Netflix has its official App made available for almost all Smart TV platforms, like Android, Apple TV, Roku, and Fire TV. You can access the entire content library if you have a plan that supports watching on TV. However, your planned weekend movie nights might get ruined if you find Netflix not working on Apple TV.
Apple TV users who own Smart TVs of 2nd generation and above have complained of Netflix not working on their TVs, with frequent App crashes occurring while browsing the library. Sometimes, the videos won’t even load, and you might see a ‘Netflix is currently unavailable’ message on your TV screen.
If you want instant ways to troubleshoot this issue, this article is for you. Here, we will guide you through a few top fixes you can use if you find Netflix not working on Apple TV.
Causes of Netflix Not Working on Apple TV:
Most of the time, Netflix might not work on your Apple TV due to any of the following issues:
- Poor network connectivity
- Server issues or glitches
- Netflix credential issues
- No valid Netflix Plan is available
- Outdated TV software or any other issues.
How to Fix Netflix Not Working on Apple TV Issue?
Now that you know the possible causes behind this problem, let us look into some ways to troubleshoot when you find Netflix not working on Apple TV. In this section, we have mentioned some easy fixes that have worked for many other users who faced the same issue. In case one solution does not work for you, make sure that you try the next one on the list.
1. Restart your Apple TV:
This is one of the simplest solutions you can go for. A simple restart of your TV might solve any minor glitches that lead to Netflix not working on Apple TV.
To do so, Turn Off and Unplug your TV from the power outlet. Please wait a while, plug in the TV again, and then Turn it On. Try opening Netflix and playing the video of your choice to see if the problem occurs again.
You can restart your TV by going to the General section from the device settings and then clicking on the Restart option.
2. Check your Internet connection:
If the restart was done properly and the issue has still not been resolved, the next solution you can try is checking your network connectivity. Sometimes your WiFi connection might not be stable. This can lead to Netflix not working properly on your Apple TV.
You can check the WiFi status on the Apple TV by following these steps:
- Open the device settings on Apple TV.
- Select the Networks option from the list.
3. The signal strength and network you are connected to will be visible in the section.
You can also check the speed of your network by going for the SpeedTest by Ookla.
3. Restart Netflix on your TV:
If your WiFi is working properly, then the next thing you can try is restarting Netflix on your Apple TV. To do so, follow these steps:
- Double-press the home button on your TV remote.
- A menu that has all your recent apps will appear. Select Netflix from the list.
3. Swipe up on the touchpad to close the App.
Further, you can reopen the App and check if the problem has been resolved.
4. Check the Netflix Server Status:
If Netflix’s servers are down, you might find Netflix not working properly on Apple TV. To check if there are server issues with the App, you can check the server status of Netflix by going to the Netflix help center or using the DownDetector.
People who experience server issues with various Apps report it on DownDetector. This way, you can know if others face the problem of Netflix not working on Apple TV. If a server issue is the cause behind the problem, you will have to wait until Netflix fixes their servers on their end.
5. Update your Apple TV:
If your TV has been bugged or the software is outdated, it might cause problems with the proper working of Netflix on the TV. To fix this, you can try updating the TV software by following these steps:
- Go to the System section from the menu in the device Settings.
- Click on Software Updates in the Maintenance section.
3. Click on Update Now to Install any new available updates.
After the update, you can try opening Netflix again to check if the issue has been resolved.
6. Check your Netflix Payment method:
If you do not have a valid Netflix subscription, you might experience problems while streaming the content on your Apple TV. In case your plan or payment details need to be updated, you can do so by following these steps:
- Open the Netflix App and click your Profile icon in the top right corner.
- Click on the Account option from the dropdown menu.
3. Select the ‘Manage Payment info’ option in the Membership and Billing section.
4. Your current payment method and details will be shown to you. You can click on the Change Payment Method option to add the new details if any change is needed.
7. Choose a Premium Netflix Plan:
If you have opted for the Netflix Basic or Standard plan, the number of devices that can simultaneously use the service will be less. You might need to upgrade your existing plan to Premium to enable access to Netflix on more devices and get 4K streaming on your Apple TV. To change your plan, follow these steps:
- Open the Account menu on Netflix by clicking on the Profile icon in the top right of the screen.
- Click the ‘Upgrade’ option in the Plan details section and choose the Premium plan to Upgrade to Premium.
8. Remove any unknown devices:
If you exceed the device limit, Netflix will not work on your device. You must know how many devices you can watch simultaneously to avoid this issue. You can also delete unwanted devices from your account to continue streaming on Netflix by following these steps:
- Open Netflix on your Apple TV. Click on the Profile icon in the top right corner of the screen.
- Click on the Account option from the dropdown menu.
- Click the ‘Manage access and devices; option in the Security and Privacy section.
4. The devices logged in to your account will be shown to you. Click the SignOut option next to any device you wish to remove.
9. Enable Background App Refresh:
If background refresh is enabled on Apps, they can frequently refresh the content and keep the App updated. It is always recommended to enable background refresh to those Apps you frequently use. However, if you have disabled this option for Netflix because it consumes too much data and power, you can try enabling it again to check if Netflix starts working on Apple TV.
You can enable background App refresh by following these steps:
- Use your remote to open the Settings menu on Apple TV.
- Choose the Apps option from the list.
3. Click on Netflix from the list of Apps.
4. Turn On Background App Refresh by enabling it.
Restart Netflix and then try turning it On again to check if the problem has been resolved.
10. Delete and Reinstall Netflix:
The last solution you can go for is deleting and reinstalling Netflix on your Apple TV again. If your App is bugged or glitchy, a reinstall might fix the issue and get the App working normally on your Apple TV again. To do so, follow these steps:
- Open the Apple TV settings and click on the General option from the list.
- In the General section, click on the Manage storage option.
3. Click the Trash icon next to Netflix to delete the App.
4. Confirm the deletion of the App.
After the uninstall, you can go to the AppStore, Install Netflix again, and freshly Log in to your account using your credentials to check if the issue of Netflix not working on Apple TV has been resolved.
Frequently asked questions:
If this error occurs, try Logging in to your account using the correct credentials again. If the error continues, you can try logging in again for a Password reset.
The problem might be either with the TV or the App. In such cases, you can try restarting the TV first. If it does not work, try uninstalling and reinstalling Netflix on your Apple TV.
You can try changing the Audio settings of the TV to see if the problem resolves. Go to the device Settings, and navigate to the Audio format section in the Video and Audio section. Select ‘Auto’ in the Dolby option. Refresh Netflix and try using it again to see if the problem has been solved.
Conclusion:
You might encounter the issue of Netflix not working on Apple TV for various reasons. Although most of the time, the problem might be due to the servers, many other reasons exist, ranging from outdated software to issues with the App itself.
In this article, we have discussed the causes behind the problem as well as some of the quick fixes you can try to solve the same. You can try the methods one after the other to see which one works for you. Note that if the issue still occurs even after you delete and reinstall the App, you can always contact the Apple Support team to check for any other issues with the software of your TV.
If this blog was useful in solving your problem, kindly let us know which fix helped you. Also, if anything more can be added to this article, you can share your thoughts in the comments section too!!
Hello, I’m Sreelakshmi, a content enthusiast with 6 years of experience. I’m dedicated to addressing critical issues within OTT content through insightful articles, using my words to spark discussions and provide clarity.
