Apple TV4K 3rd Gen - Heat Management in a media cabinet

I have my AppleTV 4K / 3rd gen (Passive cooling) inside my media cabinet - to avoid possible heat related issues I have added 2 AV cabinet fans as follows: 1 fan drawing-in room air and aimed (mostly) at the box and a second fan exhausting the warm air from inside the cabinet. This seems to work - the interior of the cabinet is cooler than ever and the side of Apple TV box facing the fan is actually cool - the top still gets warm, but a bit less I think than when it was out in the room, on top of the media cabinet. I also placed 1/4" rubber feet on the bottom of the box - just to lift the box off the wood shelf which creates a gentle, continuous convective loop — a self‑driven little airflow cell under the Apple TV. - I'm not at all sure that the box dissipates heat from the bottom normally, but I thought the feet couldn't hurt.

As I say the entire interior of the cabinet is cool (I haven't actually measured temp - just my subjective sense of it) so I am feeling that the potential issues of keeping a passive-cooled device in an enclosed media cabinet are solved.


Now, one odd thing that happened last night: while streaming a 4K / dolby vision tv show (slow horses) on Apple TV+ the box did actually crash once! - it just stoped and returned me to the AppleTV Home Screen - completely out of the Apple TV+ app.

I checked the AppleTV box immediately and it did not feel particularly warm so not thinking the crash was related to an overheat issue, but need some input from others to be sure - it was the first ever Apple TV crash I have experienced. I have owned AppleTV boxes, both before 4k , and the first 4K generation. Never had a crash (or a heat issue).

Would be appreciative for feedback, impressions, thoughts, etc. on crash and potential heat issues - did I solve a potential problem re AppleTV box temp, or am I in fantasy land and doing the un-necessary?

And what are your thoughts on the crash - anyone else experienced that with 3rd gen box, or have you heard of that happening to others?

Thank you all in advance, Jay

Apple TV 4K

Posted on Oct 28, 2025 10:58 AM

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Apple TV4K 3rd Gen - Heat Management in a media cabinet

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