New to Apple TV?
Want to know more?
Having issues?
Need to tell Apple so they can fix it?
Start at the top of this thread. There's great info here. Get your setup correct using the information provided and ask questions. Many of us have been using an AppleTV for a while. Atmos music in Apple TV is new as of last year, but how to do something or set something up isn't.
Hate bothering people with questions? Rugged individualist in search of knowledge?
RTFM. (Read the Freaking (pg version) Manual.) But wait, where is the FM? Glad you asked:
https://support.apple.com/guide/tv/welcome/tvos
This will get updated with practically every dot release.
What is a dot release?
tvOS (the operating system for AppleTV) has a major update every year, usually in the fall. Throughout the year, minor updates happen, which iterate tvOS as such: 15.0, 15.1, 15.2, etc. These are dot releases. The current, as of this writing, is 15.3
Troubleshooting:
After you are done with settings- Start with cables and configuration (AppleTV, receiver/sound bar, TV/projector) first. 90% of issues get solved there. Most issues I run into are actually in the video side- where a TV can do Dolby Vision, the Apple TV can do Dolby Vision, and it doesn't work.
examples:
Many Sony TV's only support Dolby Vision on hdmi connections 3 and 4, and it must be manually enabled in the TV settings.
TCL TV's have a setting to set HDMI version per input
Modern Denon and Marantz receivers have a hidden service menu to expand hdmi bandwidth that sometimes helps in removing color banding issues, allows for setting the specific hdcp version for an input (useful with old projectors) and allows you to use the actual receiver to check hdmi cables (functionality and bandwidth)
These are just a few examples of how much additional tweaking is needed to get HDMI to work right these days.
if you still have issues: three routes
Open a ticket with Apple Support
https://support.apple.com
You can chat, call, or email.
1 describe the issue in DETAIL
2.describe your setup, in DETAIL!!! Equipment, how it's connected, settings used. Hate writing? Take screenshots! Also cables in use if you know what they are. This is important because hdmi copy protection, hdmi version, and EDID syncs to the weakest link in your gear chain. So if you have a $30k 2022 Atmos processor and a 12 yr old 1080p projector that only does hdmi 1.3, you can have hdcp issues.
3. Steps to replicate the problem- details counts.
4. Tell them what the expected behavior should be.
The second route:
tvOS also has a beta program, for those brave enough to test for everyone else.
https://beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram
I might as well tell you what a beta is while you are here- before software is officially released and supported, it's a means for brave souls to test it before everyone else gets it. It's like being an astronaut... except you are flying test code instead.
Sometimes, an issue may be fixed in a latest beta, and it is free to join. BUT... you are testing code that hasn't been fully qualified for release to everyone, so there may be rough edges. Most times it's really good, but if you find an issue, you can always roll back to the current release by removing your device from the beta program.
The third route:
Found an issue? Something isn't working and you have troubleshot it down to the AppleTV and how it communicates with something else?
Don't roll back yet! PLEASE SAY SOMETHING! You get no bonus points for suffering in silence. Ask if others have seen it. Then, go here:
https://www.apple.com/feedback/
1 describe the issue (one sentence)
2.describe your setup, in DETAIL!!! Equipment, how it's connected, settings used. Hate writing? Take screenshots! Also cables in use if you know what they are. This is important because hdmi copy protection, hdmi version, and EDID syncs to the weakest link in your gear chain. So if you have a $30k 2022 Atmos processor and a 12 yr old 1080p projector that only does hdmi 1.3, you can have hdcp issues.
3. Steps to replicate the problem- details counts.
4. Tell them what the expected behavior should be.
5. Screen shots, audio clips, etc
6. Send device diagnostics- see the beta program for more details in that.
The more information they have, the better the chances for a fix.
If others are having the same issue:get them to provide feedback as well!
Your voice counts! The more people who provide information on an issue, the better the chances EVERYONE has for a quick turnaround. It's never guaranteed, but a great example was a Dolby Audio (4.0/5.1) playback issue which was fixed because we (and others like folks in AVS forum) all provided feedback. It was fixed in the next dot release and many folks here ran the public beta to get it early.
Hope all this info helps and let all of us know if you need a hand.
-Edited 2/26 to include Apple Support
You just have to weigh out which pisses you off the least, using two remotes or changing the input back.
