth-generation which is why I still have my third generation. Now that to factor doesn't work on the third generations and with of the worry about someone stealing my account, I for sure want to factor authentication on and use my 3rd Gen.

This was Incredibly helful!