Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Audio / Video
  3. How tos

How to reset an Apple TV to its factory settings

Add as a preferred source on Google
Reset options for Apple TV.
Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

As far as getting yourself one of the best streaming devices available, it doesn't get much better than an Apple TV. It's got everything you need for your home entertainment hub, allowing you to scroll through all the most popular streaming services, play games, FaceTime with friends, listen to music, and even lets you connect your Apple AirPods.

While Apple TV delivers a stellar experience, you may come to a point where you want to reset it.

Recommended Videos

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

  • Apple TV

  • Apple TV Siri remote

Chances are that you'll never need to reset your Apple TV. But if you do — maybe you're gifting it to someone, upgrading to a newer model, or it just froze up on you — it takes just a few clicks and a couple of minutes. If you're having issues with your remote, then it might be worth checking out instructions for pairing your Siri remote before resetting the entire device.

How to reset Apple TV

Note that when we refer to Apple TV, we're talking about the most recent Apple TV 4K, as well as previous hardware versions that don't support 4K resolution. Resetting your Apple TV should follow these same instructions, no matter the model.

Step 1: Grab your Siri Remote (yes, that's its actual name) and go to the Settings app.

Bonus: If you've lost your Apple TV remote, we have a great explainer on how to find it.

The Settings app on Apple TV.
Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

Step 2: Scroll down to System and select it.

The System option in Apple TV settings.
Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

Step 3: Choose Reset.

The reset option in Apple TV settings.
Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

Step 4: Confirm whether you want to do a basic Reset, or Reset and Update.

Both basically do the same thing. But if your Apple TV isn't running the most recent software, the latter option will download and install the latest version of tvOS and then reset the whole thing to factory settings.

Unless you have some specific reason to not update to the most recent version of software, we'd just go ahead and choose Reset and Update.

Reset options for Apple TV.
Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

And that's all there is to it. It's quick and easy to reset an Apple TV 4K. And almost as quick and easy to set one up.

For more tips and tricks, check out our Common Apple TV problems and how to fix them roundup.

Phil Nickinson
Former Section Editor, Audio/Video
Phil spent the 2000s making newspapers with the Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal, the 2010s with Android Central and then the…
I’m already surrounded by AI. I don’t need ChatGPT living beside my bed
No, OpenAI. I don’t want your ChatGPT speaker.
Apple HomePod 2023

AI is all around us now. From your phone to home appliances, it practically sits everywhere--and it might just get a lot more intimate. A recent report claims OpenAI and Jony Ive are working on a small, screenless AI speaker shaped somewhat like a doughnut. It could be battery-powered, portable enough to carry around the house, and packed with microphones, cameras, sensors, speakers, lights, and even moving parts.

It sounds like someone finally decided the Amazon Echo needed eyes and a personality. And not to be too negative, the idea of a "ChatGPT"-powered hardware really doesn't sound so great.

Read more
Sony WH-1000XM4C leak hints at a cheaper take on the iconic XM4, and it’s coming soon
The upcoming headphones could retain the beloved foldable design while undercutting the flagship XM6.
Man wearing Sony WH-1000XM4 ANC Headphones on public transportation.

Sony may not be done with the WH-1000XM4 just yet. According to a fresh leak via Billbil-kun, the company is preparing to launch the Sony WH-1000XM4C, a more affordable version of its hugely popular noise-canceling headphones. The upcoming model is expected to arrive in early September, with pricing reportedly set at €249.99 in Europe and £219.99 in the UK, making it significantly cheaper than the flagship WH-1000XM6.

A familiar design with a lower price

Read more
OpenAI’s first gadget sounds like a tiny expressive AI companion
The device will have a doughnut-shaped body, built-in cameras, and moving parts
OpenAI press image

For months, reports have suggested that OpenAI’s first hardware product would be a screen-free smart speaker designed to act more like an AI companion. We already knew it could understand its surroundings, be carried around the home, and proactively help users. A new Bloomberg report now gives us a clearer picture of what the device may actually look like.

As per the report, OpenAI’s first gadget will be shaped like a doughnut and measure about the same size as a hockey puck. You will be able to carry it between rooms or leave it nearby on whatever surface is convenient. The device is expected to be on the expensive side, as the company has pondered pricing it around $300 to $400. A release is currently planned for 2027.

Read more