How to Install an Apple TV
Gather your pieces., Setup your Apple TV where it can reach the TV and an outlet., Connect the Apple TV to the HDTV or home theater receiver via HDMI., Connect the power cable to the Apple TV and plug it into a socket., Connect the Ethernet cable...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Gather your pieces.
The Apple TV comes with the Apple TV itself, along with a power cord and a remote.
You can only connect the Apple TV to an HDTV, and you'll need an HDMI cable to do so.
The HDMI cable doesn't come with the Apple TV, but you can pick one up at an electronics store or online for cheap.
When it comes to HDMI cables, there isn't much practical difference between a $10 cable and an $80 cable.
You will also need to be able to connect the Apple TV to your network, either via Wi-Fi or by using Ethernet cable.
The first generation Apple TVs could connect via component (five-prong) cables, but this is no longer possible with newer versions of the hardware.If you want to connect your Apple TV to your home theater system, you'll need a optical digital audio (S/PDIF) cable. -
Step 2: Setup your Apple TV where it can reach the TV and an outlet.
Make sure that none of the cords will be stretched tight by the connection.
You should also make sure that the Apple TV has room to breathe around it, as it can get warm during operation.
If you're using a wired connection to your network router, make sure that you'll be able to reach it with the Ethernet cable. , You can find the HDMI ports on the back or side of your HDTV, or on the back of your home theater receiver.
Your HDTV may have one or more HDMI ports.
Some older HDTVs may not have HDMI ports.
Make note of the label for the HDMI port that you connect the Apple TV to.
This will help you select the correct input when you turn on your TV. , To be extra cautious, make sure it's plugged into a surge protector to protect against power surges. , If you're connecting to your network via Ethernet, plug the cable into the back of the Apple TV and then into your router or network switch.
If you're connecting via Wi-Fi, you don't need to worry about this. , Normally the Apple TV will send audio through the HDMI cable to the TV, but if you use an audio receiver you can connect the Apple TV to it with a optical digital audio (S/PDIF) cable.
Connect the cable to the back of the Apple TV and then into the proper port on your receiver or TV. , Press the "Input" or "Source" button on your TV's remote to select the HDMI port that you connected the Apple TV to.
The Apple TV usually turns on automatically, so you should see the menu to select your language.
If you don't see anything, double-check your connections and then press the center button on your Apple TV remote. , Use the remote to select your interface language.
Use the center button on the remote to make your selection. , If you are connected to the network via Ethernet, Apple TV will automatically detect the network and connect.
If you are connecting via Wi-Fi, a list of available wireless networks will be displayed.
Select the network that you would like to connect to.
Enter your password if the network is secured. , It may take a few moments for Apple TV to perform its initial setup process.
After the setup process is complete, you'll be asked if you want to opt-in to the usage data collection program for Apple., Your Apple TV will work best when it's updated to the latest version of the software.
You can check for updates using the Settings menu.
Open the Settings app on the Apple TV Home screen.
Open the "General" option and then select "Update Software".
Your Apple TV will check for and install any available updates. , You can find this on your Apple TV Home screen. , Log in with your Apple ID and password.
You'll now have access to your iTunes purchases on your Apple TV.
You can also connect your home computers to the Apple TV using Home Sharing. , Most people should be running later versions of iTunes now, since
10.5 is fairly old.
Still, you'll need at least version
10.5 in order to share your iTunes library with your Apple TV.
To update iTunes on a Mac, use the "Software Update" option in the Apple menu to perform the update.
To update iTunes on a Windows computer, click the "Help" menu and select "Check for Updates". , Enter your Apple ID and password, and then click Turn On Home Sharing.
This will enable the Home Sharing function of iTunes, which allows you to share your iTunes library with other computers and devices (including the Apple TV).
Repeat this process for all of the computers that you want to connect together. , You can move backwards through screens by pressing the "Menu" button on the remote. , Select the "Turn On Home Sharing Option"
and then choose to use the same Apple ID that you are already logged into iTunes with.
You can enter a different Apple ID if you set up Home Sharing under a different account. , You can stream any of your purchased movies and TV shows after connecting your Apple TV to your iTunes account.
Your most recent purchases will be displayed at the top of the Home screen.
You can select the "Movies"
"TV Shows"
and "Music" libraries to see the iTunes storefronts and all of your purchased content. , The Apple TV comes loaded with a variety of streaming apps that you can use to watch streaming video.
Many of these apps, such as Netflix and Hulu+, require a separate paid subscription before you can start using them to stream video. , If you have Home Sharing enabled on all of your devices, you can access your different libraries by using the "Computers" option on the Home screen.
Selecting this will display all of the computers on your network that have Home Sharing enabled in iTunes.
Select the computer that you want to stream from, and then browse the library to choose video and music to stream. -
Step 3: Connect the Apple TV to the HDTV or home theater receiver via HDMI.
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Step 4: Connect the power cable to the Apple TV and plug it into a socket.
-
Step 5: Connect the Ethernet cable (if applicable).
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Step 6: Connect the Apple TV to your home theater (optional).
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Step 7: Turn on your TV to the correct input.
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Step 8: Select your language.
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Step 9: Connect to your network.
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Step 10: Wait for the Apple TV to activate.
-
Step 11: Check for updates.
-
Step 12: Open the Settings app on the Apple TV.
-
Step 13: Select "iTunes Store" from the Settings menu.
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Step 14: Update to iTunes 10.5 or later on your computer.
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Step 15: Click the File menu in iTunes and select "Home Sharing" → "Turn On Home Sharing".
-
Step 16: Open the Settings app on your Apple TV.
-
Step 17: Select the "Computers" option in the Settings menu.
-
Step 18: Browse your iTunes purchases.
-
Step 19: Use the streaming apps.
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Step 20: View your shared iTunes libraries.
Detailed Guide
The Apple TV comes with the Apple TV itself, along with a power cord and a remote.
You can only connect the Apple TV to an HDTV, and you'll need an HDMI cable to do so.
The HDMI cable doesn't come with the Apple TV, but you can pick one up at an electronics store or online for cheap.
When it comes to HDMI cables, there isn't much practical difference between a $10 cable and an $80 cable.
You will also need to be able to connect the Apple TV to your network, either via Wi-Fi or by using Ethernet cable.
The first generation Apple TVs could connect via component (five-prong) cables, but this is no longer possible with newer versions of the hardware.If you want to connect your Apple TV to your home theater system, you'll need a optical digital audio (S/PDIF) cable.
Make sure that none of the cords will be stretched tight by the connection.
You should also make sure that the Apple TV has room to breathe around it, as it can get warm during operation.
If you're using a wired connection to your network router, make sure that you'll be able to reach it with the Ethernet cable. , You can find the HDMI ports on the back or side of your HDTV, or on the back of your home theater receiver.
Your HDTV may have one or more HDMI ports.
Some older HDTVs may not have HDMI ports.
Make note of the label for the HDMI port that you connect the Apple TV to.
This will help you select the correct input when you turn on your TV. , To be extra cautious, make sure it's plugged into a surge protector to protect against power surges. , If you're connecting to your network via Ethernet, plug the cable into the back of the Apple TV and then into your router or network switch.
If you're connecting via Wi-Fi, you don't need to worry about this. , Normally the Apple TV will send audio through the HDMI cable to the TV, but if you use an audio receiver you can connect the Apple TV to it with a optical digital audio (S/PDIF) cable.
Connect the cable to the back of the Apple TV and then into the proper port on your receiver or TV. , Press the "Input" or "Source" button on your TV's remote to select the HDMI port that you connected the Apple TV to.
The Apple TV usually turns on automatically, so you should see the menu to select your language.
If you don't see anything, double-check your connections and then press the center button on your Apple TV remote. , Use the remote to select your interface language.
Use the center button on the remote to make your selection. , If you are connected to the network via Ethernet, Apple TV will automatically detect the network and connect.
If you are connecting via Wi-Fi, a list of available wireless networks will be displayed.
Select the network that you would like to connect to.
Enter your password if the network is secured. , It may take a few moments for Apple TV to perform its initial setup process.
After the setup process is complete, you'll be asked if you want to opt-in to the usage data collection program for Apple., Your Apple TV will work best when it's updated to the latest version of the software.
You can check for updates using the Settings menu.
Open the Settings app on the Apple TV Home screen.
Open the "General" option and then select "Update Software".
Your Apple TV will check for and install any available updates. , You can find this on your Apple TV Home screen. , Log in with your Apple ID and password.
You'll now have access to your iTunes purchases on your Apple TV.
You can also connect your home computers to the Apple TV using Home Sharing. , Most people should be running later versions of iTunes now, since
10.5 is fairly old.
Still, you'll need at least version
10.5 in order to share your iTunes library with your Apple TV.
To update iTunes on a Mac, use the "Software Update" option in the Apple menu to perform the update.
To update iTunes on a Windows computer, click the "Help" menu and select "Check for Updates". , Enter your Apple ID and password, and then click Turn On Home Sharing.
This will enable the Home Sharing function of iTunes, which allows you to share your iTunes library with other computers and devices (including the Apple TV).
Repeat this process for all of the computers that you want to connect together. , You can move backwards through screens by pressing the "Menu" button on the remote. , Select the "Turn On Home Sharing Option"
and then choose to use the same Apple ID that you are already logged into iTunes with.
You can enter a different Apple ID if you set up Home Sharing under a different account. , You can stream any of your purchased movies and TV shows after connecting your Apple TV to your iTunes account.
Your most recent purchases will be displayed at the top of the Home screen.
You can select the "Movies"
"TV Shows"
and "Music" libraries to see the iTunes storefronts and all of your purchased content. , The Apple TV comes loaded with a variety of streaming apps that you can use to watch streaming video.
Many of these apps, such as Netflix and Hulu+, require a separate paid subscription before you can start using them to stream video. , If you have Home Sharing enabled on all of your devices, you can access your different libraries by using the "Computers" option on the Home screen.
Selecting this will display all of the computers on your network that have Home Sharing enabled in iTunes.
Select the computer that you want to stream from, and then browse the library to choose video and music to stream.
About the Author
Kevin Clark
Dedicated to helping readers learn new skills in cooking and beyond.
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