If you’re new to Apple TV, you may need a couple of days to get familiar with the UI and the features available on the platform. But even long-time users may sometimes have trouble finding specific settings and options. For example, many users have complained that Apple TV doesn’t have a straightforward resume option. If you pause a video on Apple TV, you often have to start over, you can’t continue where you left off.
Let’s explore if there’s a specific setting you need to enable to continue from the paused sequence.
To resume a movie or TV show on Apple TV, select the Up Next option in the Watch Now tab. The Apple TV app stores your viewing history and progress online linking this information directly to your Apple ID account. The episodes you already watched have a checkmark next to them.
As you can see, Apple TV doesn’t have a straightforward resume option similar to that available on Roku, Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime.
Unfortunately, the Up Next option may sometimes stop working, to users’ despair. For example, if you watch Apple TV on Roku and pause an episode, you only have the “Play this episode” option when you go back. You then need to start over from the beginning and fast-forward to where you left off.
What to Do if You Can’t Resume an Episode on Apple TV
Go to iPhone Settings, select Apple TV settings, and then sign into Home Sharing. The option is available at the bottom of the screen.
Delete the Apple TV app, restart your media streaming device, reinstall the app, sign back in, and check the results.
Navigate to iPhone Settings, select Apple TV, and turn on Use Play History. Then, sign out of iTunes, and enable Airplane Mode. Wait for 30 seconds, go back online, and sign back into your account. Check if all your movies and TV shows are synced up.
Update the software on your iPhone, streaming device, and smart TV to the latest version. Install the latest Apple TV app version, and check the results.
Conclusion
To resume an episode on Apple TV, go to the Watch Now tab, and select Up Next. If the feature is not working, go to iPhone Settings, and enable Use Play History. Additionally, delete the Apple TV app, restart your media streaming device, and reinstall the app.
Do you think Apple should add a user-friendly resume option to Apple TV? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Infuriating! I have to pause often and I’m sick of it starting from the beginning again when I’m half way through it before I paused! Very close to cancelling. High tech Apple ha!!!
This is very annoying . I pay for Apple TV, but can’t find a way to enable the “resume” option when pausing a show. I don’t have a iPhone and it seems the solutions only apply to those that do.
Then, sign out of iTunes, and enable Airplane Mode. Wait for 30 seconds, go back online, and sign back into your account. Check if all your movies and TV shows are synced up.
Then, sign out of iTunes, and enable Airplane Mode. Wait for 30 seconds, go back online, and sign back into your account. Check if all your movies and TV shows are synced up.
FIX THIS. This should be easy for all of you Apple nuts. NOT intuitive at all. Thank you.
Infuriating! I have to pause often and I’m sick of it starting from the beginning again when I’m half way through it before I paused! Very close to cancelling. High tech Apple ha!!!
This is very annoying . I pay for Apple TV, but can’t find a way to enable the “resume” option when pausing a show. I don’t have a iPhone and it seems the solutions only apply to those that do.
Not having a resume from where you left off feature makes Apple TV look a tacky compared to others. It drives me mad and I am sure it does others
Worst!! If you pause and make a cup of tea when you get back is gone to the menu and you have lost your position.
Fix It!!! Please
Brian
It is ridiculous that Apple TV does not have a pause and resume function. Please fix this
I suggest you set up a resume play so we don’t have to repeat parts of shows already watched