There are no on-screen controls on your Apple TV; it only works with a select group of remotes.
This makes for a sleeker aesthetic, but you’ll be in a pickle if you lose your remote and need to turn on your Apple TV.
The Apple TV can be powered on without a separate remote. And if you misplace the remote, your iOS device can serve as a replacement. How?
Let’s find out…
How to Turn On Your Apple TV
To turn on your Apple TV, simply press the Home or Menu buttons on your remote. This applies to both new and old models. If you don’t have your remote, you can turn your device on by unplugging it and plugging it back in.
How to Turn On Your Apple TV Without a Remote
- Make sure your television is set to the same HDMI input as the Apple TV.
- Turn off your Apple TV. If you’re not sure which plug controls the power, the black cable coming out of the back of your Apple TV should be the one. Remove this cable from the Apple TV or unplug it from the outlet.
Although not all Apple TVs have the same ports on the back, they all have the power cable in the same location.
- Replace the plug. When you do this, the Apple logo should appear briefly on your TV screen before transitioning to a blank screen. The white “on” light on the Apple TV should be blinking.
- The homescreen of your Apple TV will appear after a few seconds.
You can now use an iPhone or iPad as a remote control.
Once paired, this other device can be used to turn on your Apple TV in the future.
How to Turn Off Your Apple TV With the Remote
- Press and hold the Home button for at least 3 seconds to turn off your Apple TV (4th generation or newer) with your remote. When you see the Control Center pop-up on the right side of your TV screen, select Sleep.
- For 3 seconds, hold down the Home button on your Apple TV remote. The Home button is the one with the TV screen icon.
- To put the TV to sleep, go to the main menu screen and press and hold the Play/Pause button on your remote for at least 5 seconds if you’re using a third-generation Apple TV or earlier.
- Wait until the Control Center menu appears. If no menu appears on the right side of your screen, press the Home button once. Then, after a brief pause, press and hold the Home button for 3 seconds again.
- Then, to turn your device off, select Sleep. Depending on your setup, this may also turn off your TV.
These steps will also work if you are using Apple’s Remote app. If you have a universal remote or are unable to use the Home button on your remote, you can also turn off your device through the Settings app on your device. Here’s how it’s done:
How to Turn Off Your Apple TV Via Settings
To turn off your Apple TV, navigate to the Home screen and select Settings. Then, at the very bottom of the menu, select Sleep Now. This also works if you have a third-generation or earlier model.
- Navigate to the Apple TV’s Home screen.
- Then, choose Settings. The app with the gear-shaped icon is this one.
- Finally, scroll to the bottom of the menu and choose Sleep Now to turn off your device. Depending on your setup, this may also turn off your TV.
How to Set a Sleep Timer on Your Apple TV
Go to the Home screen and select Settings to set up a sleep timer on your Apple TV. Then go to General > Sleep After and specify how long it takes your device to sleep. You can also disable the sleep timer by choosing Never. Here is the step by step process:
- Navigate to the Apple TV’s Home screen.
- Then, choose Settings.
- Select General next.
- Then choose Sleep After.
Finally, choose when you want your device to sleep. You can choose from Never, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 5 hours, or 10 hours. If you select Never, your device will not go to sleep on its own, even after you have finished using it. However, if you select 15 minutes or more, it will sleep after that amount of time has passed since you last interacted with it.
How to Set Up an Apple TV
The Apple TV device itself, a Siri remote, a power cord to connect your Apple TV to an outlet, and a lightning-to USB cable for charging the remote are all included in the box. It does not include an HDMI cable, which you will also require, so ensure you have one before you begin.
Step 1
Plug your Apple TV into an outlet with the power cord and connect it to your TV with the HDMI cable.
Step 2
Turn on your TV and navigate to the HDMI input to which your Apple TV is connected. Tap or click your remote to activate the setup, depending on the model. After that, select your language and region. Proceed to the data and privacy disclosure.
Step 3
Connecting to your WiFi network and entering your Apple ID are the next steps in the setup. You’ll be asked whether you want to “Set Up with Device” or “Set Up Manually.”
#1. Set Up with Device
If you choose to set up with your iPhone or another iOS device, ensure that it is connected to WiFi and that Bluetooth is enabled. Hold the device near the Apple TV to activate a prompt on your device. To proceed, press the “Set Up” button. Then, you’ll be prompted to enter an authentication code displayed on your TV. After you enter the code, the authentication process should take about 30 seconds.
#2. Set Up Manually
If you choose to do it manually, you will be prompted to select your WiFi network and enter your password. Then, enter your Apple ID, which you can skip if you don’t want to, but it’s recommended because it allows you to do things like make iTunes purchases and sync to your other Apple devices.
Step 4
The setup is nearly complete now that you’ve connected to WiFi. The following screens will ask you to select several settings. Here’s a breakdown of what they mean:
- Dictation and Siri: Select whether or not to use Siri, Apple’s voice assistant.
- Do you have a TV provider? You can sign in and watch cable TV through the device if you have a cable subscription.
- If you have more than one Apple TV, turning on “One Home Screen” syncs them all (via iCloud) so that all of your apps and preferences are the same on every home screen.
- Location Services: Allow or disallow Apple to collect data from your Apple TV based on your current location.
- Explore the World: Allow or disable the automatic download of new screensaver images.
- Analytics: Select whether or not to send analytics data to Apple.
- Conditions of Use: Quite self-explanatory. To use Apple TV, you must first agree.
Your Apple TV is now ready to use! Enjoy everything that your smart devices’ seamless compatibility has to offer.
Is it possible to turn on Apple TV without a remote?
Yes. You can use the Apple TV Remote app on your iOS device to turn on Apple TV without a remote.
How Do I Turn Off Apple TV Using a Remote?
By enabling the Sleep option on Apple TV, you can easily turn off the Apple TV.
What should I do if my Apple TV remote isn’t working?
If your remote isn’t working, you can use the Apple TV Remote app on your iPhone or iPad to control the Apple TV.
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