Can You Control Apple TV with Alexa?

Alexa is a superb virtual home assistant, and as such, she is able to aid users in a variety of ways that simplify and “smarten” everyday life. This ability is available to users all over the globe. Alexa may be used to operate a wide variety of connected smart home devices, including those from a wide variety of manufacturers. It is reasonable to anticipate that Alexa, as a component of a smart home, will be able to operate a smart TV, given that these televisions are already standard in almost all homes.

Apple TV can be controlled by Alexa, but not in a direct manner. Using the Bluetooth capability, it is possible to link Alexa to smart TVs; but, this connection won’t give you complete access to your smart TV’s features. The most effective course of action would be to get a Harmony Hub remote, which would allow you to first connect your Alexa to the device, and then use the same remote to configure your Apple TV.

Let’s take a closer look at this procedure, and see if we can figure out how to get it done!

Which Alexa model works best with Apple TV?

There is no one Amazon Echo device that is known to operate particularly well with Apple TVs in particular. Bluetooth is what’s utilized to establish a direct connection, and its functionality is standard across all of the different models. A Harmony Hub is used while establishing a connection that is indirect. This device has a tendency to operate in the same manner across all models.

Because of this, it is reasonable to believe that the model of your Amazon Echo device does not, in most cases, affect whether or not it is compatible with an Apple TV. Checking in with the Harmony Device and the linkages it has is something you should do if you want to keep the connection between Alexa and your Apple TV safe.

Does Echo Dot connect with Apple TV?

It is possible to link an Amazon Echo Dot to an Apple TV over Bluetooth at this time. Users were unable to connect their Echo Dots and other Alexa-enabled Echo speakers with their Apple TVs in the past; however, this capability is now accessible to them. However, voice instructions to Alexa can only be used for a limited number of activities at this time. On your TV, the only buttons you have access to are pausing, playing, and adjusting the volume.
The use of a Harmony Hub provides even another method of connecting the two, since it enables users to access additional capabilities by utilizing voice commands.

How to connect Echo Dot with Apple TV?

Although there is a possibility that connecting an Echo Dot or any other Alexa-enabled Echo speaker to an Apple TV would only provide limited advantages, doing so is not entirely pointless. Users from all around the world have recommended (and I have tried and proven) that you can do this in one of two ways: by use Bluetooth or by utilizing a Harmony Hub.

Using Bluetooth to connect Echo Dot with Apple TV

This is an easy and basic technique, but it only enables the usage of a few capabilities via Alexa, like pausing, playing, and adjusting the level. The following is what you are going to need to do:

• Give Alexa the command to activate Bluetooth and switch to the pairing mode.
• You may change the settings on your Apple TV.
• Establish a connection between your Echo speaker and Apple TV.

You are good to go! However, it is important to keep in mind that connecting a device with Bluetooth is not always as simple as it may seem at first. When using a Bluetooth connection, users are only able to access a subset of the available functions. You may resolve these concerns by using something called a Harmony Hub.

Using a Harmony Hub to connect Alexa with Apple TV

Alexa from Amazon is compatible with a wide variety of hub devices, one of which is the Harmony Hub. I believe that connecting through a Harmony Hub may be a lengthy and rather complicated process, but in the end, it is well worth it since it enables you to access additional functions on your TV via the use of voice commands. You will need to get ready for this event by preparing the following items. You are going to need to:

• An Amazon Echo device
• A mobile computing device, such as a smartphone or tablet, that is linked to your Apple TV.
• A reliable wireless internet connection
• A Center for Harmony (and an application from the App Store or Google Play Store)
• A working account with Amazon.com

Now, here is what you need to do:

• Adjust your Harmony Hub so that it is in the “Discoverable Mode” setting.
• Connect your accounts for Alexa and the Harmony Hub.
• Check to see that your Apple TV is associated with the Wi-Fi network in your house.
• Launch the Harmony Hub application and go to the “Menu” option located in the upper left corner of the screen.
• Navigate to the “Harmony Setup” option located in the drop-down menu.
• Select the “Add/Edit Devices” option by tapping its button.
• Select “Devices” from the menu that appears at the bottom of your screen, and after that, pick “Add Devices” from the submenu that appears.
• Click the button labeled “Scan for Wi-Fi Devices.” This enables Harmony to search for and connect your Apple TV to the hub once it has been located. At this point, you might be prompted to provide the information associated with your Apple TV account.
• After clicking “Yes” when prompted to begin the process, you will be able to create “Activities” by following the on-screen steps that occur after you have been asked about starting the procedure.

Participating in these tasks will enable you to use Alexa to operate your Apple TV via the Harmony Hub. You may programme them to execute a variety of things, like as turning on your TV.

How to command Alexa to turn on Apple TV?

Following the establishment of a connection between Alexa and your Apple TV via the use of a Harmony Hub, you will be able to issue orders to your TV using Alexa. The following is an example of how you can instruct Alexa to switch on your Apple TV. The following is what you are need to do:

• You may do this by opening the Alexa app on your mobile device (phone or tablet).
• To access the menu, tap the hamburger icon located in the upper left corner of the home screen.
• To create a new one, go to the ‘Routines’ tab and then click the plus symbol.
• Repeatedly tap the ‘+’ button that is located close to the area that contains the text ‘When this happens.’
• You may start your Alexa routine by entering a trigger phrase of your choosing by tapping on the ‘Voice’ button.

• You may add the action that you wish to be linked with your trigger phrase by going to the menu labelled “Add Action” and then tapping on the “+” button.
• Simply choose the “Smart Home” option.
• Select the ‘Control Device’ option, then scroll down until you locate your Harmony Hub device.

You are ready to go at this point! In this manner, you will be able to build up routines of your choosing to utilise the Harmony Hub to carry out any activity based on voice instructions. It may take some time to set up commands using this manner, but that time will be saved and it will go a long way once it has been accomplished.

Issues of controlling Apple TV using Alexa

There are a lot of customers that run into a variety of problems while trying to operate their Apple TV with Alexa over either Bluetooth or a Harmony Hub device. I have done some research and compiled a list of the two most prevalent problems, as well as the solutions to those problems, for your convenience.

Alexa not turning on Apple TV via Harmony Hub

The connection that is established via the Harmony Hub is designed to provide consumers a higher degree of control over their Apple TV through the use of voice commands. However, even when the Harmony Hub is used, there are still some customers who are unable to successfully power on their Apple TV. Even though all of the settings were adjusted correctly, the Apple TV still would not power on.

When confronted with this problem, a response would appear indicating the presence of some type of “profiling difficulties” with the Apple TV. Fixing this problem is not as difficult as you may think it is. A significant number of customers use a variety of troubleshooting methods but are ultimately unsuccessful and give up. The following is what you are going to need to do:

• Launch the Alexa app on your device.
• Navigate to the settings section.
• After that, go to the device list.
• Proceed to the section labelled “Scenes.”
• Delete any and all references to Apple TV that you find in this area.
• Perform both the “disabling” and “enabling” of the Harmony talent.

Alexa not connecting

Restarting your Alexa device is the most straightforward and expedient solution to the problem of your Alexa not being able to connect to the Harmony Hub device. In most cases, this resolves the issue. If this is not the case, you may forget the network and reconnect to your Wi-Fi connection by resetting the Wi-Fi settings on your Alexa device and starting again. This is how you can go about doing it:

• You may access your account by going to Amazon’s website and signing in.
• Navigate to the ‘Account’ tab, and then the ‘Settings’ tab.
• Tap the ‘Your Content and Devices’ option after scrolling down the page.
• Navigate to the section labelled “Manage your Content and Devices.”
• You may access the ‘Settings’ menu by looking to the right. Turn it on.
• Find your Wi-Fi network by going to the list that’s called “Saved Wi-Fi Passwords” and looking through the list.
• Click the “Delete” button in order to forget about this network.

You are now able to re-establish a connection between your Alexa device and your Wi-Fi network. If you do this, the problem with your Alexa not connecting should most likely be resolved.

What Apple TV features you cannot control with Alexa?

You cannot operate certain functions with Alexa while you are connected to your Apple TV through Bluetooth or a Harmony Hub. Let’s have a look.

Connecting via Bluetooth

• Pause
• Play
• Control Volume

When you are connected to your Apple TV over Bluetooth or a Harmony Hub, Alexa will not allow you to operate some functions on your Apple TV. Let’s have a peek.

Connecting via Harmony Hub

When linked through the Harmony Hub, you will have the ability to execute fundamental actions such as turning on or off your Apple TV and moving to a certain category of channels (for instance, sports). However, in order to execute each voice command, an activity will need to be created first.

You won’t have access to the complete suite of capabilities, and instead, you’ll have to utilise the TV app to manage the more intricate settings and functions.

Wrapping up

When attempting to link Alexa to your Apple TV, you have a few different options available to you, just as you have with a few other smart devices. An approach that is taken directly will not be successful, but one that is taken indirectly via the use of a Harmony Hub may help you go very far! Quite a few people, including myself, believe that this connection makes using an Apple TV quite a bit more easy. In addition to this, the Harmony Hub allows you to connect a variety of other smart devices as well. It is possible that your smart home may benefit from the inclusion of this device.