All Apps want to connect to the Apple TV app

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Level 1

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All Apps want to connect to the Apple TV app

I have an older Apple TV box (A1625), but the OS updates automatically and is current.

I have Apple TV+ along with a number of streaming apps installed (Prime, Disney, Crave, Britbox, CBC Gem, etc). They all work just fine individually when their app is launched.

However, when I am at the Apple TV app Home Screen- where I might see a preview of an Apple TV+ show displayed, I also see a list of shows to continue watching. Or I might search for a show from there.

If the show is an Apple TV+ show it fires right up. If the show is on some other streaming service it usually takes me to a full screen freeze frame from the show with details of the episode and then offers either a play button or “open in…” button.

Regardless of what the (non-Apple TV+) streaming service is, I am now prompted with a screen that says the following (where <APP> is replaced the name of the streaming service):

“Connect <APP> to the Apple TV app”, then the <APP> logo, then “in the Apple TV app, you’ll get one watchlist and personalized recommendations for all the apps you added. <APP> will share what you watch with Apple using the Apple account <my Apple ID>”, and then a ‘Connect’ button or ‘Not Now’ button.

I press connect. The screen blurs, a standard Apple rotating/processing the request icon appears… and stays that way until the screen saver kicks in, and then eventually the Apple TV box goes to sleep.

The connect to the Apple TV app operation never succeeds.

I’ve tried every remedy I can think of including wiping the Apple TV and reinitialzing & reinstalling all the apps.

there is obviously something messed up, but I cannot figure out what.

any suggestions?

Apple TV HD, tvOS 18

Posted on Mar 8, 2025 05:51 AM

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Answer 1

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Urquhart1244

Level 10

145,692 points

Mar 8, 2025 06:07 AM in response to mc2mc2

Connectable apps that you have installed on that device, can be configured to connect to the Apple TV app in:

Settings﹥Apps﹥TV app﹥[ᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴠ]﹥«third party app name»﹥On|Off.

Please try that. Else quit all the applicable apps and restart the device, then try again.

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Answer 2

mc2mc2 Author

Level 1

15 points

Mar 10, 2025 11:36 AM in response to Urquhart1244

Hello Urquhart1244. Thanks for taking the time to take a look at and respond to my query.

Interestingly, in the tvOS as installed (18.3), when I go to Settings>Apps>TV, I see nothing related to any other apps nor anything that mentions 'connect'.

One level up (at Apps), under the section titled 'App settings', I find some - but not all - of my 'streaming' apps in the list (after all the Apple offerings**). The settings available seem to vary by App ('notifications', or 'background app refresh', and/or 'Ask app not to track'), but none have or say anything about 'connect'.

For instance, BritBox doesn't appear there at all. I deleted the app and then reinstalled, signed back in etc. and it still wants me to connect to the TV App if I try and launch a BritBox program that is listed in the TV app's 'continue watching' section. Of course I say yes to the connect and that's where it all goes bad - with the spinning icon that never goes away.

That smacks to me of the system waiting for some interaction from me through the user interface window, as if some other window should have spawned (perhaps from the tvOS system?) asking that I grant permission.

I'm stumped at this point. The fact that it happens to all these apps seems as if this is an tvOS issue. all the apps I am attempting to connect appear in that linked list you provided at the beginning of your response.

** where the Apple offerings are TV, Music, iTunes Movies and TV shows, Computers, Fitness, Podcasts and Photos)

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Answer 3

mc2mc2 Author

Level 1

15 points

Mar 10, 2025 11:50 AM in response to mc2mc2

Hello again Urquhart1244,

Well... ****. It seems I had not restarted the Apple TV box in quite the manner that is prescribed in your link above. Now that I have done that, I now see 'connect' options as you indicated.

Thank you!

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Answer 4

Urquhart1244

Level 10

145,692 points

Mar 10, 2025 11:59 AM in response to mc2mc2

Interestingly, in the tvOS as installed (18.3), when I go to Settings>Apps>TV, I see nothing related to any other apps nor anything that mentions 'connect'.

It is probably further down than what the initial screen height shows. Try navigating down in the settings for the TV app.

One level up (at Apps), under the section titled 'App settings', I find some - but not all - of my 'streaming' apps in the list (after all the Apple offerings**). The settings available seem to vary by App ('notifications', or 'background app refresh', and/or 'Ask app not to track') …

Apple recommends that third party apps have their app configuration settings in this section, but not all comply. Some apps have no configuration settings for the user to list here. Some apps have their configuration settings in the app itself.

But the connecting is part of the settings for the TV app. That is where the on-off switches are.

… Of course I say yes to the connect and that's where it all goes bad - with the spinning icon that never goes away.

If it doesn’t work for you as it is supposed to, then perhaps ask the Apple Support staff for their guidance. It seemed to work for me when I set it up.

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All Apps want to connect to the Apple TV app

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