How to Output Audio From Apple TV 2 via Optical Without HDMI
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44db • March 5, 2013 at 1:48pm
I am looking for a way to have the Apple TV 2nd generation output audio from the optical port without an HDMI cable connected or while the TV is turned off. Is there a patch for nitoTV or a jailbreak distribution that supports this feature?
Answers
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iClarified • January 12, 2026 at 8:36pm
The Apple TV 2nd generation is capable of outputting audio through its optical port (S/PDIF) even when the HDMI cable is disconnected or the TV is powered off. If you are having trouble with the audio cutting out, it is often related to the device entering sleep mode when it loses the HDMI handshake. If your Apple TV is jailbroken, installing a media center like XBMC or Kodi can provide more control. Within the settings of those applications, you can navigate to System and then Audio Output to manually configure the output to S/PDIF. For those not using a jailbreak, ensure your Apple TV software is updated, as later firmware versions handled AirPlay audio through the optical out more reliably when the HDMI source was inactive. You should also check the Sleep After settings in the General menu to ensure the device is not turning off when the TV is shut down.