An iPhone running iOS 17 can be used to recover a bricked Apple TV

Image Credit: Apple

Years after it took the USB port away, Apple has given users the ability to restore a malfunctioning Apple TV with an iPhone running iOS 17.

On Monday, Apple rolled out iOS 17, and with it has come a significant number of changes. One such change is the ability to restore an Apple TV simply by bringing your iPhone close to it and following the steps provided.

Previously, an Apple TV was restorable by users with the USB port, but that's been gone for a long time. More recently, if an Apple TV had system issues, you'd either need to visit an Apple Store or send it in for repairs.

The one caveat is that it needs to be an Apple TV HD already running tvOS 17. Additionally, your iPhone will need to be running iOS 17 or later.

If a TV can be restored, an image of an iPhone next to an Apple TV will appear on the TV Screen. Then, a user can simply hold their iPhone close to the Apple TV, which should trigger the repair feature.

Apple notes that after following the steps, users can use their iPhone as they would normally but will need to leave their Apple TV connected to power while the recovery completes.

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4 Comments

dewme 5379 comments · 10 Years

About 7 months ago

Nice. I hope Apple brings this capability to more devices. You can still factory reset a HomePod or HomePod mini by plugging it into the USB port on a Mac.

By the way, I'm always a little dubious of the word "bricked" because there was a time when bricked literally meant really bricked as in non-recoverable and time to break out the desoldering and soldering tools. This was typically when the built-in mechanism used to perform or facilitate a factory reset on a device was destroyed or disabled to the point where device-based and even external helper device based recovery was impossible.

Now the term "bricked" is thrown around willy-nilly like someone's coffee got too cold to drink so they had to resort to the unthinkable task of putting it in the microwave for 30 seconds to give it a warm-up. Oh, the humanity! My coffee is bricked.

nicholfd 824 comments · 6 Years

About 7 months ago

dewme said:

You can still factory reset a HomePod or HomePod mini by plugging it into the USB port on a Mac.

Really? I have a dozen of the OG HomePods and two of the 2nd gen - where do you plug in the USB cable (they do not have a USB port????

dewme 5379 comments · 10 Years

About 7 months ago

nicholfd said:

dewme said:

You can still factory reset a HomePod or HomePod mini by plugging it into the USB port on a Mac.

Really? I have a dozen of the OG HomePods and two of the 2nd gen - where do you plug in the USB cable (they do not have a USB port????

You are absolutely correct. My apology, this only applies to HomePod mini. The jumbo has no ports and can only be factory reset using the top controls.

I should know this because I have a 1st gen HomePod that is truly bricked. From what I’ve read some of the 1st gen have a component, I think an inexpensive diode, that shorts out and renders the device totally inoperative. It’s way down at the base of the device and requires peeling back many layers of the assembly onion to gain access. I’m keeping it around in case I get bored and want to play with puzzles.

hcrefugee 98 comments · 20 Years

About 7 months ago

dewme said:

nicholfd said:

dewme said:

You can still factory reset a HomePod or HomePod mini by plugging it into the USB port on a Mac.

Really? I have a dozen of the OG HomePods and two of the 2nd gen - where do you plug in the USB cable (they do not have a USB port????

You are absolutely correct. My apology, this only applies to HomePod mini. The jumbo has no ports and can only be factory reset using the top controls.
I should know this because I have a 1st gen HomePod that is truly bricked. From what I’ve read some of the 1st gen have a component, I think an inexpensive diode, that shorts out and renders the device totally inoperative. It’s way down at the base of the device and requires peeling back many layers of the assembly onion to gain access. I’m keeping it around in case I get bored and want to play with puzzles.

RE: the dead diode, check out Nic's Fix, both website and youtube channel (where he live streams his repairs). He is able to disassemble the HomePod, replace the diode, and reassemble with no damage to the HP. He is able make other repairs and fixed two of my HPs -- the dead diode/no power issue and the "death farts"/DC offset issue. Reasonable prices, too.

RE: HomePod ports. There is a port in the bottom of the HP--Nic has info on this port and tried to reset bricked HP via this port connected to a Mac, but hasn't had any luck, yet.