App doesn't sync with server automatically

Channels Apple TV Troubleshooting
#1

When I first open the Apple TV app it doesn't seem like it syncs with the server until I manually select a show or movie.

For example, say I am watching a show on the iPad, stop watching before the show is over, close the app then go into the Apple TV and open channels it doesn't reflect where I am in the show. If I open any show or movie, then back out of it, then it updates the content and my show is now synced correctly at where I stopped it on the iPad.

This also happens the other way, from the Apple TV to the iPad as well.

Is this normal behavior or shouldn't the App be syncing with the server when I first open it?

#2

This happens to me as well. I know for sure that this used to not be the case. I would open the app on any device and could see it refresh within a few seconds. I have looked for a setting on the server as to why things changed. But like you, I select any item then back out (without needing to play the show), and then the screen refreshes.

Would love to find a fix to get back to the old behavior.

#3

No, that's not how it should behave. It should be updating as soon as you open the app. The next time you experience this please submit diagnostics from the Apple TV and let us know and we'll see if there's something unusual going on.

#4

Ok, cool. I will play around with this a little later. It happens for me every time so shouldn’t be hard to re-produce.

#5

Let us know exactly what is not being updated.

Are new episodes not appearing?

Or is it just the progress tracking line that's not refreshing?

#6

For me it happens with personal sections. My ATV is setup to land on my own TV section that i created. It never refreshes on startup. I have to navigate to another section and then back to get it to refresh.

#7

This may not be just an Apple TV thing. It happens to me on Android TV as well. I used to be able to pause on one client, and pick up watching on a different client. Not only does it take some time or interaction on the second client for the progress tracking line to show up, I have noticed that the programs/shows on the "Continue Watching" section of the "Home" page do not appear right away.

#8

Fwiw, the second you hit play, it updates watch state from the server before it even starts, so it will always be up to date, even if it didn't update in the app or the UI showing the watch state is stale.

We did this to ensure resuming is always as perfect as possible.

Obviously it's still an issue, but you should be able to hit play and trust it will always resume accordingly.

#9

Ok, just did a test. Started watching Wheel of Time episode 3 on the iPad - stopped after about a minute or so. Went to ATV and opened the app. The progress of WOT didn’t show up until I select a show and then back out. Then it refreshes.

I had added a new show prior to this test and I can verify that it does show up correctly, just not my progress of a watched progress.

I submitted diagnostics.

#10

True, I have tested it that way too and yes, it does start from the correct point. I just like everything more tidy when I open the app because sometimes I also forget what show I may be mid and where in that show. Just an extra step to do to verify it for my OCD mind.

#11

I can confirm that has been the case when resuming the same show/episode/movie on Android clients. The green progress bar does not match, or in the event of a TV series, may even be a couple of episodes behind. However, hitting play on the paused episode/movie does resume in the exact spot where it was paused.

#12

For those with this issue. We are going to need far more detail than “when I open the app, it’s not updated”.

  1. What isn’t updated?
  2. What particular UI element?
  3. What section are you on?
  4. What app are you using? iOS, tvOS, android tv?
  5. Was the app already open when you switched to your device? Or was it backgrounded and you opened it from the background?

We need a lot more details to determine what might be happening, or how to reproduce it. Especially since it is not something we’ve been noticing in our own use.

#13

Since this topic is in the Apple TV category, those having this same issue on Android TV, please open a different topic and comment there, and not here, as these apps are completely different apps.

#14

Here you go:

#16

If this issue you linked to is about Android, please delete that post and create a new topic with it, as I mentioned there should be no discussion of Android in this thread.

#17

Will do. Thank you. :slightly_smiling_face: