Our favorite Aussie Lama Shane Miller has released a Swift Zwift Tip quickly explaining some recent changes to Zwift for AppleTV.
The modifications to the pairing screen make it clear that Zwifters must pair their Bluetooth devices by one of these two methods:
- Using Zwift Companion (on your phone), which works via your local network and does not limit the number of devices you can connect; or
- Directly to AppleTV, which only allows two device connections
The two connection limit is one of the hassles which AppleTV users have to put up with. This isn’t a limit from Zwift, but from Apple. There are various ways around it, but if you’re running up against that limit the simplest (and cheapest) solution is to just use Zwift Companion.
On the other hand, if you have a smart trainer with built-in cadence such as the Wahoo KICKR line, Tacx Neo and other smart trainers, Saris H3, or any Elite interactive trainer, you can pair up your heart rate monitor as well as your smart trainer directly to AppleTV and be off and Zwifting in no time!
Watch the video:
I have a 17 Kickr and seperate Cadence sensor. I really can’t be bothered pairing via companion app so I just don’t bother wearing HRM.
The 4iiii Viiiva hrm can bridge connect ant+ sensors to BT. I use og to connect my cadence sensor. Works great
At first I didn’t really have an understanding of what was going on with the app. I have a ’18 Kickr, Wahoo tickr, and a Wahoo Blue SC. with the appleTV 32G 4K and then I finally got it!! Absolutely love the way it can finally hook up all four of my sensors in no time at all! Before I could only hook up 3 sensors and had to use the app for my CAD and sometimes either the HR or CAD would not work. But now…no problems!!
4iii is an excellent solution. I bought one after Shane’s review and had no problems with instant pairing for cadence snd heart rate monitors.
What gives here?…. I use Apple TV 4K for zwifting and have my Neo connected for power/controllable trainer and cadence and a tickr for heart rate. Obviously the piece of sh*t remote is also connected. I’m able to also connect a Bluetooth keyboard and it has some limited use on zwift – I can browse the menus, using space in game uses my power ups and I can change saved game names and stuff with it. It doesn’t appear to me that any other of my devices drop out. How does that work if I’ve only 3 Bluetooth connections?
It’s confusing. Apparently you can connect multiple “made for IOS” bluetooth devices. I’m guessing none of the devices we use for Zwifting (trainers, power meters, HRMs) are made for IOS.
Your Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD can support several Bluetooth accessories simultaneously, up to this many:
You might be able to pair more accessories, but at some point you may need to unpair others to allow for new ones. Some apps let you use an iOS device as an additional controller, which doesn’t require Bluetooth. For help using an iOS device as a controller in an app, contact the app developer.
Same here, but instead of the keyboard connected I have a set of Powerbeats Pro connected through apple tv 4k as well as Wahoo Kickr core, Tickr x HR monitor, and the piss poor apple remote, all works seamlessly no problems
Thank you for your comments, I was actually going to make a video to prove people have been spreading this “urban myth”. I know about the existing limitations, but that’s BT4 not 5. Of course I understand pairing difficulties and workarounds using the companion app, but here’s my setup:
– Tacx Bushido Smart trainer, has 3 sensors show up on swift: power, speed and cadence
– Wahoo HR
– Don’t understand the complaints about the remote, works for me and I can’t believe how much that battery lasts!
– And just recently I paired the Echo Dot, works as a(ny) Bluetooth speaker.
All working fine. I mean, I can understand where the myth comes from, sometimes one of them doesn’t show up, it would reinforce the belief. I just force quit Zwift and try again; once all are connected, no problems!
I use a CABLE (North Pole Engineering). It picks up my Giant ANT+ ride sense and my Garmin ANT+ HR and uses only one BT connection. Trainer takes the other BT and I’m all set.
This might be a silly question, but does the companion app need to be open at all times if you are connecting through it? Will everything disconnect from Zwift if you get a phonemail, jump to another app etc.
Hi Brian,
as long as I have the companion app running in the background I can use other apps without a problem. I routinely check email or change my music playlist.
I’ve seen people riding with Orange Zwift headbands. How do you add one of these to my avatar?
Do you need to be on the same WiFi to use the companion app? I’ve moved my setup outside and share my iPhone 4G with the Mac, works fine.. but the companion app doesn’t let me see my current activity.
Same WiFi needed/mandatory.
I noticed that I couldn’t complete a spin-down paired to the companion app. When I switched back to pairing with my AppleTV and only pairing my trainer, it worked.
I’m using Apple TV 4K, and if I lose my heart-rate monitor signal during a ride or race, is there any way to get the signal back short of exiting Zwift and re-pairing the device before coming back into Zwift? I’m guessing no, but want to find out for sure?! Thanks!
My tv/ Zwift isn’t giving me the option to connect directly via Apple TV but only the zwift companion option and will not find my wahoo kicker bike. Any suggestions ?
I have the same issue. On iPad Zwift is able to connect directly to the Wahoo Kickr trainer but when using Zwift on Apple TV it only connects via the Zwift companion app. Did you find a solution?
Strange, mine started doing same thing yesterday and won’t let me connect my Tacx Neo 2 directly to Zwift using Apple TV. Been fine for over a year so wondering if the last update had anything to do with it.
My screen shows a new Companion App Icon now too and only lets me connect via this option, which is fine but would be nice to know if this is the only way from now on.
Mine exactly the same , even reset Apple TV .. ever since latest Zwift update.
I have a new apple TV and have paired my wahoo kickr. My Garmin heart monitor isn’t picked up, I have bought a USB dongle that I thought would connect as it needs to be Bluetooth… But neither the companion app or zwift on the TV seem to be able to find the heart monito? Any ideas?
I had to buy a newer Dual Bluetooth/Ant+ HR monitor. There are several makers. I bought The Garmin, its about $70 and it works great. https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/649059
I have an Elite turbo muin B+ with a Mizuro BT and Ant+ transmitter. I have always used an old laptop with ant + via USB. I have upgraded to apple 4k tv. First race today and i was DQd for using ZP. What am i doing wrong? I intend to use a CABLE to convert everything to ant+. Hopefully that will allow my trainer to supply power to zwift to avoid future ZP DQs. Any thoughts.
Elite Turbo Muin B+ is a smart trainer, right? If so, as long as you’ve paired it as a power source and controllable trainer, you won’t be on zPower and you won’t get a DQ. Shouldn’t need CABLE device at all.
I’m hoping someone can provide some insight/suggestions: I am using the Zwift app on my Apple TV which is connected to my modem via ethernet (not WiFi). I want to use the Companion app on my phone, obviously using WiFi – I cannot seem to get this to work. I have an Elite Direto trainer (1 bluetooth connection) and an Ant+ heartrate strap (1 bluetooth connection). If my Apple TV is not using WiFi, is there any way to use the Companion in-game?
Depends on how your local network is set up. Most of the time the wifi and wired ethernet are on the same network – sounds like perhaps yours isn’t? But you should be able to get it there…
Thanks Eric – you are (were) correct. My WiFi is set up as a mesh network, the Apple TV unit was plugged directly into the modem. I plugged the Apple TV into one of the mesh routers, and then when I started a Zwift session, my companion connected to the game immediately. Thanks again.
Splendid!
I have a Tacx flow and Apple TV 4K picks up Power, controllerable and cadence from the smart trainer but can’t find my wahoo Tickr HR monitor?? Any ideas why it can’t just find the Tickr as isn’t this only 2 Bluetooth connections? The Tickr is connected to my iPhone Bluetooth is that a problem?? Please help
Tickr can only be connected to one BT device so turn BT off iPhone and it should work.
My companion app appears to have kicked me off a group ride this morning.
I have Zwift running on an Apple TV, connected via ethernet. I’m on a Saris H3 and have a VorTec Bluetooth Arm Band HRM. All connected happily and riding away.
I decided to watch a TV show on my iPad while riding today and paired that with some earphones, so I switched BT off on my phone to allow the iPad to pair, rather than unpairing the device. All working still, so far.
Now, my issue may be that BT was turned off on my phone (is it as simple as that?). I had the companion app running alongside me showing info as needed. I then decided to reply to a group message. As soon as I sent it, the connection to my turbo dropped (possibly my HRM too, but I didn’t notice). I’ve sent messages before without issue. Does the companion app require the BT connection to be up for messaging? Phone was connected via Wi-Fi to the same network.
Connecting through the Companion App seems to work ok with three devices but ERG mode doesn’t work on workouts. If I connect direct to Apple TV 4K then ERG mode works fine but then I can only have two devices so lose my cadence sensor. Pretty frustrating as I only recently upgraded to Apple TV from my iPad which worked fine but I had to cast to the TV. Any ideas why ERG mode does not work for me through the Companion App with Apple TV?
Untill last update I don’t have any problems connecting AppleTV to ELITE SUITO. Now it start losing connection during the ride – i syart riding? then avatar stops. on Android smatphone – no problems. How to get back to previous version?
I have an Direto xr and over the last week my trainer has become non controllable. It is still showing as paired on zwift but i get no resistance (erg or going uphill). I did the latest update last week. I use apple tv 4k. The only other thing different is i have used a bluetooth speaker which connects to my phone. I have tried it with this switched off though. Any ideas. I have unistalled zwift off apple tv and re-installed. Ive not had chance to see if that makes any difference yet.
Hi just purchased Apple tv 4k and cannot get it to pair with the Garmin Tacx flow . the apple Zwift asks for tyre size and then goes searching but nothing comes up. i have tried several times to start search again and waking up the garmin bur all to no avail. the tracks did work on old MS laptop . was hopeing the apple tv would reduces clutter.
help please Colin
Tacx Flow Smart is a smart trainer, not a “classic” or dumb trainer. So pair it as a smart trainer in Zwift. If it’s asking for tire size, you’re trying to pair it as a classic trainer.
Should be an easy fix!
hey Eric,
ive been using my noble pro and Hr strap for the last month with no trouble but this morning i tried to same setup and when i clicked the HR it said too many connections ? any ideas