Apple TV 4th generation just has a blinking light.

If your problem persists get yourself a micro USB cable for the Apple TV 2 and 3 models or a USB-C cable for the Apple TV 4 (sold separately), you can restore your Apple TV from iTunes:

1. Remove ALL cables from Apple TV. (if you don't you will not see Apple TV in the iTunes Source List)
2. Connect the micro USB (or USB-C) cable to the Apple TV and then to your computer.
3. Reconnect the power cable (omit this step for Apple TV 2)
4. Open iTunes.
5. Select your Apple TV in the Devices list (which can be found below the volume slider near the top of the iTunes window), and then click Restore.

If your Apple TV fails to restore through iTunes……..

• Check that you have correctly followed the instructions for your model of Apple TV.
• If not already, try using a powered USB port.
• Repeat the process but this time try connecting the cable while iTunes is closed.
• Repeat the process with another cable.
• Try restoring the Apple TV on another computer in another location.

I had the same issue - Apple TV 4 kept blinking and connecting to iTunes (on PC in my case) did not show the device in iTunes. Contacted Apple Support and visited Genius Bar and they pretty much said the device would have to be replaced. Finally searched some more and saw this post

https://forums.developer.apple.com/thread/18728

Where jpcoates says:

iTunes will NOT show your Apple TV 4 unless you enter restore mode: using the included remote, press and hold MENU + Play/Pause for 6 seconds until the indicator light begins flashing rapidly.

This worked and I was able to restore my AppleTV.

No. I know for certain that is not the case. They both bricked at the same time after the same update. The power here is conditioned and managed with full surge protection in three places. Devices don't die here.

The only thing that croaks or bugs up in this house are the Apple TV's. Every third update or so. Normally I just need to hold the TV and MENU buttons for about 10 seconds then they come back up. This time they both required a full reset that was possible thanks to the second solution.

I have the same issue but on Windows. iTunes could not detect my AppleTv4.

Following the prior connection instructions and jpcoates extra steps worked for me. Thank you

This did nothing for either of my AppleTV 4's.

This worked like a charm on both my AppleTV 4's. I would gleefully sell them both off if I didn't have so much content chained to them. They seem to have problems every month or so.

Those issues are more likely due to something within your environment

There are other factors to consider, but the fact remains that something within your environment is causing corruption during the update process and hence it isn’t being applied properly and goes into recovery mode. Other devices working doesn’t rule that out. I have had many Apple TVs over the years and not one has had to be restored, the amount of reports are minimal and upon proper investigation the issues resolved.

Hi,

when it happens again try to see if you have reset count, bug_type 115 - in Analitycs.

Also, i have this problem almost once in month.