Getting Started With a Jailbroken Apple TV 1st Generation
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olabola • March 9, 2013 at 4:59pm
I am new to the Apple TV and jailbreaking. I purchased a 1st Gen Apple TV that is already jailbroken with XBMC, but I am having a hard time navigating and understanding how to use the device. I have spent hours clicking through menus and skins trying to configure things but I am still lost. Is there a guide for beginners that explains the basics of using a jailbroken Apple TV 1st Gen without assuming prior technical knowledge?
Answers
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iClarified • January 12, 2026 at 11:18pm
Getting started with a jailbroken 1st Generation Apple TV can be daunting because the interface is quite different from modern streaming devices. The most important thing to understand is that XBMC (now known as Kodi) is a media center application that runs on top of or instead of the original Apple software. To navigate, use the silver Apple Remote: the Menu button acts as a 'back' button, while the center Play/Pause button usually selects an item.
If you find the current menu layout confusing, go to System, then Appearance, and ensure the Skin is set to Confluence, which is the most standard and user-friendly layout for beginners. To play media, you generally need to add a source. This involves going to Videos, then Files, and selecting Add Videos to point the device to a folder on your network or the internal hard drive.
For a better experience on this aging hardware, many users eventually move away from the original jailbroken Apple OS and install a dedicated Linux-based system like OSMC or OpenELEC. These systems are designed specifically to run Kodi and offer better performance for the 1st Gen hardware. If your device feels sluggish, it may be worth looking into these alternatives to replace the older XBMC installation.
If you find the current menu layout confusing, go to System, then Appearance, and ensure the Skin is set to Confluence, which is the most standard and user-friendly layout for beginners. To play media, you generally need to add a source. This involves going to Videos, then Files, and selecting Add Videos to point the device to a folder on your network or the internal hard drive.
For a better experience on this aging hardware, many users eventually move away from the original jailbroken Apple OS and install a dedicated Linux-based system like OSMC or OpenELEC. These systems are designed specifically to run Kodi and offer better performance for the 1st Gen hardware. If your device feels sluggish, it may be worth looking into these alternatives to replace the older XBMC installation.