iTunes Store Won't Work on Original Apple TV and Windows XP/Vista PCs as of May 25

Apple yesterday published a new support document noting that security changes being implemented on May 25 will prevent the first-generation Apple TV and PCs running Windows XP or Vista from using the iTunes Store. Apple has also begun emailing users with active first-generation Apple TVs to warn them of the upcoming change.

apple tv 1st gen

Beginning on 2018-05-25, Apple will introduce security changes that prevent Apple TV (1st generation) from using the iTunes Store. This device is an obsolete Apple product and will not be updated to support these security changes.

Apple notes that second-generation and later Apple TV models will continue to work with the iTunes Store.

The first-generation Apple TV based on a traditional hard drive was introduced back in 2007 and was supplanted by the much smaller flash-based second-generation model in late 2010. The first-generation model was officially declared obsolete by Apple in late 2015.

As for PC users, Apple notes that machines running Windows XP or Vista are no longer supported by Microsoft and are unable to use the latest versions of iTunes, as iTunes 12 requires Windows 7 or later. With the upcoming changes, users running these older versions of Windows and iTunes won't be able to make new purchases or redownload previous purchases from the iTunes Store.

(Thanks, Greg!)

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

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Top Rated Comments

Plutonius Avatar
93 months ago
Vista? Even Microsoft hopes everyone forgets that debacle.
I enjoyed and had no issues with Vista in the years that I used it.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
itsGrant Avatar
93 months ago
I'm kind of surprised its still able to be accessed on the original Apple TV.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
2010mini Avatar
93 months ago
Vista? Even Microsoft hopes everyone forgets that debacle.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
az431 Avatar
93 months ago
This is dumb. What's wrong with letting iTunes function on XP and Vista? I mean, I don't use those OS's, but I see no reason to prevent them from accessing the iTunes store. And who is Apple to tell people they can't use their old Apple TV's anymore? I mean, those old ones are total crap; but still, if people want to use them then they should have every right to do so.
Did you read the article?
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
saulinpa Avatar
93 months ago
Good thing no one builds Apple TVs into an actual TV. Hate to think you can't use your TV because it is deemed "obsolete."
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ErikGrim Avatar
93 months ago
Good thing no one builds Apple TVs into an actual TV. Hate to think you can't use your TV because it is deemed "obsolete."
This is literally every Smart TV being sold right now.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)