Apple TV 4K Computers app not updating shared files

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Level 1

4 points

Apple TV 4K Computers app not updating shared files

Is there a way to force the 'Computers' app on Apple TV 4K to rescan the files being shared by the host computer?

My Apple TV 4K suffered a 'glitch' and when I tried to play a home video it said the file could not be found! I tried another that I knew worked - it too could not be found.

Restarting the Apple TV cured the problem but now those files that would not play have disappeared from the menu structure although they are still there (and playable)in the Apple TV app on my Mac (the host).

Things I have tried : Switching home sharing off and on again on the Mac and the Apple TV 4K, Resarting the Apple TV with the sharing switched off (but the data seems to be resident in the 4K itself). I'm going try resetting the ATV4K next but this isn't a great solution.

Things that seem to cause the glitch: You Tube app and NOW TV app.

Everything is updated to latest versions tvOS 26, Mac on Tahoe 26.1.

Mac mini, macOS 26.1

Posted on Nov 23, 2025 12:56 PM

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Answer 1

Urquhart1244

Level 10

146,184 points

Nov 25, 2025 8:54 AM in response to Rob__

Ok, so I did a complete reset on the Apple TV and the TV menu structure was still incorrect. So it would appear that the menu data is held on my Mac. Can anyone confirm this?

That is correct. Apple Home Sharing makes client devices (Apple TV box) ask for Library data from the sharing server (Mac). Almost live: When you add a media file on Mac, it should appear within a few seconds in the Apple TV box’ Computers app.

The same problem occurs if the Mac is switched off when you try and play a video.

The Home Sharing stream plays “live” from the computer, like a server giving data to a client. No media is stored on the Apple TV box when using this feature.

Managed to refresh the data when I had to re-specify which computer I was linking to.

It seems to be working as intended then? Enjoy your videos!

Use Home Sharing to share media from a computer to other devices - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Rob__ Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 25, 2025 7:38 AM in response to Rob__

Ok, so I did a complete reset on the Apple TV and the TV menu structure was still incorrect. So it would appear that the menu data is held on my Mac. Can anyone confirm this? The sam problem occurs if the Mac is switched off when you try and play a video.

Managed to refresh the data when I had to re-specify which computer I was linking to.

I'm now in the dark and its foggy... still, could be worse.

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Answer 3

Rob__ Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 25, 2025 11:03 AM in response to Urquhart1244

Thanks for getting back to me. The problem I'm having is that the data doesn't refresh! It doesn't refresh on the Mac either unless I go up a layer in the menu structure and then go back. Sadly, this approach doesn't work on the Apple TV Box.

Again I have managed to cure the problem on my Mac by removing the episode and then re-entering it. I now have a better place to look for what's going wrong.

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