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Q: Apple TV asks for Password Every Time I use it

My Apple TV is connected to my TV with HDMI/MHL I frequently go to watch TV by hitting the Apple TV remote button, everything powers up, the TV and apple TV and the correct input is selected. It is really nice and convenient.

 

BUT when the apple TV comes up, it STARTS on the enter your password screen. It won't do anything until the password is entered. So, if I have family, company, friends, etc, they can ALL SEE MY PASSWORD as I slowly enter it on my Apple TV. If my kids have someone over and I am not home, they cannot even use it because I don't give out my password so the kids cannot use the ATV unless I am home.

 

I have set it to never sleep, I have set it to never require password for purchases (I don't have small kids; they're older) but it still wants my password. I want the Apple TV to always be on and never need a password and I don't want someone to be able to sit there reading my password as I type it in everytime I turn on the TV.

 

ATV could really benefit from a never ask for my password ever again setting; is there such a thing? Any idea what is going on? Does the MHL connection force the Apple TV to sleep when the TV is turned off maybe?

Apple TV

Posted on Jun 12, 2016 3:01 PM

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Q: Apple TV asks for Password Every Time I use it

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  • by Diana.McCall,

    Diana.McCall Diana.McCall Jun 12, 2016 4:05 PM in response to zenaxe
    Level 4 (2,895 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 12, 2016 4:05 PM in response to zenaxe

    What version is your ATV, see Identify your Apple TV model - Apple Support

    This is not normal behavior for ATV 4, in fact, I don't think you could enable it. What password  is it? Is it the password for your Apple ID?

    Is there any chance ATV is logging in to Game Center?

    I don't understand your use of MHL in the ATV to TV connection. ATV is HDMI 1.4 only.

  • by Diana.McCall,

    Diana.McCall Diana.McCall Jun 12, 2016 4:29 PM in response to Diana.McCall
    Level 4 (2,895 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 12, 2016 4:29 PM in response to Diana.McCall

    Please don't tell me you're connecting the micro USB connector on an ATV 2 or 3 to an HDMI input on your TV. That port is only for reloading the software. I cannot imagine it works at all when connected to an HDMI port on a TV.

  • by zenaxe,

    zenaxe zenaxe Jun 12, 2016 6:02 PM in response to Diana.McCall
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 12, 2016 6:02 PM in response to Diana.McCall

    No of course not, it wouldn't even work. MHL is a type of HDMI port that allows two way communication. The Apple TV remote can power up the TV and control the TV's volume and selected input source using this type of HDMI connection. Not all TVs/ports support it.

  • by zenaxe,

    zenaxe zenaxe Jun 12, 2016 6:05 PM in response to Diana.McCall
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 12, 2016 6:05 PM in response to Diana.McCall

    It's an ATV 4 it is the iTunes password. The port on the TV is an HTML/MHL port. The output on the ATV is the HDMI out. If you don't know what MHL  is google it.

  • by Diana.McCall,

    Diana.McCall Diana.McCall Jun 13, 2016 3:51 AM in response to zenaxe
    Level 4 (2,895 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 13, 2016 3:51 AM in response to zenaxe

    Thanks for the explanation of MHL. But it's not relevant here, since ATV can control the TV via HDMI-CEC through any HDMI input. As I have now learned, MDL just provides the same functionality over a smaller number of wires. And the HDML/MDL input is special because it can morph to accept the other connection.

    Back to your question, I don't know what would cause this behavior. It's not a common experience, so there's something in your configuration that triggers it. It happened to me once, after I'd visited that entry in settings. But yours needs to refresth on every start.

  • by Diana.McCall,

    Diana.McCall Diana.McCall Jun 13, 2016 6:39 AM in response to zenaxe
    Level 4 (2,895 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 13, 2016 6:39 AM in response to zenaxe

    Another thought. Have you configured more than one Apple ID for iTunes? It may be asking to confirm which account to use for this session. Also, are you using iCloud for the screensaver? If your iCloud ID is the same as for iTunes, it may be reverifying that.