Apple TV not streaming from Local ATV Library

Question

Apple TV not streaming from Local ATV Library

Hi all,

I have 6 Apple TV's across my house with 4 x 4k (2 x A1842 and 1 x A2169 and 1 x A2737) and 2 x HD (A1625). They all connect to a MacStudio M1 PRO either via WIFI or LAN to the Local Movie and TV library.

I can see the Movies on the Home Screen and I can see the Library's listed but when I click the ICON to connect to the server library I get this message;

"Could not connect to the MAIN SERVER" - Make sure the computer is one the same network as you Apple TV.

For some reason some of them connect but there is always 1/2 that don't want to connect to the local library on the MacStudio. To make issues worse at first it was an HD unit and all the 4K's worked perfectly now it is a 4K (A1842) that does not see the library but the other one does. Then a further complication, they all connect every time to the secondary ATV library on my 14" M1 MacBook Pro.

So what is happening with the MacStudio Server? I don't believe it is a network issue as it areas to happened across the network i.e area multiple rooms. It still happens if the ATV in connected via LAN or WiFi.

My network consists of 6 x TP-Link DECO EX75's which are all inter- connected with CAT 6 Cables and WiFi.

3 days later and I am still unable to stabilise all of my ATV to work on the network....

Mac Studio (2022)

Posted on Aug 1, 2025 5:34 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 2, 2025 2:12 AM in response to AndrewBLindstrom

A quick update. The 2 x A1625’s are now working with OS18.6 but 2 of the 4K ones have stopped connecting. I have one A1842 working and 2 that are not. All on the latest OS. I am going to try the latest BETA on one of them and hope for the best.

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Answer 2

Aug 5, 2025 6:51 AM in response to AndrewBLindstrom

Is there a limit to the number of 4K Apple TV's I can connect to a single Library.

It seems to fall over when I get to 6 units. 5 seems stable but the when I add the 6th one the error message appears.

HELP......

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Answer 3

lkrupp

Level 7

21,991 points

Aug 5, 2025 11:07 AM in response to AndrewBLindstrom

There is a limit of 5 devices...

Use Home Sharing to share media from a computer to other devices - Apple Support

"Use Home Sharing to share media from a computer to other devices

With Home Sharing, you can share, stream, and import media from up to five computers that are connected to your home Wi-Fi network."

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Answer 4

Aug 5, 2025 11:34 PM in response to lkrupp

Hi,

Thank you for your reply. I think you may have misunderstood the question. Home sharing can Authorise up to 5 computers (as per the article) with the same APPLE ID but this issue is not that.

I have 5 x Apple TV's connecting to one Server library and need to add a 6th unit.

The Apple TV are like any other device (iPad, Watch, Phone) and is associated to my Apple ID and are not considered authorised devices like the Apple TV app on my MacBook Pro or Studio.

So the question still remains. how many Apple TV can connect to a single Library.

At the moment I am using 2 of my allocated 5 computers that are authorised.

BTW - I have upgraded all the ATV's to 4k versions in the hopes that the newer tech will connect better to the network. The 6th unit should arrive today.

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