The white light on my 4 gen Apple TV stays on all the time now. How come?

A number of people, myself included, have posted this - usually if you sleep the ATV (or it sleeps after a set time) it comes back on after a time, anywhere from a couple of minutes to 15 or so (in once case rather longer). In my case this was happening when connected to ethernet, and moving to wifi put stop to it. Other have experienced this on wifi; using Airplay may sometimes be a factor (though not in my case, I don't use it). So it's not at all clear what is going on: not everyone has this issue.

If you are on ethernet you could try wifi, or vice versa. Otherwise it won't really do any harm to leave it on all the time, though having it sleep is preferable. I've reported it via feedback and I think others have as well.

I don't think there's any doubt that it's something in the update which is causing this, but the symptoms vary between people to the point where it's not been possible to narrow the diagnosis. You're getting it with wifi, whereas I don't, for example. Fingers crossed that Apple will sort it out eventually.

victor1801 wrote:

Yes. When I put it to sleep, the light turns off (as well as the TV) and then a few seconds later the light comes back on.

I've noticed there was a recent software update. Maybe that has something to do with it.

I never put mine to sleep. It's either on or off so I couldn't say.

If by 'off' you are actually switching it off at the mains, that would certainly stop it from waking up. The only downside I can see to doing that is not getting screensaver or any other updates when it's not in use.

Roger Wilmut1 wrote:

If by 'off' you are actually switching it off at the mains, that would certainly stop it from waking up. The only downside I can see to doing that is not getting screensaver or any other updates when it's not in use.

Yes. I'm not sure I see the benefit in putting it to sleep, either, though. I got out of the habit of doing it a long time ago when there was a problem, probably with earlier hardware, when you set it to go to sleep. I've long since forgotten what the problem was. But, there doesn't seem to be much harm in not putting it to sleep so, I don't.

Mine is doing the same. It's on wifi since I don't have ethernet wired in this house. I think it's something in the update. It hasn't turned the TV on though, but it could be because it is trying to turn it on when it's still powering down.

You should only see the white light if it's powered on. Are you saying that it stays on even after you turn the device off?