It has been a week since the Apple TV Zwift app was officially launched, and it has been hugely popular. Why? Because Apple TV is the most affordable device to purchase if you want to get up and running on Zwift! Shop Apple TV on Amazon >
There have been numerous posts in different Facebook groups asking various Apple TV-related questions, so here is a collection of the best tips, tricks, and observations from the past week.
Apple TV Differences
The Apple TV Zwift differs from the other Zwift versions (PC, Mac, and iOS) in several ways.
Friends Online
The list on the Ride screen is only a list of your online friends and not a full list of other Zwifters.
Jon Mayfield says:
We made the list “friends only” because navigating a giant list of people on tvOS was too cumbersome without a mouse or touch screen. It was possible, but not good.
Your Garmin Device Cannot Pair with Zwift
If you try to use a speed sensor, cadence sensor, heart rate monitor, or foot pod from Garmin with your Apple TV you will have a problem. Most of these are ANT+ devices, and the Apple TV can only connect to Bluetooth devices.
Yes, there are ANT+ to Bluetooth bridges ([amazon_textlink asin=’B071S929ZC’ text=’CABLE’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’zwif-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’141b9850-d4a3-11e7-bcaa-8b08cba89c51′] and the [amazon_textlink asin=’B00BHZQ6OG’ text=’Viiiiva HRM’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’zwif-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’ea27d98a-d4a2-11e7-bd4a-5df708933196′]), but the simplest and cleanest solution is to get Bluetooth enabled sensors to replace your ANT+ only sensors. Maybe something to put on your Christmas wish list?
Ride Ons and View Other Riders
You have to use Zwift Companion on a iOS/Android device to give ride ons and view other users. It was possible to do it with the Apple TV remote until late in the beta period but the functionality was removed–it simply never worked very well to perform these actions with the remote.
Custom Workouts
So far there is only one way to get custom workouts on Apple TV: Use TrainingPeaks.
You add a workout to your calendar in TrainingPeaks, and TrainingPeaks will automatically upload it to Zwift for you on that day.
You cannot upload Zwift custom workout files (.zwo files) to TrainingPeaks. You must construct your workout directly in TrainingPeaks or use one of the file formats they can import.
Use the Remote Effectively
There are some clever ways to use the Apple TV remote:
- Swipe up to get to the blue button bar.
- Swipe down to select the powerup, then click to activate it.
Make Sure to Disconnect if You Want to Connect (?!)
You can connect Bluetooth LE devices via Zwift Companion on an iOS / Android device. Bluetooth LE devices can only connect to one app and the Settings app in iOS counts, so make sure that your device is NOT connected in Settings > Bluetooth before you try to pair it via Zwift Companion.
Known Problems
Friends are Picked – Even if You Want to be Alone…
It is a minor annoyance that the first friend in the ‘Join’ panel is checked even if you do not click on him/her. It happens when you move up to pick a workout/route or move back down, so just be aware so you do not suddenly get to ride with someone when you planned on something else.
Different World on ATV and in Zwift Companion
There have been cases where Zwift Companion shows a different map than the one in Zwift on the Apple TV. It was reported that if you made sure to use latest versions of Zwift on your devices it should be fixed, but there has been reports of this also with the very latest version of Zwift Companion on iOS (version 2.15 (323)).
Display Issues with ATV 4K and 720p HD TVs
If you have the newest Apple TV 4K but your TV set has only 720p HD resolution, the welcome splash screen fills the whole TV, but the game only fills a quarter of the bottom left hand side. Jon Mayfield has promised it will be fixed in the next update.
We will probably see an update soon…
At the time of writing the current build is 1.0.21984. There will most likely be a new version within a week or so, so check back for an update after that.
Hi can you tell me how to end a ride on Apple TV?
Thanks
Either use the menu button on the remote to access the pause screen (menu) where you can select ‘End ride’ or end the ride from Zwift Companion App
The Apple TV remote controls everything on Apple TV EXCEPT ZWIFT!!
It is virtually impossable to control anything with it.
Beware making the same mistake I did. Wasted £180 thinking Apple TV would get me access to Zwift.
Not sure what you mean, but mine works perfectly except for a few little things….at least before today (now I have a weird issue, but it’s more of an annoyance versus a show stopper.
Display issues have not yet been resolved!! I have a small older monitor and with the new version just pushed in the past few days, everything is overblown. I can’t even see the end ride button! The app is impossible to use. I’ve changed screen settings on ATV and no luck! Very disappointing.
can you access the log files for zwift on an apple tv? (want to look at them in zwiftalizer to determine where & which components in the system drops out)
No, unfortunately not.
I seem to lose the top and bottom of the Zwift screen. Not sure if it’s a resolution issue or not. I have an older Plasma which is 1024i. AppleTV sets my resolution to 1024px768
I had these screen issues when I first started using the Apple TV (couldn’t see the gradient and riders’ flags). I went through literally all the settings in the TV before finding an “underscan” option. This sorted out the issue. There’s the same option within the AppleTV settings, but that didn’t work for me. I’d tried resolution settings and ratios, but none of those helped.
I am using a AppleTV and an Apple external monitor, but I am unable to read the top part of the Zwift screen. It is outside the screen, thus making it impossible to control the settings etc. I cannot find any means for cropping the Zwift screen to fit the monitor. Tried the various settings on the AppleTV but it turns black and then returns to staus quo setting (1080 plus something setting). Ideas.
See my reply to Mark above ^. Worked for me.
zwift on apple tv works fast, start cycling within a minute, but the remote is kind of pain in the ass with selecting values from dropdowns (for instance routes/workouts, etc). on window try different settings in zwift on windowed or full screen setting.
I don’t understand why the minimap is not selectable (the 3 different displays -mini/middle/maxi)…
I just developed a strange problem with apple TV/remote / Zwift….when I go into the garage and try to scroll down to pick a new jersey, shoes, glasses, etc…the remote won’t allow me to scroll down. It will only allow left to right so I have a choice of 3-jerseys, etc. WTF? Anybody experience this? I unplugged the apple TV both cables and restarted. I am currently charging the remote, so far nothing has worked. I restarted zwift three time also.
does anyone know how to log out of your profile on Apple TV. We have multiple profiles live at the work gym and they remain open permanently. Thanks
Hi I have been using Apple TV4 (version5) for a couple of months and it works very well. I normally use it with the Zwift companion App which allows some really good photo angles on the ride. Currently I have a difficulty with my E-mail log in so cannot use the Companion App.
Apple TV still records my rides well, & posts to strava. However while the ride menu bar on Apple TV allows me a series of camera angles there is no camera on the menu bar. Zwift still post its own photos which are great, but I would occaisionally like an opportunity for a little personal creativity with photos.
I am wondering if it is that there is normally no camera on the Apple TV menu bar, or is there a glitch some where that needs attention.
Thanks.