Apple TV: About the status light
The Apple TV status light (LED) glows steadily, flashes, or turns off. Learn what these behaviors mean.
This article has been archived and is no longer updated by Apple.
Apple TV (2nd and 3rd generation)
Status light
Apple TV (2nd and 3rd generation) is:
Glows
On
Is off
Off or in standby
Flashes once
Accepting a command from the remote
Flashes slowly
Starting up
Flashes three times
Rejecting a command from the remote (you've paired a remote with Apple TV but you're using a remote that's not paired); see Apple TV: Pairing and unpairing the Apple Remote .
Flashes quickly
Having issues. Try restarting or waking your Apple TV. If your Apple TV does not start up properly, you might need to reset the Apple TV or restore it to factory settings. See Apple TV (2nd and 3rd generation): Restoring your Apple TV . If this does not resolve the issue, refer to the Service FAQ for additional assistance.
Apple TV (1st generation)
Status light
Apple TV (1st generation) is:
Solid white
On
Off
Off or in standby
Blinks amber
Starting up
Flashes white once
Accepting a command from the remote
Flashes amber once
Rejecting a command from the remote (you've paired a remote with Apple TV but you're using a remote that's not paired); see Apple TV: Pairing and unpairing the Apple Remote .
Alternates between white and amber
Hardware issue; refer to Service FAQ for additional assistance.
Last Modified: Mar 18, 2016