The basics
Troubleshooting your network
When a device cannot find another. Local Network permission, the same Wi-Fi, and firewalls.
Aardy's devices find each other on your home network. Nearly every "I can't find my TV" or "I can't find my Mac" comes down to one of the four things below.
1. Are they on the same network?
Your phone, Mac and TVs need to be on the same Wi-Fi or the same local network. A guest network, or a separate network for smart-home gadgets, often keeps devices from seeing each other.
2. Local Network permission
iPhone and Mac both ask permission before an app can look for other devices.
- iPhone: Settings, then Aardy, then turn on Local Network. Aardy's own Settings tab shows whether it is on and takes you there.
- Mac: System Settings, then Privacy & Security, then Local Network, and make sure Aardy is on.
3. Is the other device awake and ready?
- Open Aardy on the Apple TV. A TV that is asleep, or sitting in another app, may not answer.
- Make sure Aardy for Mac is running (look for its icon in the menu bar) and the Mac is awake and logged in.
- Update the TV app if it is an old version. An older TV app cannot be found by newer phones.
4. Firewalls and routers
- On the Mac, allow incoming connections for Aardy when macOS asks. You can check under System Settings, then Network, then Firewall.
- TVs reach the Mac on TCP port 8737. Phones reach TVs on TCP ports 52180 and 52181. Devices also find each other with Bonjour, which is normal on a home network.
- Some routers have a setting such as "client isolation" or "AP isolation" that blocks devices from talking to each other. Turn it off.
Still stuck?
You can always connect by address. On the TV, choose a Mac by typing its address and port. In Aardy for iPhone, tap My TV isn't listed and type the TV's IP address. If that does not work, contact support.