Prime Video Not Working On Apple TV? 8 Quick Fixes

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Couple stuck with Apple TV+ issue on TV

Are you stuck trying to figure out why Prime Video is not working on your Apple TV?

You’ve come to the right place! Prime Video is one of the best streaming platforms on the market, but its performance issues can be really annoying.

Luckily, in this article, you’ll find different ways to fix the problem and get back to your movie night in no time!

A slow Internet connection, outdated software, or a crashed background process may be the reason why Prime Video is not working on your Apple TV.

Don’t worry, though! Follow these 8 simple steps to solve the problem:

  1. Make sure Prime Video is compatible with your Apple TV.
  2. Relaunch Prime Video.
  3. Check your Internet connection.
  4. Update the app and your device.
  5. Restart your TV.
  6. Reinstall Prime Video.
  7. Check your subscription status.
  8. Check the platform’s servers.

Keep reading to get Prime Video working on your Apple TV!

#1 Make Sure Prime Video Is Compatible With Your Apple TV

Before doing anything else, please make sure that you have a 3rd generation Apple TV or later. Sadly, if you have an older model, you won’t be able to fully enjoy Prime Video.

If you’re wondering what your Apple TV model is, I got you! Please follow this quick guide to find out:

  1. Go to the home screen and select “Settings”.
  2. Click on “General”.
  3. Select “About”.
  4. Check the model number (It starts with an A followed by 4 digits).
  5. Identify your Apple TV by its model number. For example, model A1378 is for the 3rd generation.

#2 Relaunch Prime Video

Prime Video, just like any other app, may experience some technical issues while running background processes.

You can easily fix these problems by relaunching the app. To do it, you’ll just need to:

  1. Double press the home button on your remote.
  2. Select Prime Video.
  3. Swipe up on your remote touch sensor to close the app.
Relaunch Prime Video on your Apple TV

Once you’ve fully-closed Prime Video, try opening it again to see if the problem was solved.

If it persists, don’t worry! Keep reading to learn more about other ways to fix it.

#3 Check Your Internet Connection

If the fixes above didn’t do the trick, this just might!

As you may already know, streaming platforms require a strong Wi-Fi signal to properly function. So, if Prime Video isn’t working on your Apple TV, chances are you have a bad Internet connection.

Don’t worry, though! You can easily check if that’s the problem by entering fast.com or speedtest.net.

If the results show that your connection is running slow, please make sure that your Internet plan is fast enough to meet the demand of all your devices.

If you’re like me, you probably like using multiple devices while doing your favorite activity. For example, you may be streaming a movie on your Apple TV, while using your phone to check social media.

While this is really entertaining, it may be the reason why your Internet connection is running slow. You see, the more devices and streaming services you have, the faster your Internet plan will have to be.

But how can you know what Internet plan is best for your home?

Simple! Multiply the number of people living in your house by 25 Mbps. This way, if you’re living with your partner, you’ll need an Internet plan of at least 50 Mbps.

If your Internet plan is not the problem, try restarting your router and modem. Follow these steps to do it:

  1. Locate your modem and router.
  2. Unplug them and wait 30 seconds.
  3. Plug in the modem and wait one minute.
  4. Plug in the router. If your router has a power button, press it. Then, wait two minutes.
Restart your modem and router
Tip: Make sure your router is close to your Apple TV to avoid network issues.

Tip: Having a fast Internet connection can avoid numerous performance issues, such as flickering, buffering, and much more.

#4 Update The App and Your Device

The next thing you might want to try is updating Prime Video and your Apple TV.

Updates often fix temporary bugs, glitches, or coding errors that are causing technical problems.

You can easily update Prime Video, you’ll just need to:

  1. Go to the App Store.
  2. Search for Amazon Prime.
  3. Click on “Update.”

To update your Apple TV:

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

Please don’t disconnect your Apple TV while it’s updating.

Once you’ve completed the steps above, launch Prime Video again to see if the problem was solved.

#5 Restart Your TV

As simple as it seems, sometimes restarting your device can solve some performance issues that are preventing your TV and installed apps from functioning correctly.

These are three different ways in which you can restart your Apple TV:

Method 1:

  1. Press and hold the menu and home screen buttons on your remote.
  2. Wait until the lights on your Apple TV begin to flash.

Method 2:

  1. Unplug your Apple TV from the power.
  2. Wait at least 10 seconds.
  3. Plug it back in.

Method 3:

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

#6 Reinstall Prime Video

You may not know this, but reinstalling an app that isn’t working at its best can get rid of corrupted files that may be causing the problem, restarting them from scratch.

You can easily reinstall Prime Video, you’ll just need to follow these simple instructions:

  1. Highlight Prime Video.
  2. Press and hold the touchpad on your remote until the app jiggles.
  3. Press the play/pause button on your remote.
  4. Select “Delete”.
  5. Go to the App Store.
  6. Search for “Prime Video”
  7. Click on “Download” or “Get”.

Once you’ve completed the steps above, please open Prime Video and try streaming any movie or TV show.

#7 Check Your Subscription Status

If you can’t access your Prime Video account on your Apple TV, chances are your subscription has expired.

Normally, your Prime Video membership will be automatically renewed every month. But, if you don’t keep a card on the platform’s records, this process will be impossible.

Don’t worry though! You can easily check if your subscription is to blame. You’ll just need to:

  1. On your computer, go to the Amazon store in which you originally created your account.
  2. Click on “Account and Lists” at the top of your screen and select “Memberships & Subscriptions”.
  3. Check the renewal date of your membership.
  4. Make sure that your card number is correct and the expiration date. If you want to change your payment method, click on “change” next to your card number.

Tip: Please make sure you’re using an accepted payment method. Don’t forget to keep a card on the platform’s records to avoid login issues.

#8 Check The Platform’s Severs

If your Prime Video isn’t working, it’s time for us to look at the platform’s servers.

These can be down due to different reasons, such as coding errors or an overload of traffic.

To check Prime Video’s servers:

  1. Open your preferred browser.
  2. Type “Down Detector” and click on the first option.
  3. Type “Prime Video” and check if the graph shows any reports.
Check if Prime Video's servers are down
The higher the spikes, the more likely Prime Video is experiencing performance issues.

Sadly, if the graph shows high spikes, the only thing you can do is wait until the platform’s IT team fixes the issue.

But, don’t worry! Server downtime is normally solved within a couple of hours.

Conclusion

It’s really frustrating not being able to stream your favorite movie because Prime Video isn’t working on your Apple TV.

Hopefully, with the help of the fixes above, you’ll be able to get rid of this problem in no time.

Remember, quick actions like relaunching and updating the app, checking your Internet connection, or restarting your TV can solve the issue.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this article. If you found it helpful, please make sure to check our other related content below.

Here at Tech Detective, we’re passionate about bringing quick and easy solutions to everyday problems.

Enjoy your movie night!