Apple TV connects to WiFi when ethernet cable is plugged in.

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Apple TV connects to WiFi when ethernet cable is plugged in.

I have an Apple TV 4K. It is plugged into ethernet. I look on my router SW and it shows up on my WiFi VLAN as well as my hard network (enet). The WiFi shows several MB of downloads even though I rebooted my network and the Apple TV less then 30min ago. The ethernet connection shows up as I would expect and in Setting->Network on the ATV, it shows that the ethernet is connected and is being used and this is corroborated by my router status page.

I have 2 HomePod mini's that I use for the audio output of the ATV. So I guess that it is possible that the ATV is communicating with the pair of HomePods via WiFi, although I thought it used BT for this but I could be wrong.

I have an exact copy of this setup in my living room and don't see that ATV's WiFi show up on my router.

I guess my questions is why is the ATV connecting to WiFi at all if it is suppose to be disabled with an ethernet cable connected?

Posted on Nov 1, 2025 8:04 AM

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Answer 1

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MrHoffman

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Nov 1, 2025 1:26 PM in response to jzcxr

I just checked a UI network (running Ubiquiti Network 9.5.21), and don’t see the Apple TV 4K GbE on the Wi-Fi side. Wired only. Given you have the Apple TV 4K GbE configured to use HomePod mini for output, I suspect that’s why this is different.

This area isn’t AFAIK documented. I’ve seen some suggestions that Apple is using Multipeer Connectivity here, but Apple using Threads for this configuration (as Apple TV 4K models with dual networking provide a Threads border router), and possibly also using Matter, wouldn’t surprise. Threads is mostly-kinda IPv6 mesh, and the border router in use here is your Apple TV 4K GbE

I suspect more than sound is (optionally) routed directly from Apple TV to HomePod mini:

For some more technical info about what is known here, search for what Simone Margaritelli has written about the Apple multipeer connectivity framework. And Threads is a standard (IEEE 802.15.4), so that should be easier to find.

[Kinda wondering if UniFi will offer a Threads border router.]

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Answer 2

Nov 1, 2025 8:25 AM in response to jzcxr

You’re probably using an eero mesh network.

AppleTV uses wired and Wi-Fi, HomePod mini uses Wi-Fi, and what I suspect is a Bonjour sleep proxy might be involved.

HomePod Gen2 connecting through my Apple … - Apple Community

As for assistance with weird data and weird displays from eero or whatever other router, contact the router vendor. They know their own gear best.

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Answer 3

jzcxr Author

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10 points

Nov 1, 2025 12:29 PM in response to MrHoffman

Thanks for the info.

FYI I have a Unifi network setup with two AP connected and mesh disabled.

The ATV should only use one or the other, never both WiFi/Ethernet, I thought, I could be wrong.

The HomePod mini's use Wifi but they could still talk to my ATV (MDNS is enabled) via ethernet through my router.

I suppose the ATV could be taking to the Mini's via a direct (ad-hoc) WiFi connection.

It's not really a problem I was just curious about the connection on my network as it was unexpected.

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Answer 4

Nov 1, 2025 1:45 PM in response to MrHoffman

PS / NB: Multipeer is apparently on the way out: Multipeer Connectivity connection … | Apple Developer Forums

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