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New Apple TV 4K Owners Report Siri Remote Connection Issues

IMHO this is not related to iOS/tvOS 16.2 at all, since the issue was there before I updated.

That’s not to say that 16.2 is probably the worst release ever. Apple’s recent iOS/tvOS updates do give me nothing but headaches, were devices still on 14.x or 15.x are still working perfectly fine.

It’s time for some housekeeping…
 
chrfr said:
The problem is definitely not limited to the USB-C version of the Siri Remote. I bought a 2021 4k Apple TV, with the Lightning port Siri Remote and it's rather frequently losing control of the volume on my receiver, which it controls over infrared rather than HDMI-CEC. Restarting the remote does temporarily solve the problem.
tvOS 16.3 does not update the remote's firmware so I'll be surprised if it has any effect on this.
Click to expand...
Yeah, that’s exactly the issue I am encountering, too.

However, I always need to re-sync the remote with the AppleTV again for it to work with infrared to my TV again.
 
First real issue I have had with my 4k ATV, had to unplug and replug to get it back connected. I have 3 others in the house all from gen 2-3 and they all have worked perfectly.
 
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This totally makes sense now. All remotes stopped working with my latest generation (new) 4k AppleTV after the recent software update. I tried pairing all the other remotes with the AppleTV, but none are detected by it. At the same time, the Remote through the iPhone still works for the same unit (wi-fi connected, presumably).
 
I had this issue with one of two of these new ATV 4KS w/HDR10+. I'm keeping an eye on it and hopefully the other box doesn't experience these issues. Maybe tvOS 16.3 will fix this.
 
Have to say i've been lucky, none of these issues on both my ATV 4K's, Old remote version and new.

Though only a few days until the next version, let's see what happens then.
 
Personal experience: issue seems to be the remote. I have a first generation TV 4K; had to replace the original remote and opted for the “fancy new” silver remote. It is crap. At best, that remote works 10% of the time. We use iPhones and Watch to control the TV most of the time. Didn’t realize it was such an issue until seeing this post.
 
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This is funny, i’m just going through some of the posts on the site now and see this, apparently posted one day after I contacted Apple support because I had had enough of this annoying issue.

There is a new replacement remote on the way to me… And the rep claimed he had not heard of the issue before, lol…

Should be interesting to see if the new remote fixes it, but it sounds like a software issue to me! It definitely got worse since the last update. Apple really needs to get it together. They’re doing too much and the software, on multiple fronts, is suffering.
 
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mdatwood said:
The old touch AppleTV remote never had to be 'restarted' in the years I used it. The new ATV I recently bought has had to have it restarted twice since buying.
Click to expand...
Same issue here - I’m overseas so hope it’s a software problem.
 
i have the latest apple tv. this sucks a lot.

when you bring the remote 5 cm close to appletv it connects again. but then still very unreliable. i hate this.
 
With no resolution in sight, I contacted Apple and after detailing all of the troubleshooting i've already done, and given its still under warranty, they are sending me a new remote. (Temporary hold on the credit card until they receive my old remote)
 
they sent me a new remote. one day later same issue.

now they will send a new appletv.

the weird thing is when i come like 5 cm close to the appletv then it works. then i can gradually move away from the apple tv while pressing volume, it works.

then it loses connection again.

i noticed when it cannot connect anymore, pressing < sign and + makes it to pairing mode and tv sees it immediately.

so it is not about 2.4ghz interference or anything.

anyway this sucks big time.
 
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All this makes me feel better about my fleet of original Apple TV 4k's and the first gen Siri Remotes.

Never had any issues as described here -- on any of them -- through years of service.

Are Apple cheaping out on components or something?
 
Found something that worked for me.
Turn off look for near airpods.
I was having the same remote issue of away more than 3 feet.
 
bayportbob said:
bought a new Siri Remote about a week ago and have no problems with it on an older Apple TV
Click to expand...
I did too, but the bloody thing won't pair. Keeps saying I should hold it closer to the AppleTV. I guess the new 2022 version has NFC, and my 2021 doesn't. IDK...but can't pair. Also not the old school menu<>Vol up approach.
 
After latest Feb ‘23 update (16.3.2), I can confirm that the issue has not been resolved, never thought that this valentines I was getting f*cked by Apple.

PS. This is by far the worst product and user experience I’ve had from Apple over the years, the worst part is that they don’t have at least the decency to acknowledge the issue exists.
 
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