By With the release of iOS 17 and tvOS 17 software updates on Monday, Apple has made it much easier to troubleshoot and restore Apple TV HD or Apple TV 4K models that may encounter issues.
Normally, problems with Apple TV are quite rare, but when they do occur, restoring the device has historically been a bit of a hassle. For the older Apple TV HD, you had to connect it to a Mac through the rear USB port. However, this wasn’t even an option for the 4K model, forcing customers to contact Apple for assistance. Fortunately, this inconvenience is now a thing of the past thanks to iOS 17 and tvOS 17.
Apple has detailed this new troubleshooting method in a support document. If your Apple TV HD or a later model with tvOS 17 or later experiences problems, you might see an image of an iPhone next to your Apple TV on your TV screen.
Here’s how it works: After unlocking your iPhone and holding it near the Apple TV, you’ll see a prompt appear on the TV screen. Simply follow the provided steps, and you’ll receive a confirmation message saying “Apple TV is recovering” shortly thereafter. Once you see this message, you can continue using your iPhone as usual while the Apple TV undergoes a reset.
tvOS 17 represents a significant update for Apple’s streaming device, introducing several new features. These include bringing FaceTime to the TV screen, a redesigned Control Center, a new “enhanced dialogue” mode, and the useful ability to use your iPhone to locate a misplaced Siri Remote. Both tvOS 17 and iOS 17 are now available for users to update their devices.
