All apps on Apple TV 4K are not working

None of the apps on my Apple TV 4K are working. It is clearly online on my WiFi network. It has tvOS 18.5 (the latest version).

So far, here's what I've done multiple time already in attempts to fix this problem:


  • Although it's on the latest OS version, I clicked on Software Update anyway and after circling and circling, it tells me the update download was unsuccessful
  • I have restarted the Apple TV several times
  • I had shut it down for several minutes and then started it up again
  • I restarted my WiFi router

And now I am out of ideas, with the exception of doing a reset, which I really would like to avoid. Does anyone have experience with an Apple TV reset? If so, will all of my apps and data automatically be restored once I log in to my Apple account? Or must I manually download all apps and manually log in to each app.

Please help.

Apple TV 4K, tvOS 18

Posted on Jul 29, 2025 4:27 AM

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6 replies

Jul 29, 2025 6:05 AM in response to pcmeyers

It is clearly online on my WiFi network.

How so? What checks did you do, or what confirmation do you have?

From your description so far, it isn’t clear at all.


Does your Apple TV box have the expected local IP address, within the range that your router should lease for? Often 192.168.x.x (10.x.x.x and 172.x.x.x are also valid, but are not much used on home networks, due to their much bigger range (i.e. a million devices or more)) [1]. But it should not be 169.254.x.x, which would be self-assigned and non-communicating for the internet [2].

See Settings﹥Network﹥… for this data.

Let us know if that applies to your situation.


… doing a reset, which I really would like to avoid.

When choosing that, see here for instructions: Reset or restore your Apple TV to its factory settings - Apple Support


If so, will all of my apps and data automatically be restored once I log in to my Apple account?

No. After a reset, the device will have to be reconfigured “as new”.


Or must I manually download all apps and manually log in to each app.

The App Store app will list previously downloaded apps for the account, filtered for compatibility with the current device, so that makes it a tiny bit easier.

Apps that have their own content provider account, will each have to be signed in one at a time.

Third party apps that rely on your TV provider plan may get automatic sign-in, when you enter those credentials once for all such apps.

Third party apps that have a plan through your Apple Account may require to do “Restore Purchases” from within each app.

Apple’s own apps would take their sign-in from the active user account.

Jul 29, 2025 7:52 AM in response to pcmeyers

IP and router address seem about right, and in the same range, so that looks to be okay.

Next, if you can, please access the router settings. This is often accessible by going to the router address in a web browser on a computer. It would have a separate sign-in, so that only the owner can make changes. I would expect the router settings to be able to show a list of connected devices, and their status.


Mine shows a green globe next to devices that are internet connected. Your router settings may look a bit different, depending on brand, model, and software (version).




Another thing is that your chosen DNS server might be down, overwhelmed, or otherwise unavailable temporarily. Try an alternative. You may set the Apple TV DNS to ‘Automatic’, then Apple TV will use the DNS server list settings as defined on the router. Or you may enter a single manual DNS directly on Apple TV. Automatic has the benefit of multiple DNSes, so that a secondary can be tried if the primary is unavailable. For most users, the DNS servers from their ISP are not only fine, but also the fastest.

Jul 29, 2025 6:53 AM in response to Urquhart1244

Thanks for your reply. When looking at my network specs, the IP Address is 192.168.178.29, Router is 192.168.178.1 and DNS is 208.67.222.222. Says signal strength is high, however when I just tried to launch the YouTube TV app it said there is no internet connection. What should I do, considering all other devices on the network are working properly?

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All apps on Apple TV 4K are not working

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