The Apple TV is a great device packed with features that your Samsung TV may not have.
But when you can’t get the two devices to work in tandem, troubleshooting turns into a nightmare.
So, what’s causing the issue, and is there a way to fix it?
Your Samsung TV doesn’t recognize Apple TV because of a bug, a bad or incompatible HDMI cable, or you didn’t switch to Apple TV as the input source. Fixes include restarting both devices, switching to the Apple TV for the input source, and replacing the HDMI cable.
This article will explain everything that can cause your Samsung TV not to recognize your Apple TV.
I’ll then go over all the solutions so that you can enjoy your Apple TV again.
Why Your Samsung TV Doesn’t Recognize Apple TV
Assuming both your Samsung TV and the Apple TV are working correctly, the problem isn’t serious.
Let’s go over all the causes before discussing how to fix the issue.
1. There’s a Software Bug With the Samsung TV or Apple TV
A software bug is a program error with a device.
Bugs can happen because of coding mistakes, but they can also occur randomly.
If your Apple TV or Samsung TV got updated, a glitch in the recent update could cause the issue too.
2. Your HDMI Cable Is Incompatible or Broken
Although HDMI cable has a standard connector, there are hundreds of other variables.
HDMI standards are backward-compatible, but incompatibility issues between the cable and the connector are common.
Moreover, HDMI cables are the trickiest to troubleshoot because they might work in one scenario but not in another.
If the cable is incompatible with either your Apple TV or Samsung TV, it’ll cause problems.
3. You Didn’t Switch to the Apple TV as the Input Source
Virtually all TVs have an Input source menu.
The menu allows you to cycle between all the connector ports on your TV to select what audio and video signal you want to watch.
It’s useful because that means you can have multiple input devices connected to the TV simultaneously.
For example, maybe you want to hook up your Apple TV to one HDMI port, your game console to another, and a TV transmitter to a third port.
You then use the remote to select the input source. If you didn’t choose Apple TV as the input device, you can’t see it.
The problem is that Samsung TVs label the input source as “HDMI1” or “HDMI2.”
If you don’t see “Apple TV” on the list, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your TV didn’t recognize it.
Unless you know the ports by heart, you won’t know what device you’ve selected until it shows up on the screen.
4. Apple TV Is Using an Incorrect Screen Resolution
If the Apple TV logo shows up for a second, followed by a black screen, it’s clear that the Apple TV is running at an incorrect resolution.
Your TV can’t output a resolution that’s different than
Although you can sometimes downscale or upscale resolutions on TVs, you just can’t do it with different aspect ratios.
Aspect ratio describes the width related to the height of the screen.
For example, movies often have a wider aspect ratio than your TV.
That’s why black bars show up on the top and bottom.
But the Apple TV can’t show any black bars.
It either fits the whole screen or doesn’t work in the first place.
This is true for all input devices, not just the Apple TV.
How to Fix Samsung TV Not Recognizing Apple TV
You probably have a rough idea of what’s causing your Samsung TV not to recognize the Apple TV.
Let’s go over all the ways to fix it now.
1. Restart Both Devices or Unplug and Replug Them
Although it’s probably the Apple TV causing the issue, not your Samsung TV, it’s best to restart both.
Here’s how to restart your Samsung TV:
- Turn the TV off.
- Unplug it from the outlet.
- Hold the power button on the TV for 15-30 seconds.
- Plug the TV in and turn it on.
You can also unplug the Apple TV, wait a minute, and plug it back in.
If that doesn’t work, here’s how to restart it with the remote:
- Press and hold the Back or Menu (first-gen remote) and the TV button until the Apple TV light starts to blink.
- Unplug the Apple TV from the outlet and wait for 5-10 seconds.
- Plug the Apple TV back in.
- Go to Settings > System > Restart on your Apple TV.
2. Replace the HDMI Cable or Use a Different HDMI Port
If you have a spare HDMI cable on hand, hook up your Apple TV to the Samsung TV with that instead.
Also, you should try another HDMI port on the back of your TV.
Some HDMI ports only work with specific devices, such as TV transmitters or game consoles.
Simply look for a different port labeled “HDMI” on the back of the TV and plug the cable into it.
3. Select the Apple TV as the Input Source
Your Samsung TV remote has a Source button with a box and an arrow pointing into it.
Use that to cycle between different HDMI inputs.
You can check the back of your TV to see what port is occupied by the Apple TV.
Ports on Samsung TVs are always labeled, so identifying them is easy.
For example, if your Apple TV is plugged into “HDMI 1,” switch to “HDMI 1” on your TV too.
If your Samsung TV remote doesn’t have an Input Source button, here’s what to do:
- Press the Home button on your remote.
- Go to Source on the hub.
- Select the Apple TV.
4. Cycle Through Apple TV’s Resolution Options
If you see the logo and then a black screen, this is how to force the Apple TV to cycle through different resolutions:
- Hold the Menu and Volume Down buttons for about 5 seconds on the Apple TV remote.
- Wait 20 seconds for your Apple TV to switch to a different resolution.
- When you see the Apple TV interface, press OK.
If the resolution looks too stretched or distorted, cycle again until you find the one that fits the screen.
Final Thoughts
Apple TV works with all Samsung TVs as long as they have an HDMI port.
However, setting the device up for the first time can get frustrating.
Thankfully, the solution is usually very simple.
Cycling through resolutions, using a different HDMI port, restarting the devices, and selecting the Apple TV as the input source are easy fixes.
Are You Still Struggling With Your device?
If you’re still struggling trying to get going your smart device, contact me at nelson.barbosa@myautomatedpalace.com and we can discuss how can we fix it!