To connect an Apple TV to Wi-Fi, open Settings, select Network, select Wi-Fi, pick your network, and enter its password. If an Ethernet cable is plugged into the Apple TV, unplug it first, because the Wi-Fi option doesn’t appear while a cable is connected.
These steps are for Apple TV 4K (all generations) and Apple TV HD running a current version of tvOS. The menus match Apple’s guide to changing Wi-Fi network settings on Apple TV. You only need the Siri Remote (or the older Apple TV Remote) and your Wi-Fi password.
Before You Start
- Know the exact network name and password. Wi-Fi passwords are case-sensitive, so note any capital letters, numbers, and symbols. The password is often printed on a sticker on the router if you never changed it.
- Unplug the Ethernet cable, if there is one. Apple TV always uses a wired connection when one is available. The Ethernet port is on the back next to the HDMI port. The Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) Wi-Fi model has no Ethernet port, so you can skip this.
- Check the router. If your phone or laptop can’t get online either, fix the router or internet service first. Changing Apple TV settings won’t help.
Connect Apple TV to Wi-Fi
- Press the TV or Home button on your remote to go to the Home Screen, then open Settings (the gray gear icon).
- Scroll down and select Network. This screen shows how the Apple TV is connected right now.
- Select Wi-Fi. Apple TV scans for nearby networks and shows them in a list. If you just unplugged an Ethernet cable and don’t see Wi-Fi yet, wait a few minutes and open Network again.
- Select your network name from the list. A password screen with an on-screen keyboard opens.
- Type the password. Swipe or press on the remote’s clickpad to move between letters, and click to enter each one. Select the abc, ABC, or #+= keys to switch between lowercase, uppercase, and symbols.
Typing a long password with the remote is slow. If an Apple TV Keyboard notification appears on your iPhone, tap it and type there instead. You can also connect a Bluetooth keyboard to Apple TV and type on that.
- Select Done (or Join, depending on your tvOS version). Apple TV connects to the network, which usually takes a few seconds.
- Go back to Settings > Network and check the details. Connection should say Wi-Fi, your network name should appear under Network, and you should see an IP Address and Signal Strength.
To make sure the internet connection works, open an app that streams, such as Apple TV or YouTube, and play something. If the network name shows but nothing loads, the problem is usually the router or internet service, not the Apple TV.
If you plan to stream from your iPhone, also check that AirPlay is turned on for your Apple TV.
Once the Apple TV is online, you can watch YouTube on Apple TV from your iPhone by casting from the YouTube app.
Quick Route Through Control Center
Once the Apple TV has been set up, you can switch Wi-Fi networks without going through Settings:
- Press and hold the TV button on the remote. Control Center opens on the right side of the screen.
- Select the Wi-Fi button.
- Choose a network and enter its password if asked.
Join a Hidden Network
If your router doesn’t broadcast its name, the network won’t be in the list. Go to Settings > Network > Wi-Fi, scroll to the bottom of the list, and select Other. Type the exact network name, choose the security type your router uses (usually WPA2 or WPA3 Personal), and enter the password.
Connect to a Hotel or Dorm Network With a Sign-In Page
Some hotels, campuses, and public networks ask you to sign in on a web page or accept terms instead of, or in addition to, entering a password. This is called a captive network. Apple TV can’t show that web page itself, so it hands the sign-in off to an iPhone or iPad.
- Open Settings on Apple TV and select Network, then join the network as usual.
- When Apple TV detects the sign-in page, it shows a screen with options. Select Continue on iPhone or iPad.
- On your iPhone or iPad, follow the prompts to enter the room number, username, password, or whatever the network asks for.
- Return to the Apple TV and check that it’s connected.
Some of these networks end your session after a set time. If the Apple TV goes offline later, repeat the steps above. If the Continue on iPhone or iPad option never appears, update the Apple TV software (you may need to do that on a different network first), then try again. Some campus networks require you to register the device with the IT department instead.
Switch From Ethernet to Wi-Fi (or Back)
- To move to Wi-Fi: Unplug the Ethernet cable, wait a few minutes, then go to Settings > Network > Wi-Fi and pick your network. You don’t need to set up the Apple TV again.
- To go back to Ethernet: Plug the cable into the Apple TV and the router. Apple TV switches to the wired connection on its own, and Settings > Network shows Ethernet next to Connection.
Don’t mix up the two cables. The HDMI cable carries picture and sound to the TV. The Ethernet cable is the one that goes to your router.
If your TV has no HDMI port at all, you can still connect an Apple TV to a TV without HDMI by using a converter.
If Apple TV Won’t Connect to Wi-Fi
Apple’s own troubleshooting article for Apple TV Wi-Fi lists the same fixes in roughly this order. Try them one at a time and check the connection after each.
- Wrong password error. Retype the password slowly, watching for capital letters. If it still fails, forget the network and rejoin: go to Settings > Network > Wi-Fi, select the network, choose Forget Network, press Back on the remote, and join it again.
- Your network isn’t in the list. Move the Apple TV out of a closed cabinet or away from metal surfaces, and keep it in the same room as the router if you can. Check that the router is on and broadcasting its name, or use Other for a hidden network.
- There’s no Wi-Fi option under Network. An Ethernet cable is still connected. Unplug it and wait a few minutes.
- It connects, then drops. Restart the Apple TV from Settings > System > Restart. Then unplug the router and modem, wait about 30 seconds, and plug them back in. If the menus won’t respond, there are other ways to restart the Apple TV.
- It still won’t connect. Update the software. If the Apple TV has an Ethernet port, connect it to the router with a cable, go to Settings > System > Software Updates, install any update, then unplug the cable and join Wi-Fi again. Here’s more on how to update the Apple TV.
- Wi-Fi works but one app doesn’t. Open a different app. If that one plays, the problem is with the first app or its service, not your network.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does forgetting a Wi-Fi network reset my Apple TV?
No. Forget Network only removes the saved network and its password. Your apps, accounts, and settings stay the same. You’ll need to enter the password again to rejoin.
Is Wi-Fi or Ethernet better for Apple TV?
Ethernet is usually more stable, especially for 4K streaming or if the router is in another room. Wi-Fi is fine for most homes and lets you place the Apple TV anywhere. If videos buffer often on Wi-Fi and you can run a cable, try Ethernet.
How do I see which Wi-Fi network my Apple TV is using?
Go to Settings > Network. The Network line shows the name of the Wi-Fi network it’s connected to, along with the signal strength.
Can I connect Apple TV to Wi-Fi without the remote?
You need some way to control it. If you’ve lost the remote, the Apple TV Remote in Control Center on an iPhone can control the Apple TV, but only when both are already on the same network. On a new network, you’ll need the physical remote or a wired Ethernet connection first.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are checked step by step against the device or app maker’s own documentation and tested on his own devices whenever he has the hardware or software, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
Read more about Matthew and how Solve Your Tech writes and updates its guides, or report a correction.