Because there are no buttons on the device itself, you may have wondered how to turn off your Apple TV. Well, technically you can’t (unless you unplug it). But you can put it to sleep at any time, which is essentially the same thing. In this tip we’ll show you how using your Apple TV remote control.
Before getting started, it is important to note that the device is preset with an Apple TV sleep timer which will automatically kick in after a period of inactivity. So, fear not: no matter what you do, your Apple TV won’t stay on forever. Even if you do nothing it will eventually go to sleep.
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To manually turn off your Apple TV, you must identify which Apple TV remote you are using because the technique for putting your Apple TV to sleep varies slightly depending on which model of Siri Remote you have. If you have the new Apple TV 4K remote (2nd generation), it’s straightforward, but for anyone with an older remote, it’s not so obvious. Below are the different models and methods used accordingly. For more handy tips about your Apple devices, consider signing up for our free Tip of the Day newsletter.
How to Turn Off Apple TV with Siri Remote or Apple TV Remote (2nd Generation)
Image from Apple.com
This Siri remote is compatible with Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD with tvOS 14.5 or later. The good news is that for this remote, the method for turning off your Apple TV is pretty simple:
Long press the power button to put your Apple TV to sleep.
Press it again to wake.
How to Turn Off Apple TV with Siri Remote or Apple TV Remote (1st Generation)
Image from Apple.com
This remote is compatible with Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD. You can easily identify this generation of Siri and Apple TV Remotes, because they have a black aluminum casing and a glass Touch surface. Instead of a power button, you'll see a Home button (which looks like the icon of a TV) and doubles as the sleep/wake button. Here's how to put your Apple TV to sleep using the 2nd-generation Siri or Apple Remote:
To Sleep, long press the Home button for three seconds until you see a window pop up on the right side of your screen.
Select Sleep.
Press the Home button on your remote again to wake.
This also works with the Apple TV Remote app.
How to Turn Off Apple TV with Apple Remote (Aluminum)
Image from Apple.com
This remote is compatible with Apple TV (2nd or 3rd generation). If you have the aluminum or white model remote with no power button, follow the steps below:
Navigate to the main menu on your Apple TV.
Press and hold the Play/Pause button for five seconds to sleep.
Press the Menu button to wake.
Now you know how to manually put your Apple TV to sleep. Remember, if you forget to do this, your Apple TV will go to sleep by itself after a period of inactivity.
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Jivan has always been a big fan of Apple products since the original iPod hit the scene, and gets excited about the fast pace of technology. Jivan has a background in both business and tech, and has a degree in business administration. He loves researching new tips and ideas and sharing them with others. Jivan resides out of San Diego in sunny southern California, and tries to spend as much time as humanly possible outdoors with his two young sons playing sports, chasing waves, and on the seemingly never-ending quest for the best fish taco.
