Why is the Apple TV app not loading content?

⚡ Fast fix

• Restart your Apple TV and Wi-Fi router.
• Check your internet connection or try a wired Ethernet cable.
• Visit Apple’s System Status page to confirm there isn’t an outage.
• Update the Apple TV app and your device’s software (tvOS, iOS, Android, or Windows).

---

It’s so frustrating when you settle in to watch something good on your Apple TV®, only to find the app won't work. The Apple TV app brings all your streaming subscriptions together so you can see everything you’re watching across different apps and services. Except sometimes, the content doesn’t load. So what then?

Turn to Asurion, your tech experts and go-to source for all things tech. We can walk you through fixing issues with your Apple TV and the rest of your devices, too. Follow these troubleshooting steps if your Apple TV app has a problem loading content.

Understand what a content loading failure means

When you see the message “There is a problem loading this content” in the Apple TV App, you’re dealing with a content-loading failure. Even if the app you’re trying to stream content on and your Apple TV are both working, there’s a problem retrieving and displaying your selected content. Other signs of content loading failure include missing thumbnails in the Apple TV app, an endless loading spinner, or blank screens within the app.

Content loading failure is a type of playback error. These errors occur after the app opens, when the content simply won’t play. If the app doesn't open at all or continually crashes, that’s a different problem known as a launch error.

Keep in mind that playback errors may affect Apple TV+, purchased content, or other streaming channels differently depending on the source of the problem. You may notice that you can play some content but not others when you get the Apple TV app notification, “There is a problem loading this content.”

Check your account and app sync status

Start by checking the account for the streaming service you’re trying to access through the Apple TV app. For example, if you’re trying to watch Game of Thrones on HBO Max via the Apple TV app, open the HBO Max app instead. Make sure you’re signed in and still have an active subscription to the streaming service.

If you’re trying to stream the content from a different location than usual, check whether there are location blocks that prevent streaming in your current region. Streaming services sometimes restrict content to specific regions to comply with licensing agreements and copyright laws.

Also, check that you’re signed in with your Apple ID® on all the devices you want to sync your content-watching. If your Apple TV is signed in to a different Apple ID than your iPhone®, for example, the Apple TV will not reflect what you watched on your phone. Even when if you're signed in to the same account, you may experience sync delays across multiple devices or profiles. Wait a few hours to see if the content syncs.

Similarly, problems with your Apple ID sign-in could prevent access to content you’ve purchased or subscribed to through your Apple account.

Fix device-specific app glitches

If the problem loading content on the Apple TV app isn’t due to your account or syncing across devices, try these fixes:

• Force close and reopen the Apple TV app: Double-click the Home button (the one that looks like a screen) on your Apple TV remote. Find the preview of the Apple TV app and swipe up on it to force close the app. Then, reopen it from the Apple TV Home screen.
• Sign out and back in to refresh account data: Sign out of the streaming service you’re trying to use and your Apple ID, then sign back in to both.
• Clear the app or device cache: Delete and reinstall the app that’s giving you trouble to delete its cache, then restart your Apple TV to clear the system cache by going to Settings > System > Restart.
• Switch networks or restart your router: Make sure your Apple TV is connected to Wi-Fi. If necessary, switch to a different network or restart your Wi-Fi router to refresh your internet connection. You'll need a strong internet connection to get the best streaming quality possible.
• Delete and reinstall the Apple TV app: Try reinstalling if nothing else works.

When the Apple TV app has a problem loading content on your Samsung TV or any other TV, check Apple’s System Status page to see if there's an outage that may be causing the problem.

As a last resort, try to reset your Apple TV. Then you’ll need to set it up again from scratch. You can also reset your Apple TV remote.