Skip to Content

Apple TV Disney Plus Not Working

Disney Plus is a well sought-after app in the streaming world due to its unique content. However, some Apple TV users have experienced issues trying to get the app to work. If your Disney Plus app is not working on your Apple TV, this guide aims to help you get the app working again through a number of troubleshooting methods.

When Disney Plus is not working on Apple TV, one common reason is outdated software. Ensure both your Apple TV’s operating system and the Disney Plus app are updated to their latest versions. This can resolve compatibility issues that may be causing the app to malfunction.

Another potential cause for Disney Plus not working on Apple TV is network connectivity issues. A weak or unstable internet connection can hinder the app’s performance. To fix this, try resetting your Wi-Fi router and ensure your Apple TV has a strong network connection. If possible, connect the Apple TV to the router using an Ethernet cable for a more stable connection.

Movie choices on wall mounted TV

Below is a more detailed breakdown of these issues and more solutions to each specific problem with Disney Plus. I have also included issues streaming Disney Plus through Airplay.

Apple TV Disney Plus Not Working

There are a number of ways you can fix your Disney Plus app. Below are some troubleshooting tips that apply to most situations. These methods can be used, but there are also problem-specific solutions listed further down.

Force the App to Close

Sometimes all it takes is to close the app properly and reloading it. To force an app to close on Apple TV, follow the steps below.

Step 1: On the Siri remote, double click the TV button. All open apps should come up in a row.

Step 2: Make sure the Disney Plus app is highlighted.

Step 3: Swipe up or tap up on the remote to force the app to close. This is similar to closing an app on an iPhone or iPad.

Restart or Reset the Apple TV

Sometimes there may be underlying issues with the Apple TV software that you are unaware of. These small errors can usually be solved by restarting or resetting the device. To restart the Apple TV, follow the pathway below.

Settings > System > Restart.

If you want to reset the Apple TV, you can either perform a hard reset or a factory reset. A hard reset drains the Apple TV of any residual power to clear any errors from the system’s memory. This can be done using the steps below and will not affect any of your saved preferences or downloaded content.

Step 1: Unplug the Apple TV from its power source.

Step 2: Wait approximately 10 minutes.

Step 3: Plug the Apple TV back in and turn it on again.

If you want to reset it to its factory settings, you can find these steps below. However, keep in mind that this will return the Apple TV to how you first received it form the store, erasing all content and preferences you have altered.

Settings > System > Reset.

Update Disney Plus and the Apple TV

You may be able to resolve your issues by updating the Disney Plus app or the Apple TV. Ensuring both are up to date will mean that any bugs from the previous version of firmware will be fixed in the update. To perform an update on the Disney Plus app, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Press and hold the ‘Menu’ button to return to the Apple TV main menu.

Step 2: Open the App Store.

Step 3: Find the Disney Plus app.

Step 4: If an update is available, select ‘Update’.

You can also set your apps to update automatically, following the pathway below. This will ensure you are always running the latest firmware.

Settings > Apps > Automatically Update Apps.

If you would like to update the Apple TV, you can do this manually using the steps below. You will also find the automatic update feature in the same settings.

Settings > System > Software Updates > Update Software > Download and Install.

Check the Disney Plus Servers

Sometimes there may be issues with the Disney Plus app when the Disney servers are down. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do about this situation, so you will just have to wait until Disney resolves the issue. You can check the servers by either calling Disney support directly, or by checking websites such as Down Detector.

Network Issues

There are a number of things that can affect your WiFi signal and disrupt your Disney Plus stream. Poor internet may also prevent the app from loading at all. Below are a number of ways you can improve your internet connection or improve your streaming service.

· Restart the modem/router

· Minimise interference

· Move the modem/router closer to the Apple TV

· Use Ethernet connection

· Stream at a lower quality

The simplest and most common troubleshooting method for network connection issues is to restart your modem and router. This will clear any small errors that have occurred within the system. You should reset your modem and router using the method below.

Step 1: Unplug both your modem and router (if you have one) from their power source.

Step 2: Wait for at least one minute with them unplugged.

Step 3: Plug the modem back in and wait for it to fully reboot.

Step 4: Once the modem is up and running again, plug in the router and wait for it to fully reboot.

There are many different things that can interfere with your WiFi. Minimising these will help to strengthen your WiFi signal or prevent it from cutting in and out. Below are the main causes of signal interference.

· Other WiFi networks or Bluetooth devices, such as headphones

· Baby monitors or radios

· Microwaves

· Thick timber or concrete walls

· Large bodies of water, such as a hydroponic heating unit or aquarium

The distance of the modem or router from your Apple TV can also make a large difference. Ideally, this distance should be no more than 30 feet. If you have a larger home and cannot move either the modem/route or Apple TV, you may need a signal booster.

If you don’t mind using a cable connection, you could also consider connecting the Apple TV via an Ethernet cable. It is well known that Ethernet connections provide faster internet than wireless, so these are a good idea if you are streaming high quality content, such as 4K.

If you aren’t particular about video quality, you can always lower the streaming quality. Using standard definition will put less demand on your internet connection, meaning you can stream smoothly with a poor WiFi signal. You can change your settings to use standard definition in the Disney Plus settings below.

Step 1: Open the Disney Plus app.

Step 2: Select ‘App Settings’.

Step 3: Select ‘Save Data’.

Disney Plus App Not Showing Up/Available/Found on Apple TV

Astonished male female couple watching TV

Disney Plus is only supported by fourth generation Apple TVs or later models. Therefore first, second and third generation Apple TVs cannot download the Disney Plus app. However, you can still use Airplay to stream Disney Plus content from another Apple device (iPad or iPhone).

If you do have one of the later models and still can’t find the Disney App, try updating your Apple TV. Disney Plus is only supported on the Apple TV 4K if it is running OS 11.0 or later.

Apple TV Disney Plus Won’t Airplay/Mirror

TV mirroring phone screen

Disney has made it possible to Airplay the Disney Plus app to any Apple TV model. Therefore, you should not have any issues due to having an earlier model of the Apple TV.

One common issue is that one of the devices is not connected to your home WiFi. You must make sure that both the Apple TV and the Apple device (iPhone or iPad) are connected to the same WiFi in order to be able to communicate.

Apple TV Disney Plus Sound/Audio/Volume Not Working

Male watching TV

There are a number of reasons why the audio may not be working on the Disney Plus app. First, make sure that your TV or speaker is not muted and that the volume has been turned up.

The second thing to check would be the HDMI connection between the Apple TV and your TV. You audio signal will be send through this cable the TV and then out through either the TV speaker or an external speaker. Try unplugging and reinserting the HDMI cable to see if there is a loose connection.

You may also need to change your Apple TV’s audio settings. These different settings have been outlined below and are found in the same settings on the Apple TV.

Audio Output

Settings > Video and Audio > Audio Output

You can adjust where the Apple TV sound comes out for your Apple TV. This includes TV speakers, AirPods, Bluetooth headphones or an external speaker. If the wrong audio output is selected, your sound will not work.

Audio Format

Settings > Video and Audio > Audio Format > Change Format

Usually the Apple TV will default to the best audio format possible with your setup. If you are having problems with the audio, you should look at changing these settings. The options you have include Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital 5.1 or Stereo.

Audio Mode

Settings > Video and Audio > Audio Mode

The audio mode is often set to optimise the audio output. This is another setting that may be affecting the sound in your Disney Plus app. You can cycle between 16-bit audio and Auto Mode to see which one works for you.

If none of these settings are fixing the audio, try some of the troubleshooting methods mentioned at the beginning of this article. This includes restarting or reinstalling the app, or resetting the Apple TV.

Apple TV Disney Plus Black/Blank Screen/No Picture

Male and female watching TV together on sofa

The reason your screen will go blank when using the Disney Plus app is because there is an issue transferring the video signal across the Apple TVs HDMI cable. This is usually an issue with high-quality content, such as 4K videos.

This may be fixed by plugging your HDMI cable into a different HDMI port in your TV. Most TVs will have HDMI ports that support different functions. You user manual should indicate which port is best for HD or 4K content.

If you do not have another option for the HDMI port, you can downgrade your video signal from ‘HDR’ to SDR’. In some cases, your TV may not be able to support HDR. You can change these settings by selecting any ‘SDR’ option in the pathway below.

Settings > Video and Audio > Format

If this is not the issue, try the troubleshooting methods listed in the beginning of this article.

Apple TV Won’t Play Disney Plus

Back of male head reading book while watching TV

There are a number of error codes that you may come across when trying to watch Disney Plus on your Apple TV. These errors will prevent you from playing content on the app.

Some of these errors, such as error codes 41 and 76, indicate that Disney’s servers are overloaded by too many people trying to access their content at the same time. This is an issue that needs to be fixed by Disney. However, from your end you could wait 10-20 minutes before trying again.

Other errors, such as error code 42, will indicate that there is an issue with the network. In this case, you can troubleshoot your network issues using the methods above.

Error code 83 is the most frustrating code. This error indicates that something has gone wrong, but that Disney is not sure what it was or how to fix it.

You can try some of the troubleshooting tips mentioned at the beginning of this article. You could also try using a VPN as some people have had success with this.

Apple TV Disney Plus Login Problems

Male and female laughing while watching TV

If you are having trouble logging in to Disney Plus on your Apple TV, first make sure that you are typing in a case sensitive password. If you already have been doing this, you might need to reset your password by following the prompts on the screen.

If you are confident that you have the correct password and don’t want to go through a password reset, you should try uninstalling the app and reinstalling it. There may be a bug in the system that requires the app to be reset.

Poor network connection can also cause issues with your login as this will affect the connection of your Apple TV to the Disney Plus servers. Follow the troubleshooting methods above to try to fix this issue.

Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on June 28, 2021.

Apple TV Disney Plus Not Loading/Opening

Male and female relaxing on sofa while watching TV

Disney Plus usually does not load when there is an issue with your network connection. You can find the troubleshooting methods for this above, but first you might like to test your internet speed on the Apple TV to confirm that this is the problem.

Check Your Internet Speed

If you are struggling with Disney Plus loading, whether it is the app itself or a particular movie or TV show, you should check if your Apple TV is still connected to the network. You can do this using the steps below.

Step 1: Press and hold the ‘Menu’ button to open the main menu in your Apple TV.

Step 2: Navigate to ‘Settings > General > Network > Test Network’.

Step 3: Select ‘Ok’ to begin the test.

Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on June 28, 2021.

If you are connected (the test was successful), you should then run a speed test to make sure your internet is fast enough to run the Disney Plus app smoothly. This can be done by downloading the app version of ‘SPEEDTEST’ onto the Apple TV.

For normal content, you should have speeds of at least 5MB/s. If you want to stream high quality content, such as 4K content, you will need at least 25MB/s for a smooth playback. You can find troubleshooting methods for your WiFi signal at the beginning of this article.

Disney Plus Not Connecting to Apple TV

Male and female laughing while watching TV on sofa in living room

If you are struggling to connect Disney Plus to your Apple TV using Airplay, you can find recommended solutions above, under “Apple TV Disney Plus Won’t Airplay/Mirror”. You can also find general troubleshooting tips at the beginning of this article.

The quick checklist of actionable items to go through include forcing the Disney+ app to close, Restarting both the Disney+ app and Apple TV, Updating both the Disney+ or Apple TV apps if there are updates available, and restarting the Internet modem.

Disney Plus Keeps Freezing/Crashing on Apple TV

Male and female watching TV and smiling

If your Disney Plus app is crashing, it is likely because the cache is too full. This refers to the temporary storage of data memory, which allows the app to load faster. The cache can be become full with extensive use of the app.

Although you cannot directly clear the cache of the Disney Plus app on your Apple TV, reinstalling the app will achieve the same thing. To uninstall and reinstall the app, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Press and hold the ‘Menu’ button to open the Apple TV’s main menu.

Step 2: Highlight the Disney Plus app.

Step 3: Press and hold the ‘Select’ button until the app starts to wobble.

Step 4: Press the ‘Play/Pause’ button on the remote.

Step 5: Select ‘Delete’.

Step 6: Open the App Store.

Step 7: Find the Disney Plus app and select ‘Install’.

Another thing that might be causing the Disney Plus app to crash is having too many apps open at the same time. To close all the other apps, follow the steps mentioned above, under ‘Force the App to Close. However, instead of closing the Disney Plus app, close all the other apps that are open.

If this does not solve your issue, you may need to try the troubleshooting methods mentioned at the beginning of the article. The next most likely issue is that your network is not working properly.

Apple TV Disney Plus Won’t Download

Female using remote to turn on TV

If your Disney Plus App won’t download on your Apple TV, you should check your network connection using the methods mentioned throughout this article. You may also need to free up some space on the Apple TV. The Disney Plus app requires approximately 120MB of space.

Related Articles

Apple TV Hulu Not Working

Apple TV Movies Not Working

Apple TV Light Keeps Blinking/Not Blinking

Apple TV Can’t Log In Keeps Asking For Verification/Code

ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on June 28, 2021.

Apple TV AirPlay Not Working