Apple TV won't connect to iTunes and does not show up in my devices list in iTunes.

Question

My older model Apple TV won't connect to iTunes and does not show up in my devices list in iTunes.  I have two Apple TVs in my house and I can't imagine that this is part of the problem but I mention it just in case.  My other Apple TV is brand new and it connects to iTunes just fine.  I've tried most of the "fixes" and one says to Force Sync but I can't since Apple TV isn't in my device list.  Another "Fix" said to Navigate the Apple TV to Settings --> Downloads --> Check for Downloads, but when I tried that there was no option for "Downloads" under the Settings Heading.  I'm at a loss.  Please help.  Could this be an issue with too many authorized devices?  We have three iPads, two iPhones, laptop, desktop, two Apple TVs, and an iPod and most of them are syncing the same music playlists and whatnot...  have I run out of rope?

Answer 1

hi, just posting to everyone in general..its not you, or your apple tv, it is itunes.
ok, ive had the exact same issues for weeks now, as with everyone i had done the lastest upgrade and no longer could see/sync my gen 1 appleTV.........so, i removed the upgrade and went back to the prev version, even though it was showing in my prefs under appleTV, it still wouldnt show in the side panel under devices....i gave up.
This week i was determined to get it to work!  So i started from scratch, totally removed itunes and started back with version 9 and upgrade each version from there, i had no luck, ic clicked find appleTvs but it wouldnt....however i just d/l version 9.2.0.61 and BINGO!. No sooner has it opened and up popped the side panel devices list, showing my appleTV..all ready to be synced etc. I immediately panicked of course haha..and set it all up and its working perfectly.
...Only catch now is that this older version will not be compatiable with my iphone, which i do keep music on...seems we cant win. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr   this will be the same for all the latest apple products.
Apple needs to allow more than one version of itunes per pc OR perhaps they could get their act together and include all of the millions of APPLETV GEN1  owners in there latest upgrading..after all, THEY made the product and THEY do sell the movies/tv shows, perhaps they could stop making all the upgrade all about the music only!......on which i might add why not incluse movies/tv shows in icloud! yet another upgrade that should be included in the APPLETV  GERNERATION 1!..yes we do  still exist!
at the very least, im happy ive managed to get all my movies etc onto the apple tv, where ill keep them and from now on d/l directly onto my apple tv. I usually d/l to my laptop and then send them to the appletv but while trying to get all this sorted i did a test, i d/l a movie  using my appletv hoping it would somehow let itunes "find" it and getting it to show up in my device list, but it didnt work,  however it did sync/send the movie to itunes..  so at least i could save a back up copy.
good luck trying, as i said this has been weeks and this is the only solution ive found so far....and going through these forums its obviouse its itunes thats the issue, NOT Our apple tvs.