WoodlandsAggie

Q: Apple TV 2nd gen can't see itunes library

I have a 1st gen ATV and a 2nd gen ATV.

The desktop where my iTunes library is located is on a wireless network. Home Sharing is turned on.

My 1st gen ATV is on the same wireless network and is able to stream movies and songs from the iTunes library.

My 2nd gen ATV is ethernet hard-wired.  It has no problem streaming Netflix, Hulu, etc.  However, it can't see that Home Sharing is turned on.  When I go to "Computers", it says "To access your iTunes library on Apple TV, turn on Home Sharing...."

 

Is this occurring because the ATV is hard-wired and the computer is on wireless?

Posted on May 15, 2016 8:31 AM

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Q: Apple TV 2nd gen can't see itunes library

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  • by Diana.McCall,

    Diana.McCall Diana.McCall May 15, 2016 9:02 AM in response to WoodlandsAggie
    Level 4 (2,895 points)
    Apple TV
    May 15, 2016 9:02 AM in response to WoodlandsAggie

    Possibly. Some routers do not route the multicast packets required for service discovery between subnets. ISP routers are notorious for this (old models being recycled forever).

    Can you try the ATV 2 on wireless? If that works, you might be able to find a router setting that will make the ethernet connection work.

    Is your ethernet network the same network as the WiFi; does the IP address differ only in the last octet?

  • by WoodlandsAggie,

    WoodlandsAggie WoodlandsAggie May 15, 2016 10:54 AM in response to Diana.McCall
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple TV
    May 15, 2016 10:54 AM in response to Diana.McCall

    Thanks Diana.  Unfortunately, switching my ATV2 to use the wireless network doesn't work.  It simply does not see that Home Sharing is turned on, either that or it can't see the shared library like my ATV1 can. 

     

    The wireless and wired are all the same network.  Same subnet -- correct, only the final digit of the IPs differ.

  • by Diana.McCall,

    Diana.McCall Diana.McCall May 15, 2016 11:27 AM in response to WoodlandsAggie
    Level 4 (2,895 points)
    Apple TV
    May 15, 2016 11:27 AM in response to WoodlandsAggie

    Is ATV 2 using the same Apple ID as ATV 1 and the computer?

    I think there's a limit of 5 devices using Home Sharing. Have you, or have you had, that many devices involved? There's a way to remove old ones from the list so new ones can be added.

  • by WoodlandsAggie,

    WoodlandsAggie WoodlandsAggie May 15, 2016 11:31 AM in response to Diana.McCall
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple TV
    May 15, 2016 11:31 AM in response to Diana.McCall

    Yes, the same Apple ID is being used across all devices.  In iTunes, I don't see anywhere that it lists the devices using Home Sharing.  I click Edit...Preferences...Sharing.  There is no list in there.

  • by Diana.McCall,

    Diana.McCall Diana.McCall May 15, 2016 11:39 AM in response to WoodlandsAggie
    Level 4 (2,895 points)
    Apple TV
    May 15, 2016 11:39 AM in response to WoodlandsAggie

    Good check on the ID.

    Apparently, the count only applies to computers, i.e. servers, not clients, see Deauthorize your computer using iTunes - Apple Support

    It sounds like you've already checked all these Get help with Home Sharing - Apple Support but it wouldn't hurt to make sure.

    Otherwise, hard to say.

  • by WoodlandsAggie,

    WoodlandsAggie WoodlandsAggie May 15, 2016 1:10 PM in response to Diana.McCall
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple TV
    May 15, 2016 1:10 PM in response to Diana.McCall

    I've given up on Windows iTunes.  I think it's an issue with Windows 10 and/or iTunes for Windows.

     

    I have moved my library over to my Mac (which is where I should have moved it long ago).  Everything works fine now.  So it was a network issues (wired vs wireless).

     

    Thanks for the input Diana.