This is why they release software and firmware updates on occasion.
A number of third-generation Apple TV 4K owners are reporting connection issues between the Siri Remote and the set top box. According to comments on Reddit, the issues are
only temporarily resolved by either restarting the remote or power cycling the set-top box.
The issue seems to center around the Siri Remote’s inconsistent Bluetooth connection with the latest Apple TV 4K, even at close proximity.
It’s also been noted that the issue, which can only be remedied by either re-pairing or restarting the remote, or unplugging the set-top box, requires the unit to be plugged in again to re-establish the connection.
Notably, the problem doesn’t occur when the same users try controlling their Apple TV 4K with the Remote app on their iPhone or with their TV remote via HDMI-CEC, suggesting the fault is indeed a Bluetooth issue between the remote and Apple TV 4K.
It’s unknown as to whether this is a software bug or a hardware-related issue, although there is some indication that the problem only began for some users after updating to tvOS 16.2, which could be the reason it has only now become a more widespread issue.
A number of users have also gone through several Apple TV 4K replacement units from Apple to try and solve the connection issue, only to yield mixed results.
The third-generation Apple TV 4K was released in October 2022, featuring an A15 Bionic processor, 64GB or 128GB of storage, and HDR10+ support. It comes with a USB-C Siri Remote.
If you’ve encountered this issue on your end, please let us know about your experience in the comments.