The operating system of an Apple TV, tvOS, is perhaps not as complex as that of an iPhone or iPad, but it may have certain frameworks that may not be as well known. One of them is to restore the system, something that does not require great knowledge, but that not everyone knows how to do. Therefore, in this post we show you how to restore an Apple TV from the factory.
Why restore an Apple TV?
Apple TVs are gaining more and more prominence, not only to consume multimedia content from platforms such as YouTube, Netflix or Apple TV + itself, but it is also beginning to take video game features with its compatibility for PlayStation and Xbox controls on Apple Arcadian. However, like any electronic device, some failure may arise that forces us to restore the Apple TV system.
It’s not normal to find big software bugs on an Apple TV, but weirder things have been seen. Therefore, restoring the system sometimes becomes the best solution to these problems. By making the device be configured as if it were new, it eliminates all types of applications and configurations made previously, which could be the cause of these failures.
Another reason why you want to restore the Apple TV is because you are going to sell the device or give it to a family member or friend. In that case it is highly recommended to restore it so that the other person can configure it to your liking and not have access to your Apple account, which is necessary to operate the system.
How to restore Apple TV and leave it as if it were new
The steps to follow to restore an Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD are as follows:
- Go to the Apple TV Settings .
- Go to System and click on “Reset”.
- You will now find three options, the one of “Reset” , which will erase all the settings and data of the Apple TV without requiring an internet connection. The second option is “Reset and update” , which requires an internet connection and will not only erase the settings and data but also install the latest version of tvOS that is available, if the equipment is not already updated . The last option is to cancel the process and go back.
If you have a 3rd generation or earlier Apple TV , the steps to follow are these:
- On Apple TV, go to Settings> General.
- Click on “Reset” now.
- The “ Reset settings” options now appear, which erases the settings and data without connecting to the internet. The other option is “Restore” , which needs an internet connection and in addition to deleting data and settings, it will update the device to the most current version of software that is available.
Once you have done these steps, on any of the Apple TV models, you will be asked to confirm that you want to restore the Apple TV and begin the restoration process. This may take a few minutes, depending on the data you have stored on the computer, however it should not take too many minutes.
Once this restoration process is complete, you will find an Apple TV that will be completely new at the software level. Therefore you can already sell or give it away without worrying that another person can access your data, since you will have to enter the credentials again to activate the device with an Apple ID. And, logically, you can reconfigure it with the same account you had previously if you wish.
