9 Best Ways to Fix Apple TV Not Downloading Apps

Apple TV is powered by tvOS and comes with a built-in App Store to download and install your favorite apps to enjoy on a big screen. It’s your one-stop solution to find trending apps and games for your Apple TV. However, you are up for confusion and frustration when Apple TV faces problems with downloading apps. Here are the best ways to fix the problem.

Apple TV not downloading apps can spoil your perfect weekend plans. It doesn’t come with a browser, either. You have no option but to rely on a native app to watch your favorite TV shows and movies. Before you settle with an iPad or a laptop, use the steps below to download apps without any problems.

1. Turn on Apple TV Again

You can keep pressing the power button on your Apple TV remote and turn off all the devices connected to your TV. Next, use your TV remote to switch the TV and move to your Apple TV remote to open the App Store. Continue reading if you cannot install or update apps on Apple TV.

2. Restart Apple TV

You can reboot Apple TV and try downloading apps from the App Store.

Step 1: Head to Settings on your Apple TV.

Step 2: Scroll to System.

Step 3: Select Restart.

3. Check Network Connection on Apple TV

If your Apple TV is connected to a slow Wi-Fi network, it may face issues with downloading apps from the App Store. You can check Wi-Fi signal strength on your Apple TV.

Step 1: Open Settings and select Network.

Step 2: Check the network name and signal strength from the following menu.

Step 3: If the current Wi-Fi network is slow, change the preferred Wi-Fi connection from the same menu.

4. Delete Unnecessary Apps and Try Again

If your Apple TV has less storage space, it may face issues with downloading apps. tvOS doesn’t offer a detailed storage breakdown. You need to delete irrelevant apps and games and try again.

Step 1: Open the Settings on your Apple TV and select General.

Step 2: Scroll to Manage Storage.

Step 3: Check the list of installed apps and games with storage space beside them. Hit the delete icon and confirm your decision.

5. Sign Out and Sign Back In

Did you recently change your Apple account password? Apple TV may fail to download apps due to an account authentication error. You’ll need to sign out from your current account and sign back in.

Step 1: Open the Settings on your Apple TV and select Users and Accounts.

Step 2: Select your name under default user.

Step 3: Select iCloud and check your Apple ID. Hit Sign out.

Sign in with your iPhone or sign in manually from the next screen. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

6. Force Quit Other Apps on Apple TV

If your Apple TV is running low on memory, you may have problem downloading apps. Double-press the TV button on your remote to open the recent apps menu. Swipe up on an app and close it. Now, open the App Store and download apps and games.

7. Check App Store Server Status

When one of the Apple servers faces an outage, you face problems with downloading apps on the Apple TV. You can visit the Apple System Status page and ensure a green indicator beside App Store. If it shows orange or yellow status, wait for Apple to fix the service-side issue.

8. Update tvOS

Outdated tvOS can be the main reason behind issues with downloading apps on Apple TV. Apple regularly releases new system updates for Apple TV. Downloading tvOS updates also fix technical glitches like sound not working on Apple TV.

Step 1: Open the Settings on your Apple TV and scroll to System.

Step 2: Select Software Updates and install the latest tvOS update.

9. Reset Apple TV

Resetting the Apple TV should be the last resort to fix the ‘Apple TV not downloading apps’ issue. It deletes all the apps, and you must start from scratch.

Step 1: Head to System in Apple TV Settings (check the steps above).

Step 2: Select Reset and confirm your decision from the following menu.

Explore Apps and Games on Apple TV

Your Apple TV is as good as a dead box without apps and games. The steps above should help you troubleshoot the problem in no time. What are you waiting for? Follow the tricks and start downloading your favorite streaming apps on Apple TV.