Are you planning to sell your Apple TV or want to delete all your data? You can factory reset your Apple TV to its defaults. It will wipe all your data, apps, and configurations and resolve recurring bugs and software glitches on your Apple TV. The resetting process of Apple TV is more or less similar on all models regardless of the generation. Moreover, you can use a Mac or a PC with iTunes to restore your Apple TV if the remote has been lost or not working. This section explains all the easy ways for resetting tvOS.
How to Reset Apple TV 4K or HD
1. Turn on your Apple TV and go to Settings.
2. Select System on the next screen and click the Reset option.
3. You will get the following options on the Apple TV screen. Click any option based on your preference.
- Reset: Selecting this will restore your Apple TV to factory settings and erase all user data and apps.
- Reset and Update: Selecting this will restore your Apple TV to factory settings, erase all user data, and update your Apple TV to the latest tvOS version.
- Cancel: Selecting this will cancel the reset.
4. Click Reset or Reset and Update once again to confirm the process. Wait for the process to complete.
Do not turn off your Apple TV or unplug it from the power source when resetting. After that, you can set up your Apple TV from scratch.
How to Reset Apple TV 3rd Generation or Earlier Models
If you have an Apple TV 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Gen, you can factory reset it using these steps.
1. With your Apple TV turned on, go to Settings.
2. Select General and click on the Reset option.
3. You will get the following options on the Apple TV screen. Click on the desired option to proceed.
- Reset All Settings: Resets Apple TV settings and removes all user data and apps.
- Restore: Restore your Apple TV to factory settings and install new software updates on your Apple TV.
- Cancel: Selecting this will exit the reset.
4. Confirm the process by selecting Reset All Settings or Restore.
Your Apple TV screen will go dark during the restore process. Wait for a few minutes for the process to complete. Do not unplug the device from the power source. Once your Apple TV is restored to factory settings, it will boot up on the setup screen.
How to Reset Apple TV Without Remote
If your Apple TV gets stuck during reset, you can restore it using a Mac or PC. However, this resetting method only applies to Apple TV 2nd generation, 3rd generation, and HD models. If your Apple TV 4K is stuck while resetting, you can contact Apple Customer Support for further assistance.
Things You Need to Have
- A micro-USB cable (for 2nd or 3rd gen Apple TV) or a USB C cable for Apple TV HD
- A Mac or a PC with iTunes.
How to Reset Apple TV With Computer
1. Remove all cables from your Apple TV 2nd generation. If you have Apple TV Gen 3 or HD, remove the HDMI cable and leave the power cord plugged into the device.
2. Use the micro-USB or USB-C cable to connect your Apple TV device to your Windows or Mac.
3. Open the iTunes app on your Windows or Mac (running on Mojave or earlier). Click the Apple TV icon and select Restore Apple TV.
Note: If a Mac runs on Catalina macOS, you can restore your Apple TV from Finder. Open Finder → Select Apple TV → Click Restore.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
Don’t unplug cables or turn off your computer until the restoration process is complete.
FAQ
Yes. You will need a Mac or Windows PC to restore your Apple TV without a screen.