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Apple TV (4th gen.) won't turn off; light stays on

As of a couple days ago I noticed that when I go to put the ATV to sleep, the TV will turn off but the light on the unit flashes as if it's going off and then turns itself back on. If I turn on the TV manually, I can see that it appears as though the unit is asleep, however, the light is still on. It is solid and not blinking rapidly as if I were restarting it.


The only way it seems to get the ATV to remain off is if I hold down the Home button, press Sleep, and then immediately cover the IR sensor or point it away from the device once the TV and ATV. If I leave it pointed at both devices, the light turns off for about a second and then comes back up. It's as if the remote is sending a signal after it shuts down the units to turn only the ATV back on; like I was just pressing Play.


I have manually restarted the device by pressing Menu & Play/Pause several times. I have also unplugged the device completely for 10 seconds and plugged it back in. This is the original remote that controls the device and I don't believe any other BT devices are connected. Since ATV 4 auto-updates, I assume it has the latest build.


It seems that the 10.2 release was a few days ago. I assume this because the Apple support post was updated 5 days ago with information on 10.2. Has anybody else experienced this issue? Is there something I'm missing with the light staying on?

Apple TV

Posted on Apr 3, 2017 10:40 AM

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77 replies

Apr 6, 2017 4:24 AM in response to andrey1302

Unfortunately, this does not affect all Apple TV 4s. There must be something in your environments that's causing this. It might be a computer, some mobile device, or who knows? Users with this problem should report it to Apple at this link: https://www.apple.com/feedback/appletv.html. Try to give all relevant details, so they can maybe identify a pattern.

Apr 6, 2017 8:54 AM in response to inz_

Hello inz_. This is just a user forum, so Apple will not hear you. Please report your problems to Apple at this link: https://www.apple.com/feedback/appletv.html. As I've said already in this thread, tvOS 10.2 seems to be responding incorrectly to a UPnP request on port 5000. So any program that searches for UPnP devices now wakes up Apple TV.


tvOS 10.1.1 is still being signed, so a downgrade is technically feasible. But you'll need to figure it out yourself, since Apple cannot help you.

Apr 7, 2017 3:09 AM in response to justinbmiller

Hi justinbmiller. You should definitely report these observations to Apple at this link: https://www.apple.com/feedback/appletv.html. It does sound like there's something going on between TV and Apple TV. There's another thread on new problems with HDMI-CEC, which may be related. The one thing I'm not clear on is your description of aiming the remote and covering the IR sensor (transmitter?). The Siri remote controls Apple TV over Bluetooth radio, so it works without aiming. It only transmits IR for the optional volume control. Are you using a different remote, or IR repeater system?

Apr 15, 2017 6:03 AM in response to havinabubble

Hi havinabubble. Unfortunately, that is correct. The minimum security level for AirPlay is now First Time Passcode (formerly Require Device Verification). Some 3rd-party clients don't support this protocol. The Device Requirements message you see just means that an invalid connection was attempted. See this link: Apple killed 3rd party Airplay streaming apps with tvOS 10.2. By the way, the app that wakes up Apple TV may be the same one that fails to AirPlay.

May 20, 2017 7:13 AM in response to timultuoustimes

Hi timultuoustimes. Have you tried looking for the clients I already posted in this link: Re: Apple TV (4th gen.) won't turn off; light stays on? Some of these issues may have been fixed by tvOS 10.2.1. Note that the Device Requirements message just means that something on the network has tried to open an AirPlay connection using an outdated protocol.

Apr 6, 2017 9:35 PM in response to andrey1302

This is the second time I've heard this in the thread and is very useful. I was able to replicate what you experienced. So this is what I've come to find out:


  • Disconnect the HDMI, hold down Home, press touch pad as if you were selecting Sleep (you can't see this option since the HDMI is disconnected). This turns OFF the TV and the ATV remains OFF.
  • Aim the remote at the units, press touch pad, select Sleep, immediately cover or move the IR sensor away from the ATV. This leaves the TV ON but turns OFF the ATV and it remains OFF.


You can deduce what you want from this. From my original post I had suspicions that the IR sensor was causing some sort of problem. The bug that andrey1302 described sort of works against my theory, but I still think we're making progress. Maybe it's a signal that the TV is sending back to the ATV via HDMI. Perhaps, after the 10.2 update, the ATV is now sensitive to a specific response or ping back from the TV once it's turned off.

Apr 4, 2017 4:22 PM in response to justinbmiller

I have the same problem.


If I do a normal shut down of ATV from the menu, it will go off.


I shut off my TV.


5 minutes later, ATV powers itself back on and in the process turns my TV back on. TV comes on/switches HDMI ports when it senses a signal.


Only way I've found to fix this is to disconnect the HDMI or Power Cable from ATV.

Apr 5, 2017 3:03 PM in response to Diana.McCall

Yes, and that sounds more like NEMC's issue. Our ATV hasn't turned itself on yet. The light goes out at the same time as the TV does but then re-illuminates (solid) after a second. I haven't timed how long it stays on but it's for several hours. If I were to turn the TV manually after "sleeping" both devices, it shows no signal screen as if the ATV is off. As a result, I have very little to work off of as to what it's doing while the light is on.

Apr 5, 2017 10:40 PM in response to justinbmiller

Same issue here. I can confirm that tvOS 10.2 is the culprit. I have a few Apple TVS and the ones that haven't updated are not exhibiting the issue.


I don't know whether the light is just turning back on, or whether the until is doing something. Since technically it's always on, it's hard to tell what's going on. I've reported it to Feedback as well. Hopefully Apple fixes this bug quickly and it doesn't drag on for eons.

Apr 6, 2017 12:28 AM in response to justinbmiller

same here! 😕


parents called saying their ATV was staying on, and did I know why? ...performed usual checks.

...they are running tvOS 10.2

when I say ON: the LED is on but there is no picture to screen.

requesting SLEEP turns TV and ATV off (briefly) but then the white LED comes back on with NO image to screen.


I wasn't suffering from this issue with mine, but then I was running 10.1.1


pressed update and like them I now have an AppleTV with insomnia! 😮


...10.2.1 please! otherwise its power plug OUT until then

Apr 6, 2017 5:05 AM in response to Diana.McCall

ordinarily I would agree Diana.McCall, however the simple fact I didn't have the issue until I applied the 10.2 upgrade

I watched the issue create in front of my eyes! 😮


the two environments in my example are wildly different, and my parents LAN is very simple.

At the time of testing they had NO mobiles on, no iPad and no Mac. Just the AppleTV and the router.


....I'll hold out for the patch, because I'll be chasing my tail otherwise 🙂


{feedback sent}

Apple TV (4th gen.) won't turn off; light stays on

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