When Spectrum came to the Apple TV in 2019, it opened up a world of possibilities for users. However, as with every new app on the market, it came with a numerous issues that needed to be fixed. If you have been experiencing issues with Spectrum not working on your Apple TV, this article will provide a number of options you can look into.
If your Spectrum app on Apple TV is not working, it may be due to a network connectivity issue. Ensure your Apple TV has a stable internet connection by going to Settings > Network. If connected via Wi-Fi, try moving closer to the router or switching to a wired connection. Restart your Apple TV and router to refresh the network connection, then try opening the Spectrum app again.
Another reason for the Spectrum app not functioning on Apple TV could be outdated software. Check for updates to both the Apple TV’s operating system and the Spectrum app itself. To update your Apple TV, go to Settings > System > Software Updates and select “Update Software.” For the Spectrum app, visit the App Store and see if there’s an update available. Keeping the software up to date can resolve many operational issues.
App glitches can also cause the Spectrum app to stop working properly. If the network and software are up to date, try uninstalling and reinstalling the Spectrum app. To do this, highlight the app on the Apple TV home screen, press and hold the touch surface until the app starts to jiggle, then press the Play/Pause button and choose Delete. Afterwards, go to the App Store, find the Spectrum app, and install it again. This can clear any temporary data or configuration issues that may be causing the problem.
I will explain these issues in more detail below, including when they occur and how you can fix them. You can also mirror the Spectrum app from another iOS device, which you can read about below.
Apple TV Spectrum Not Working
There are many reasons why your Spectrum app is not working on the Apple TV, which I will explain below. However, there are a few troubleshooting tips that you might want to try first. These should fix most small issues with the app.
Most of the issues seem to be due to the app being fairly new. New apps often have firmware bugs that can only be fixed over time when they become known to Spectrum. Therefore new firmware updates should fix old bugs.
Update or Reinstall the App
Step 1: Highlight the Spectrum TV app in the Apple TV’s main menu.
Step 2: Press and hold the select button on the Apple TV remote.
Step 3: Once the app starts to wiggle, select ‘Delete’.
Step 4: Restart your Apple TV (see below).
Step 5: Open the App Store.
Step 6: Find and install the Spectrum TV app.
Update the Apple TV
Step 1: Press and hold the ‘Menu’ button to return to the main menu.
Step 2: Navigate to ‘Settings > System >Software Updates’.
Step 3: Select ‘Update Software’.
Restart the App or Apple TV
To restart the Spectrum TV app, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Press the ‘Home’ button twice, quickly.
Step 2: Highlight the Spectrum TV app by navigating left or right.
Step 3: Swipe up on the touchpad to close the app.
Step 4: Open the app again from the Apple TV’s main menu.
To restart the Apple TV, you can unplug the device, wait 30 seconds and then plug it back in. If that doesn’t work, you can follow the pathways below to restart from the ‘Settings’ menu.
Settings > System > Restart
Apple TV Spectrum Won’t Download or Update
The Spectrum TV app will not download or update if you are experiencing internet issues. Assuming you have tried restarting the Apple TV, you should try the solutions below to fix any problems with your internet.
Restart the Modem
Restarting the modem or router will reset any small bugs that have occurred. You should do this in the order below.
Step 1: Unplug your modem and router (if you have one) from the power.
Step 2: Wait at least one minute while they are unplugged.
Step 3: Plug in your modem and allow it to fully reboot.
Step 4: Once your modem has fully rebooted, plug your router back in and wait for that to fully reboot.
Test your Connection and Speed
You can test your internet connection through your Apple TV. Below are the steps to do this.
Step 1: Press and hold the ‘Menu’ button to return to the main menu.
Step 2: Navigate to ‘Settings > General > Network’.
Step 3: Select ‘Test Network’ and press ‘Ok’ to confirm.
This will tell you whether or not your internet is connected on the Apple TV. If it is not, you will have to fix this first. If it is, you will then need to perform a speed test to check if the internet is too slow to stream the Spectrum content.
To do this, you will need to download an app such as SpeedTest. This can be found in the App Store through the main menu. Once you have installed the app, simply open it and start the test. It will tell you what your download speed is in MB/s.
In order to run Spectrum smoothly, there are minimum download speeds required for each scenario. These are listed below.
· 4-8MB/s for pre-recorded shows or movies
· 10MB/s for live TV
· 20MB/s for 4K streaming
You also need to consider how many people are using your internet connection. Spectrum recommends 20MB/s per person for 4K streaming. Therefore, if you have three people in your home watching 4K content in their bedrooms, you will need internet speeds of at least 60MB/s.
If you are not reaching these speeds, it may be because your internet service provider is slower or there is interference. I will talk more about minimising interference below. Keep in mind that you will always get maximum download speeds through an Ethernet connection instead of WiFi.
Move the Modem Closer
Ideally, your modem or router should be in the same room as your Apple TV, but they should also be at least one foot away from one another. However, sometimes having the Apple TV in the same room is not an option. In this case, it should still be within 30 feet of your modem or router.
Even if the Apple TV is in the same room as your router, there might still be interference that is affecting your connection. If you cannot change the position of your modem or router, you should then try to minimise interference. You can find common causes of interference below.
Minimise Interference
Interference can be caused by objects or barriers within the home, or by other wireless transmissions. Possible barriers in the home include the following.
· Thick concrete or timber walls
· Water, such as an aquarium or hydronic heating system
· Metal
· The TV
For these reasons, you may need to change the position of your Apple TV near your TV. Make sure it is not directly behind the TV or within a cabinet. There may also be interference from other wireless transmissions, which I have listed below.
· Other nearby networks
· Baby monitors or other radios
· Microwaves
· Bluetooth devices, such as headphones
Spectrum App Not Found on Apple TV
If you cannot find the Spectrum app on your Apple TV, you may not have a compatible model. The spectrum app is only available on Apple TV 4K, HD, or later models with at least TVOS 13.0, which have the App Store. Therefore, if you have any of the following models, you will not have the app store or the Spectrum TV app.
· 1st Generation Apple TV
· 2nd Generation Apple TV
· 3rd Generation Apple TV
This does not mean that you can’t play Spectrum through your Apple TV. If your Apple TV and other Apple devices are compatible through AirPlay, you can mirror the app from another device.
Spectrum Keeps Freezing/Crashing on Apple TV
If your Spectrum app is crashing or freezing, it could be due to issues with your internet, bugs in the firmware or not enough memory space. I will explain these in more detail below.
Poor Internet Connection
Poor internet connection will cause your playback to freeze or pause continuously. You may not be able to load any content at all, depending on the issue. This is because streaming movies, TV shows or live TV requires downloading that content.
Usually the content will download at the same time you watch the show. The app will always have a small amount of the show downloaded ahead of time to make sure your stream doesn’t get stuck. This is known as the buffer.
When your internet is too slow, the playback will be faster than your download speed, and therefore the buffer will not be able to keep ahead of you. This is what causes the show to pause or freeze. Below are all the ways you can improve your internet speed, which are detailed earlier in this article.
· Test your connection and speed
· Restart the modem/router
· Move the modem closer
· Minimise interference
Bugs in the Firmware
Bugs in the firmware cannot be avoided. Developers cannot anticipate every scenario their app or software will be exposed to, and sometimes it is not compatible with other functions. This is what may cause your app to crash.
These bugs need to be reported to either Spectrum or Apple so that the developers are made aware of the problem and can fix it in the next update. For this reason, running the latest firmware will help resolve these issues. Below are ways you can do this, which have been detailed earlier in this article.
· Update the Spectrum TV app
· Update the Apple TV
· Reinstall the Spectrum TV App
Not Enough Memory
Apps need a small amount of memory space in order to run smoothly. If you have used up all the space on your Apple TV, or the App’s cache is overloaded, this may cause the app to freeze or crash.
To clear up space on your Apple TV, you can delete other Apps or clear the cache of certain apps. Clearing the cache will delete unnecessary data from the app that would normally help it load faster. You can manage the storage through the following pathway.
Settings > General > Manage Storage
Apps also use up temporary memory while they are running. You can close all background apps by pressing the home button twice, quickly. You can then navigate left and right and swipe upwards to close each app.
Apple TV Spectrum Not Loading/Opening
If Spectrum is not loading or opening on the Apple TV, make sure you have tried all of the troubleshooting methods mentioned above. This includes the following.
· Check your internet connection
· Restart the Spectrum app or Apple TV
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on July 18, 2021.
· Reinstall the Spectrum app
· Check you have enough storage to run the app smoothly
Another possibility is that the Spectrum TV servers are down or experiencing delays. This could be due to too many users at once, such as when a new TV series is released or when a popular show is streaming on live TV. If the servers are down or overloaded, which you can check at downdetector.com, there is nothing you can do.
Spectrum Not Connecting to Apple TV
Below are all criteria that must be met in order for Spectrum to be able to connect to the Apple TV via AirPlay from another device. If you do not meet these criteria, it will not be possible to play Spectrum through your Apple TV via AirPlay.
· iOS device must be iOS 12 or higher
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on July 18, 2021.
· Apple TV must be 2nd generation or higher
· Apple TV and iOS device must be on the same network
Apple TV Spectrum Black Screen/No Picture/Blurry
Spectrum has had many bugs to deal with since releasing their Spectrum TV app to the Apple TV in 2019. This included issues with blank screens and pixelated or blurry content. This could still be an issue with your internet connection, but may be a result of a firmware bug.
For this reason, you should make sure your Apple TV and Spectrum app is up to date. You should also make sure your internet is working and your download speed is sufficient. You can find information on these fixes above.
Apple TV Spectrum Guide Not Working
Many channels on the Spectrum TV app are only available if you are on your home network. Therefore, if you have taken your Apple TV to a friend’s house, the guide will not have all your channels. If travelling, keep in mind that Spectrum TV is not available outside the US.
If these are not the issue, it may be a bug in the firmware or internet issues causing the guide to freeze. For this reason, refer to the information throughout this article to troubleshoot your internet and update your firmware.
Related Articles
Prime Video on Apple TV Not Starting
Apple TV Disney Plus Not Working
ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on July 18, 2021.