If you’ve just got your shiny new Apple TV, and can’t wait to use it, follow our step-by-step guide on how to set up and start using it.
Apple allows you to set up your Apple TV either with a device or set it up manually. Let me show you how to automatically set up your Apple TV with your iPhone, and later how to manually set up your Apple TV.
Since Apple TV’s on-screen keyboard is quite a pain to use, I would recommend you to use your iPhone. It is faster and lot easier.
How to set up your new Apple TV with your iPhone
- Connect your Apple to a power source, and connect it to your television using the HDMI cable.
- You will be first prompted to pair Remote with Apple TV. Click on the trackpad on your Remote to get started.
- It should pair the Remote with your new Apple TV.
- Select the preferred language. You can swipe up or down on the trackpad to scroll down the list of language options. After you’ve selected the preferred language, press on the trackpad,
- Next select your country or region, and click on the trackpad on your Remote to select it.
- You will get an option if you want to Set up with Device, which allows you to use your iOS device running iOS 9.1 or later, or Set Up Manually. The Set up with Device option is not available on iPad 2.
- Select Set Up with Device. We will show you how to set it up manually later.
- To set up your Apple TV with your iOS device, follow these simple instructions:
- Unlock your iPhone.
- Ensure your iPhone is connected to a Wi-Fi network.
- Enable Bluetooth if it hasn’t been enabled automatically.
- Hold device close to the Apple TV. I placed my iPhone 6s Plus on the Apple TV.
- You should get a popup message asking you if you want to set up Apple TV on your iPhone.
- Tap on Continue.
- The process will set up the Wi-Fi network on your Apple TV that you’re using on your iPhone.
- You will then get a popup message on your iPhone prompting you to enter the Apple ID and password.
- You will then get a popup message on your iPhone asking you if you would like Apple TV to remember the password for your Apple ID to rent or purchase items from the iTunes Store. Select “Yes” or “No”.
- You will get a popup message on your iPhone asking you whether you want to send data to Apple to improve its products on your iPhone. Select “Ok” or “No Thanks” to proceed.
- The set up will then continue on your Apple TV. Select “Enable Location Services” or “Disable Location Services” by swiping on the Trackpad on the Siri Remote, and then clicking on it.
- Select “Use Siri” or “Don’t Use Siri”, and click on it to use Siri with your Apple TV Remote. You can search for movies, enable closed capture, check Weather, and more using Siri. You can use the speaker icon to use Siri. Siri is currently available only in the U.S., Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
- Next select if you would like to “Automatically Download” Apple TV’s stunning Aerial screensavers.
- Select “Send to Apple” if you would like to send diagnostic and usage information to Apple to improve their products.
- Choose if you want to share app analytics with app developers.
- Finally, select Agree and press the trackpad to agree to the terms and conditions.
That’s it, your Apple TV has been set up. You can start using it.
How to set up your new Apple TV manually
- Connect your Apple to a power source, and connect it to your television using the HDMI cable.
- You will be first prompted to pair Remote with Apple TV. Click on the trackpad on your Remote to get started.
- It should pair the Remote with your new Apple TV.
- Select the preferred language. You can swipe up or down on the trackpad to scroll down the list of language options. After you’ve selected the preferred language, press on the trackpad,
- Next select your country or region, and click on the trackpad on your Remote to select it.
- You will get an option if you want to Set up with Device, which allows you to use your iOS device running iOS 9.1 or later, or Set Up Manually. The Set up with Device option is not available on iPad 2.
- Select Set Up Manually.
- Select your Wi-Fi Network with the trackpad, enter the password using the on-screen keyboard, and click Continue.
- Wait for a few minutes for your Apple TV to Activate.
- Enter the Apple ID using the on-screen keyboard, and click Continue.
- Then enter the password using the on-screen keyboard, and click Continue.
- Wait for a few minutes for Apple TV to login to your Apple ID.
- Next select “Enable Location Services” or “Disable Location Services” by swiping on the Trackpad on the Siri Remote, and then clicking on it.
- Select “Use Siri” or “Don’t Use Siri”, and click on it to use Siri with your Apple TV Remote. You can search for movies, enable closed capture, check Weather, and more using Siri. You can use the speaker icon to use Siri. Siri is currently available only in the U.S., Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
- Next select if you would like to “Automatically Download” Apple TV’s stunning Aerial screensavers. It’s 600 MB per month if you select automatic downloads.
- Select “Send to Apple” if you would like to send diagnostic and usage information to Apple to improve their products.
- Choose if you want to share app analytics with app developers.
- Finally, select Agree to agree to the terms and conditions.
That’s it, your Apple TV has been set up. You can start using it.
Let us know how it goes, and feel free to drop us a line in the comment if you’ve any questions.
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