How to Fix Netflix Not Working on Apple TV.
As one of the most popular streaming services, you can (fairly) expect Netflix to be perfect on Apple TV. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. There are often issues that prevent Apple users from streaming their favorite TV shows and movies using the Netflix app.
If Netflix is ??stuck on Apple TV, or you are having problems on Apple TV with Netflix not working, you will need to start the troubleshooting process. Here are a few steps you can follow to fix some of the most common problems with the Netflix app on Apple TV.
Force Netflix to close and restart
If your Netflix app won’t connect, load, or broadcast in any way, try the most obvious step first – force quit the app. It’s not enough to simply press the Menu button on your Apple TV remote, as you’ll need to force close the Netflix app before trying to open it again.
It can help update the app, clear the cache and, for minor issues, can be easily fixed. You don’t have to worry about accessing any of the settings to force an app restart on Apple TV — just double-click the Home button (next to the Menu button) to open the Apple TV app switcher.
From here, select Netflix from the app switcher menu, then swipe up using the touch bar at the top of the Apple TV remote to force close the app. Press Menu to return to the main Apple TV control panel, then try opening the Netflix app again.
If that doesn’t fix the Apple TV Netflix app not working issue, try one of the following:
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Check your network connection
If you’re having trouble streaming your Apple TV Netflix, you may need to check your Apple TV’s network connection. This can reveal problems with your local network (from Apple TV to router) or wider internet connection.
- You can quickly check your Apple TV’s current network connection status using the Settings Menu. Click the Settings icon in the Apple TV control panel to open this menu.
- From here enter the “Network” menu to view the current network connection settings.
- This will show the current state of your network connection. If your Apple TV is disconnected, you can reconnect by clicking the Wi-Fi options menu.
If your connection is stable but streaming using the Netflix app is still not possible, you need to check your internet connection. You can do this online with services like Speedtest, which also offers its own Apple TV testing app that you can install from the App Store.
Verify that the Apple TV Time Zone is correct
While it may sound strange, settings like your time zone can affect apps like Netflix. Your time zone is one piece of the puzzle that Netflix can use to confirm that you are indeed in the right region and have access to the right content.
- Of course you can double: check your current time zone in your Apple TV settings. Click the Settings icon in the Apple TV control panel, then choose General.
- Scroll down the General menu and find the Time Zone option under Date and Time. It should be installed automatically, but you should be able to view your current timezone – if the region is incorrect, disable the Install Automatically option and then manually set the timezone.
Use Google DNS servers
Your ISP’s DNS servers (used to translate addresses like netflix.com to server IP addresses) can prevent the Netflix app from streaming content to your Apple TV. If DNS fails, you may find that switching your DNS servers to a public alternative solves the problem.
This is a good way to try if your internet connection is working but you are stuck with the typical “Netflix is ??currently unavailable” error.
- Google offers one of the best free public DNS servers available for users. Switching to these servers on your Apple TV is easy, and you can get started by clicking Settings Network WiFi Your Network Name. In your network configuration menu, click the Configure DNS option.
- Choose “Manual” from the “Configure DNS” menu.
- Use the Apple TV remote to change the DNS server address to 8.8.8.8, then click Done.
Your Apple TV should now be configured with Google’s DNS servers. If your ISP’s DNS servers are faulty, switching to Google DNS should fix the problem. Alternatively, you can use another service like OpenDNS.
Reinstall Netflix on Apple TV
Sometimes, just a clean and fresh installation can fix problems on your Apple TV when Netflix stops working. Uninstalling the Netflix app and reinstalling it is no miracle, but if Netflix freezes on Apple TV it could potentially fix the problem.
- To remove Netflix from Apple TV, scroll to the app in the Apple TV dashboard. Press and hold the touchpad on the remote until the Netflix app icon wobbles, then press the Play & Pause button to open the app options.
- Scroll down and click Uninstall to remove the app from Apple TV.
- After uninstalling Netflix, go to the App Store in the Apple TV dashboard to find and reinstall the Netflix app.
You will need to sign in to the Netflix app again once it’s successfully installed on your Apple TV.
Check for updates and restart Apple TV
Apple regularly releases updates to its devices, including the Apple TV, and developers regularly offer the same for apps like Netflix. An outdated app or device can cause problems – updating your device and restarting your Apple TV can fix them.
- To check for system updates on your Apple TV, click the Settings icon in the Apple TV control panel. From here, click on System Software Updates.
- Click the Update Software button to start searching for updates. If any updates are found, follow the onscreen instructions to update your Apple TV.
- To make sure the Netflix app is up to date, check the Netflix entry in the App Store. To make sure Netflix is ??always up to date, tap Settings Apps and turn on Automatically update apps.
- When finished, restart your Apple TV by clicking Settings System Restart.
Get the Most Out of Your Apple TV
Once you fix the problems on Apple TV with Netflix not working, you can get the most out of your streaming device. If you’re still having trouble with Netflix, you can get started with Apple TV +, Apple’s new streaming service.
You can also consider other streaming services like Hulu or Amazon Prime to get the fix for the latest movies and TV series. What’s your favorite streaming platform? Let us know in the comments below.
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