Apple TV Not Working on Firestick? 10+ Solutions For Video Not Available

apple tv app on a fire tv stick

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What To Know

  • Solving Apple TV issues on Firestick can be achieved by turning off HDMI CEC, performing soft resets, and ensuring the device’s firmware is up to date.
  • Logging out and back into your Apple ID, reinstalling the app, and ensuring cable connections are secure and functional.
  • Resolving Apple TV app problems on Firestick may involve relaunching the app, clearing its cache, and as a last resort, factory resetting the Firestick or contacting support services.

Are you facing the all-too-common problem of Apple TV not working on your Firestick, and finding the “video not available” error?

In this article, I’ll guide you through practical and easy-to-follow solutions to get your Apple TV up and running smoothly on your Firestick device.

1. Turn off HDMI CEC on Your Fire TV Stick

A lot of users have found success with this method, recommended by an Apple advisor.

It seems the root of the problem often lies within the Fire TV Stick rather than other devices. Therefore, the solution involves adjusting the settings of your Fire TV Stick.

Here’s an easy-to-follow guide to turn off HDMI CEC on your Fire TV Stick.

Step 1: Go to Settings, and select Display & Sounds.

display and sounds option is highlighted on a fire tv stick

Step 2: Click HDMI CEC Device Control, and toggle it OFF.

hdmi cec device control option is toggled off on a fire tv stick

Step 3: Open the app and enjoy your movies again.

apple tv app is highlighted on a fire tv stick

2. Soft Reset or Restart Your Fire TV Stick

No matter what issue you’re facing, this method may be the quickest and most effective one to try.

To soft reset, unplug the device from the power source for at least 30 seconds, then plug it back in and test it again.

Alternatively, to get your Fire TV Stick restarted right in the Settings menu without unplugging anything:

Step 1: Open Settings, and navigate to My Fire TV.

my fire tv option is highlighted on a fire tv stick

Step 2: Select Restart.

restart option is highlighted on a fire tv stick

Step 3: Click Restart again to confirm your choice.

confirm to restart option is highlighted on a fire tv stick

3. Update Your Fire TV Stick

After numerous reports of the issue on both Apple and Amazon forums, it was discovered by several users that an updated version of their Fire TV Sticks resolved the problem.

Consequently, I highly recommend checking your Fire TV Stick for any available updates without delay.

Follow these straightforward steps to ensure your device is up-to-date.

Step 1: Go to Settings, and select My Fire TV.

my fire tv option is highlighted on a fire tv stick

Step 2: Navigate to About, and choose Install Update if there are any updates available.

update a fire tv stick software

4. Log out & in Your Apple ID on the Fire TV Stick

This straightforward solution has proven to be very effective for numerous users. It’s not only easy to execute but also incredibly quick.

If you’re still unsure, let me guide you through the process of swiftly logging out and back into your Apple account on the Fire TV Stick.

Step 1: On the Apple TV app, go to Settings.

settings option is highlighted on the apple tv app

Step 2: Navigate to Accounts.

accounts option is highlighted on the apple tv app on a roku

Step 3: Select Sign Out, and click Sign Out again to confirm your choice.

sign out option is highlighted on the apple tv app on a roku

confirm to sign out apple tv app on a roku

5. Reinstall the Apple TV App

Should the previous method not yield the desired results, you might want to try reinstalling the Apple TV app.

This is a straightforward, hassle-free process. Here’s how you can easily reinstall the Apple TV app on your Fire TV Stick.

Step 1: Go to Settings, and select Applications.

applications option is highlighted on a fire tv stick

Step 2: Head to Manage Installed Applications.

manage installed applications option is highlighted on a fire tv stick

Step 3: Click the Apple TV app, and then Uninstall it.

uninstall option is highlighted on a fire tv stick

Step 4: Finally, from the Home menu, search for Apple TV in the search bar, reinstall the app, and try again.

apple tv app is highlighted on the fire tv stick's search result

6. Unplug and Replug Cables, Check If They Are Still in Good Condition

It’s possible that the issue could be related to a faulty cable connection. 

Unplug all of the power cables and your Fire TV Stick for 30 seconds, check to make sure that the cables are in good condition, and then replug them all.

Additionally, try plugging the Fire TV Stick into a different outlet or HDMI port on your TV.

7. Relaunch the Apple TV App

Sometimes, when an app becomes faulty, the simplest way is to turn it off completely and relaunch it to let it settle everything again.

The whole process is straightforward, follow our detailed guide below to relaunch your app.

Step 1: Open the Settings app, and navigate to Applications.

applications option is highlighted on a fire tv stick

Step 2: Go to Manage Installed Applications, and look for the Apple TV app.

apple tv option is highlighted on a fire tv stick

Step 3: Select Force stop.

force stop option is highlighted on a fire tv stick

Step 4: Click Launch application after that.

launch application option is highlighted on a fire tv stick

8. Clear Apple TV App Cache

To keep your Fire TV Stick running smoothly, it’s important to regularly clear the cache of your apps. 

This may be the case for the Apple TV app, which can become bogged down with data over time. 

To clear the cache for the app, follow the simple steps below.

Step 1: Go to Settings, and select Applications.

applications option is highlighted on a fire tv stick

Step 2: Navigate to Manage Installed Applications.

manage installed applications option is highlighted on a fire tv stick

Step 3: Choose your Apple TV app, and click Clear cache.

clear cache option is highlighted on a fire tv stick

Step 4: Go back to the Home screen and try relaunching the app.

apple tv app is highlighted on a fire tv stick

9. Factory Reset Your Fire TV Stick 

If none of the previous methods have worked, a factory reset may be necessary.

However, note that this will not only wipe out the toughest glitches you’ve encountered but also all of your installed apps and user information.

Here is the ultimate guide to factory resetting your Fire TV Stick.

Step 1: Go to Settings, and navigate to My Fire TV.

my fire tv option is highlighted on a fire tv stick

Step 2: Select Reset to Factory Defaults, and click on Reset to confirm your choice.

reset to factory defaults option is highlighted on a fire tv stick

reset option is highlighted on a fire tv stick

Step 3: Then, you’ll have to go through the initial setup and reinstall the Apple TV app to try again.

10. Contact Amazon and Apple Support

If none of the workarounds above work, contacting Apple support is your best bet. You can call 1-800-275-2273 if you live in the U.S., or check your options if you live outside the country. 

Make sure to have your Apple TV device’s serial number handy when you get in touch to help with device identification. To find your serial number, check your Apple TV box or device. 

Alternatively, you can visit a local Apple store with your device. Go to apple.com/retail to locate an Apple store or an Apple-authorized outlet near you. Choose the store and schedule an appointment online, selecting the available date and time options.

You can also chat with the customer support team at getsupport.apple.com. Besides your serial number, you’ll also need your Apple ID to sign into chat. 

Another way to reach out to Apple support is by pinging them on Twitter at AppleSupport. They are available on Twitter from 5 am to 8 pm. Apple Customer Support is also available through the Apple Support app.

Other Issues You May Encounter With the Apple TV App on Your Fire TV Stick

1. Can’t Sign In to the Apple TV App on Your Fire TV Stick? 

If you’re having this issue, you might not be able to get into the login page, or the sign-in page takes forever to load. This is likely due to a Fire OS bug.

The good news is that a Fire OS update released on March 24th has fixed this issue. Simply update your Fire TV Stick by following these steps:

Step 1: Grab your Fire remote and navigate to Settings.

settings icon is highlighted on a fire tv stick

Step 2: Go to My Fire TV and select About.

about option is highlighted on a fire tv stick

Step 3: If it has an available update, you will see the Install Update option like in the image below. Select it to fix the bug.

update fire tv stick software

2. “Verification Failed” Message 

There was a period when a large number of Fire TV Stick users encountered the “Verification Failed” message when trying to log in to their Apple TV accounts. 

However, luckily, Amazon has now solved the issue, and many users have reported being able to watch Apple TV normally after following the below methods. 

If you’re facing this issue, it could be due to the following reasons:

  1. Mismatched date and time settings on your Fire TV Stick. To adjust, go to:

Settings > Preferences > Time Zone > Time Zone > Choose your country.

preferences option is highlighted on a fire tv stick

time zone option is highlighted on a fire tv stick's preferences menu

time zone option is highlighted on a fire tv stick

united states option is highlighted on a fire tv stick

  1. The Apple TV app is outdated or buggy. Simply updating the app can solve the issue:

Settings > Applications > Appstore > Automatic Updates > Toggle it ON.

applications option is highlighted on a fire tv stick

appstore option is highlighted on a fire tv stick

automatic updates option is toggled on on a fire tv stick

  1. Your current Fire OS is buggy, and the newly released version has fixed the bug. Simply update the OS:

Settings > My Fire TV > About > Install Update (if any).

update a fire tv stick software

3. Apple TV Is Not Available on Your Fire TV Stick 

You’ve just registered for an Apple TV account, and you’re eager to stream your favorite programs. 

You plug in your Fire TV Stick, but to your dismay, you can’t find the Apple TV app anywhere. 

Don’t worry, here are some steps to help you out.

First, check if your Fire TV Stick is one of the supported models listed below:

  • Fire TV Stick – Gen 2 (2016)
  • Fire TV Stick – Basic Edition (2017)
  • Fire TV Stick 4K (2018)
  • Fire TV Stick Lite (2020)
  • Fire TV Stick – Gen 3 (2020)
  • Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2021)

If your Fire TV Stick is one of the above models, but you still can’t find the Apple TV app in the App Store, it’s possible that you’re in an unsupported country. 

Check this link to see if Apple TV is available in your country. Use the command “Ctrl + F” + “your-country-name” and look for the Apple TV app. Check out the example image below for a demonstration of the instructions.

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2 Comments

  1. I get the message Video Not Available There was a problem loading this video. If this continues, check your internet connection.
    I called FireTV support last night, they told me to call apple. I called apple, they told me to call Amazon.
    I can watch appletv on my ipad, but not on the fire stick on two different firesticks on two different tv’s in my house.
    I did all the usual troubling shooting. Rebooted firestick, cleared cache , Apple even had me reboot the TV. Removed the appletv app, added it back. rebooted the router.
    It seems that this afternoon it played a little longer, but i had a meeting and had to turn it off.

    1. Hi Mo, how’s your streaming going lately? Just wanted to let you know I’ve updated the article with some really effective solutions that could sort out the issue you’re facing. They’re the latest tricks we’ve found, and I think they might just do the trick for you. Feel free to give them a try and see if it helps!

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