Apple TV: "Check that any firewall software running on this computer has been set to allow communication on port 3689" alert in Windows

Products Affected

Apple TV (1st generation), Apple TV (2nd generation), Windows XP, Windows Vista, iTunes for Windows

Symptoms

Once you have synced or paired your Apple TV (1st generation) to your computer, or set up Apple TV (2nd generation) to share your computer's iTunes library via Home Sharing, iTunes for Windows may state:

  • "The Apple TV 'name' is not responding. Check that any firewall software running on this computer has been set to allow communication on port 3689."

Resolution

If you have Windows Firewall enabled, make sure that it's configured correctly so that iTunes can communicate with your Apple TV.

If you have other firewall software installed such as Zone Alarm, Norton, or McAfee, please refer to that software's documentation about how to open port 3689.

To check to see that Windows Firewall is correctly configured see below: 

Windows XP

  1. On the Start button, click Control Panel.
  2. Click Networking and Internet Connections
  3. Click Windows FIrewall.
  4. Under the General Tab, check to see that Windows Firewall is on.
  5. Click the Exceptions tab.
  6. Click the Add Port button.

  7. You should now see a second window called Add a port, make sure that the following appears in each field.

    • Name: iTunes Sharing
    • Port number: 3689
    • Make sure the TCP radio button is chosen, and click OK.
       

  8. Click OK to close both windows.

Windows Vista

  1. On the Start button, click Control Panel.
  2. Open Network and Internet.
  3. Open Windows Firewall.
  4. In the Windows Firewall window, click Change Settings.
  5. Under the General tab, make sure that Windows Firewall is turned on.
  6. Click the Exceptions tab.
  7. Click the Add port button.

  8. In the Add a Port window, enter the following:
    • Name: iTunes Sharing
    • Port Number: 3689
    • Make sure the TCP Protocol is selected.


     
  9. Click OK to close the window.

Windows 7

  1. From the Start menu, choose Control Panel.
  2. Click System and Security, then click Windows Firewall.

    Note: If you use the Icons View for Control Panel, click Windows Firewall.
     
  3. Click "Allow a program or feature through Windows Firewall."
  4. In the "Allowed Programs and Features" window, click Change Settings.
  5. Make sure that iTunes is checked for your network in use.
  6. If iTunes isn't listed, click "Allow another program", click Browse, then navigate to the iTunes program (usually in C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunes) .

    Note: For 64-bit editions of Windows, navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\iTunes\iTunes .
     
  7. Select iTunes, then click Open.

    Note: iTunes may appear as "iTunes.exe."
     
  8. Click Add in the "Add a Program" window.
  9. Click OK in the Allowed Programs window.
  10. Close the Windows Firewall window.

Additional Information

See "Well known" TCP and UDP ports used by Apple software products for more information.

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