There’s a plethora of streaming devices out there from smaller companies like Roku but larger corporations like Amazon and Apple have also been getting into the streaming game. With Apple having its own streaming service — Apple TV, it’s only natural that the company might offer a streaming device as well.
As sleek as Apple’s Apple TV streaming device is, just like most other streaming gadgets it lacks a display which can indicate the device’s status to the user. That said, these devices use a status LED in different states to report any errors to the user.
In this article, we’re talking about why your Apple TV might be blinking and what you can do to fix the problem.
Why does this happen?
More often than not, a blinking LED on your Apple TV will indicate pairing or power issues. Other possible causes include the following:
- Internet connectivity issues.
- The remote isn’t paired properly.
- HDMI connection problems.
- The device needs to be reset to factory settings.
Also read: What are the 3 Main Benefits of a VPN?
How to fix this?
Here are six fixes you can try out.
Restart Apple TV
One of the first things you should do when diagnosing issues like these is to try and restart your device. Restarting your Apple TV requires heading into the settings, selecting System and then the Restart option within. This can fix seemingly random issues on your device, including any blinking LEDs.
Check your internet connection
It’s a good idea to keep an eye on your internet connection. Higher quality and especially 4K content is heavy on the bandwidth to stream, and if you don’t have enough of it, you can sometimes run into problems. At least 25mbps upload and download speeds are recommended.
Try another resolution
Sometimes running your Apple TV at too high or too low a resolution can also cause problems. You can fix this by pressing and holding down the Menu and Volume Down buttons on your Apple TV remote for around five seconds. Once done, the Apple TV will automatically go through all possible resolutions for 20 seconds each letting you pick the right resolution for your TV.
Also read: How to duplicate a page in Word?
Check the input source
TVs with multiple HDMI inputs can decide between input sources. Check to ensure you’ve got the right input source active in your TV corresponding to the HDMI port your Apple TV is plugged into.
There’s also a possibility that the HDMI port you’re using on your TV is broken. Try switching to a different HDMI port and changing the corresponding input source to see if that solves your problem.
Reset Apple TV
Resetting your Apple TV to its factory default settings can also fix a bunch of issues. Here’s how.
Step 1: Power off the Apple TV and connect it to your PC using a USB cable before turning it back on again.
Step 2: Once iTunes opens on your computer, click the Restore Apple TV option.
Step 3: Confirm the action by selecting Restore and Update.
Now wait for the process to complete and your Apple TV should be up and running in no time.
Contact Apple Support
If nothing else works, your best bet is to take the Apple TV device to an authorised Apple repair centre and have them fix the issue for you. You might also want to contact Apple TV support before turning your device in to see if they can fix the issue remotely.
Also read: How to see who liked your playlist on Spotify?
Someone who writes/edits/shoots/hosts all things tech and when he’s not, streams himself racing virtual cars.
You can contact him here: [email protected]
