Apple TV Keeps Changing Your Input? 4 Explanations

Is your Apple TV acting like a grumpy teenager that is always changing the channels?

 I know how annoying it can be to have this happen to you, especially when you’ve paid a hefty amount of money for it.

Believe it or not, this issue is more common than you’d think. Many people struggle with it daily.

Luckily, in this article, you’ll learn how to leave this annoying situation in the past.

If your Apple TV keeps changing inputs by itself, chances are you’re using the wrong HDMI port, your TV’s “HDMI CEC” feature is enabled, or you need to restart and update your Apple TV.

Keep reading to turn up the volume!

#1 Check Your HDMI Port

Before doing anything else, let’s make sure your HDMI port isn’t damaged.

You see, is there’s a problem with the port you’re using, you may experience different issues while streaming content and your Apple TV may change inputs by itself.

But, don’t sweat it. Please follow this quick guide to check if that’s the case:

1. Unplug your Apple TV box from the HDMI input.
2. Clean the HDMI connector with a clean and dry cloth.
3. Plug your Apple TV into another HDMI input.
4. Select the correct input on your TV.

Once you’ve completed the steps above, try using your Apple TV again to see if the issue was solved.

But, if it persists, you might want to keep reading.

#2 Disable Your TV’s “HDMI CEC” Feature

What if I told you that fixing this could be as simple as adjusting your device’s settings?

You see, your TV has an “HDMI CEC” feature that allows you to control different devices connected to your TV through an HDMI port using a remote.

You probably didn’t know about this feature, since almost every brand has a different name for it. But, it’s important to understand that thanks to it, there’s no need to navigate through the input source menu to use a different device.

For example, if you turn on your Apple TV while using a DVD player (or vice-versa) your TV may automatically switch the input for you.

Although this feature has great benefits, it may be the reason why your Apple TV keeps changing TV inputs by itself.

But, don’t worry. Try disabling your Apple TV’s “HDMI CEC” feature to see if the issue goes away. To do it, you’ll just need to:

1. Go to the Settings menu.
2. Select “Remotes and Devices”.
3. Click on “Control TVs and Receivers” to turn it off.

Next, I’d like you to disable this feature directly on your TV. Follow this quick guide to do it:

Samsung TV:

1. Press the Home button on your remote.
2. Go to “Settings”.
3. Click on “General”.
4. Select “External Device Manager”.
5. Turn off the “Anynet +” feature.

Android TV:

1. Click on the gear icon at the top of your screen to open the Settings menu.
2. Go to “General Settings” and select “Input”.
3. Turn off the switch next to “HDMI control”.

LG TV:

1. Press the Settings button on your remote for 5 seconds.
2. Select “All Settings” and click on “General”.
3. Turn off “Simplink (HDMI-CEC)”.

Sony Smart TV:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Select “Watching TV”.
3. Go to “External Inputs” and select “Bravia Sync Settings”.
4. Turn off “Bravia Sync Control”.

If you’re using a different device, search on Google for “How to turn off “HDMI CEC” on <Your Device’s Name Goes Here>”.

#3 Restart Your Device

As you probably noticed, there are different reasons why your Apple TV changes inputs by itself. And while this could be related to your HDMI port and settings, chances are your device ran into a problem while running background processes.

This is why I recommend restarting your Apple TV. By doing this, you’ll be able to clear bad data and force every file, code, and process to start up fresh.

Follow these simple steps to restart your Apple TV:

Method 1:

1. Press and hold the Menu (1st generation remote) or back (2nd generation remote) and the Control Center (TV icon) buttons on your remote. If you have an aluminum or white remote, press the Menu and Down buttons.

Method 2:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Select “System”.
3. Click on “Restart”.

Method 3:

1. Unplug your Apple TV box and TV from the power source.
2. Wait at least 10 seconds.
3. Plug them back in.

#4 Update Your Apple TV

Companies, just like Apple, are constantly releasing updates to satisfy their customer needs and improve their overall experience. But, I know, sometimes installing these can be a hassle, especially if your “Automatic Update” feature is disabled, or you’re in a hurry.

Unfortunately, if your Apple TV keeps changing TV inputs by itself, you might want to install its latest software version.

If you have a spare 5 minutes and are ready to leave this annoying issue in the past, try these easy to follow steps:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Select “System” and click on “Software Updates”.
3. Click on “Update Software”
4. Select “Update and Install”.

Tip: This fix can also solve low video quality issues and login difficulties.

Conclusion

That about covers it! Hopefully, with the help of the 4 fixes above, you’ll be able to stop your Apple TV from changing TV inputs by itself.

More often than not, simple actions like changing your HDMI port, disabling your TV’s “HDMI CEC” feature, and restarting or updating your Apple TV should do the trick.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this article. Here at Tech Detective, we’re passionate about bringing quick and easy solutions to everyday problems.

If you found this article helpful, please make sure to check out our other related content.

Good luck!