Installing certificates without USB on Apple TV is a elegant and easy way to get PlexConnect on your Apple TV. Installing a certificate on your Apple TV is essential to get PlexConnect running because of the silent Apple TV Software update from August 27, 2013. Installing certificates over the air (OTA) on Apple TV can used for any certificates, not only for the PlexConnect ones.
Up to now, it was necessary to connect your Apple TV to your computer (Mac and Windows PC) via a micro USB cable. Some people including me noticed that not every micro USB cable is working to get the Apple TV recognized in the iPhone configuration utility.
Here’ how to installing certificates without USB cable on Apple TV2 or 3:
- The latest version of PlexConnect from Github needs to be running.
- Create certificate files for Mac or Windows (Step 2).
- Copy all three certificate files to default directory .cer (Mac)/.der (Windows), .pem and .key to …/plexconnect/assets/certificates)
- Complete Apple TV configuration steps in the PlexConnect Install Guide (steps 3 & 4 in Mac and 4 & 5 in Windows guide)
- Go to the Apple TV Settings.
- Select ‘General‘ then scroll the cursor down to highlight ‘Send Data To Apple‘.
- Set ‘Send data to apple‘ to ‘No‘.
- This time press ‘Play‘ (not the normal ‘Select‘ button) and you will be prompted to add a profile.
- Enter the URL for the .cer file: http://your-Plex-Server-IP-address/trailers.cer […/trailers.der for Windows] (don’t forget to add http:// and use your PlexConnect IP address). Click on ‘Submit‘.
Using this work around is really an easy way to install certificates without USB cable to an Apple TV over the air (OTA).
Stay tuned! 😉
94 Comments
Hi, I can not add a profile on step 8. like this issue https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5591412
my Apple TV 3 version is 6.1(6698.99.16) , have any idea? thanks
I did it. I could add a profile when on step 6 ..highlight ‘send data to Apple’ then press play.
I have the same problem , how to u get yr play button to response please
Hi Macsure,
either press the ‘Play’-button of your Apple remote or use the Remote app on your iPhone or iPad to press the ‘Play’ button.
Cheers,
Gee Are
Thanks Gee!!
I worked it out just after I post my Question.
Just for your info. I had to used ” cer” as “der” didn’t work for me.
BTW, Love your work, Keep it up, I will be following you for sure
Cheers from OZ
Hi Macsure,
many thanks for your feedback!
Regarding cer/der, this is written in 3. in this post.
Cheers,
Gee Are
Is this still working after the recent update of 6.1 for aTV.
I keep getting “Unable to add profile. An error occured while adding the profile [-1005]. Check the URL and try again.
Thanks!
Hi Jake,
PlexConnect is still working on Apple TV 6.1:
https://miapple.me/plexconnect-running-apple-tv-6-1-update/
Check your cert-file: It’s very often a wrongly generated cert-file. Repeat generating it using the trailers.der batch file, if this doesn’t work try the trailers.cer batch file, not the teailers.der one:
https://miapple.me/installing-plexconnect-on-windows-7-8-and-8-1-after-apple-tv-update/
Cheers,
Gee Are
Hey thanks,
It worked.
The problem was I was migrating from windows to a mac and was trying to use the certs I had generated in win to install via your method on apple tv.
Generated the certs again via mac and now all is well 🙂
/Jake
Hi Jake,
you’re welcome! Thanks for your feedback!
Cheers,
Gee Are
This helped me add an ssl cert to my ATV2 without getting up from my Bed to plug a cable in. http://t.co/nQfoy59Bgr
Hi Gee Are
Yes i have not installed the trailers certification file to the Apple TV unit. The error output i posted is what i get when i try to add the profile to the unit, step 9 in the instructions that is.
First i though i was writing the full path to the cert file wrong
e.g. http://192.168.1.106/PlexConnect/assets/certificates/trailers.der
but that didn’t seem to be it. Then i thought maybe it should just be the ip address of the computer and not the full path
e.g. http://192.168.1.106/trailers.der
But that didn’t work either.
Could it be that it matters that the plexserver is automapped to another port then the default of 32400?
Anyways i am going to try again, going through the installation of everything again. I could also try it on another computer to see if that might be the issue.
Hi Chris,
the later IP address is correct, if the IP of your PC, on which the Plex server is running, is 192.168.1.106. However, you have to point the DNS of your Apple TV to your PC before trying to install the cert file (Step 4 in this guide)!
Further more, did you create the folder C:/Cert including the cert files? Follow this tutorial:
https://miapple.me/2013/09/09/installing-plexconnect-on-windows-7-8-and-8-1-after-apple-tv-update/
Cheers,
Gee Are
Something is going wrong for me, I keep getting this error over and over again. This is what the command window of plexconnect gives me. Any idea what i could be doing wrong?
21:58:36 PlexConnect: ***
21:58:36 PlexConnect: PlexConnect
21:58:36 PlexConnect: Press CTRL-C to shut down.
21:58:36 PlexConnect: ***
21:58:36 PlexConnect: started: 21:58:36
21:58:36 PlexConnect: Version: 0.3
21:58:36 PlexConnect: Python: 2.7.6 (default, Nov 10 2013, 19:24:18) [MSC v.1500
32 bit (Intel)]
21:58:36 PlexConnect: Host OS: win32
21:58:36 PlexConnect: IP_self: 192.168.2.108
21:58:36 DNSServer: started: 21:58:36
21:58:36 DNSServer: ***
21:58:36 DNSServer: DNSServer: Serving DNS on 192.168.2.108 port 53.
21:58:36 DNSServer: intercept: [‘trailers.apple.com’] => 192.168.2.108
21:58:36 DNSServer: restrain: [‘mesu.apple.com’, ‘appldnld.apple.com’, ‘appldnld
.apple.com.edgesuite.net’] => 127.0.0.1
21:58:36 DNSServer: forward other to higher level DNS: 8.8.8.8
21:58:36 DNSServer: ***
21:58:36 WebServer: started: 21:58:36
21:58:36 WebServer: ***
21:58:36 WebServer: WebServer: Serving HTTP on 192.168.2.108 port 80.
21:58:36 WebServer: ***
21:58:36 WebServer: started: 21:58:36
21:58:36 WebServer: ***
21:58:36 WebServer: WebServer: Serving HTTPS on 192.168.2.108 port 443.
21:58:36 WebServer: ***
21:59:11 WebServer: serving .xml: /trailers.der
—————————————-
Exception happened during processing of request from (‘192.168.2.106’, 57141)
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “C:\Python27\lib\SocketServer.py”, line 295, in _handle_request_noblock
self.process_request(request, client_address)
File “C:\Python27\lib\SocketServer.py”, line 321, in process_request
self.finish_request(request, client_address)
File “C:\Python27\lib\SocketServer.py”, line 334, in finish_request
self.RequestHandlerClass(request, client_address, self)
File “C:\Python27\lib\SocketServer.py”, line 649, in __init__
self.handle()
File “C:\Python27\lib\BaseHTTPServer.py”, line 340, in handle
self.handle_one_request()
File “C:\Python27\lib\BaseHTTPServer.py”, line 328, in handle_one_request
method()
File “C:\PlexConnect\WebServer.py”, line 202, in do_GET
XML = XMLConverter.XML_PMS2aTV(PMSaddress, self.path + args, options)
File “C:\PlexConnect\XMLConverter.py”, line 347, in XML_PMS2aTV
PMS = PlexAPI.getXMLFromPMS(PMS_baseURL, path, options, authtoken=auth_token
)
File “C:\PlexConnect\PlexAPI.py”, line 319, in getXMLFromPMS
response = urllib2.urlopen(request, timeout=10)
File “C:\Python27\lib\urllib2.py”, line 127, in urlopen
return _opener.open(url, data, timeout)
File “C:\Python27\lib\urllib2.py”, line 396, in open
protocol = req.get_type()
File “C:\Python27\lib\urllib2.py”, line 258, in get_type
raise ValueError, “unknown url type: %s” % self.__original
ValueError: unknown url type: /trailers.der
—————————————-
Hi Chris,
the advice I can give you, is to check the cert file installation again. If you can’t access the trailer, the reason always lies in a wrong cert file or wrong installation of the certificate.
To check that the certificate is on your Apple TV: Go to settings, general and then to profiles: There should be ‘trailers.apple.com’ as a profile. If not, the certificate was not correctly installed, you have to repeat the entire process. In your case, it seems to me that there is something wrong with your Python-Installation. Check that you did not install the x64-version of Python. Try to reinstal, Python then.
Cheers,
Gee Are
I just went though this last night (PlexConnect on Windows 7), got this same error everyone else is quoting above (ValueError: unknown url type: /trailers.der) , and FOUND A WORKAROUND. I renamed my trailers.der (as it was named from the batch file) to trailers.cer, and told my AppleTV profile url to look for trailers.cer, and it finally connected!
It looks like something that changed along the way (Silent apple upgrade? The fact that we’re using a later version of Plex Media Server than outlined because we can no longer fetch older versions) that disallowed the profile creation to find a cert file named .der – but it does just fine if it’s named .cer . And that’s all it takes – a simple file rename.
Hi Mark,
many thanks for your work around! I will test it, too.
Cheers,
Gee Are
And a big thank you to you for this tutorial! I was lost trying to get things worked out with my new Christmas-gift ATV3 ’til I saw these two articles. I was on the verge of having to spend a weekend or two in Handbrake converting my media library into an Apple-recognized format for use with AppleTV and then adding Season/Episode info to each one – very happy to not have to go through that.
I hope Chris is subscribed and sees this.
Yeah i’m seeing this. Now i just need to convince my mother about letting me have a second go at this. THe failure of getting it working put her off it the first time around.
Hi,
I created a second batch file to create ‘trailer.cer’ instead of ‘trailers.der’:
https://miapple.me/download/plexconnect/cert.create-2.bat
and updated the original post:
https://miapple.me/2013/09/09/installing-plexconnect-on-windows-7-8-and-8-1-after-apple-tv-update/
Can anybody confirm that this second batch file is working?
Kudos to Mark!
Cheers,
Gee Are
I just get taken to a WordPress login screen and can’t download the file
Hi,
you have to make a social login with Faceboook or Twitter or… to get access for downloading the file.
Cheers,
Gee Are
Thanks Mark, spent hours trying to fix my issue, your trick worked.
Thx, that rename fixed it for me too 🙂
Pingback: Installing PlexConnect On Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 After Apple TV Update | miApple.me
help!!! plex media server is running … Followed all steps listed above… used http://192.168.0.14/trailers.der…. after ‘submit’ on atv …unable to add profile [109] … check URL
Hi jrpd,
sometimes the method without USB is not working. Try to add the profile using the USB cable method with iPhone configuration utility.
Cheers,
Gee Are
Hi, I think maybe something goes wrong for me in step 4.. following the PlexConnect install guide (steps 4 and 5 for windows). Maybe you can help me with that. According to the pictures there PlexGDM should discover one server. However the only log I get is this:
20:59:43 PlexConnect: started: 20:59:43
20:59:43 PlexConnect: IP_self: 109.123.111.24
20:59:43 DNSServer: started: 20:59:43
20:59:43 DNSServer: ***
20:59:43 DNSServer: DNSServer: Serving DNS on 109.123.111.24 port 53.
20:59:43 DNSServer: ***
20:59:43 WebServer: started: 20:59:43
20:59:43 WebServer: ***
20:59:43 WebServer: WebServer: Serving HTTP on 109.123.111.24 port 80.
20:59:43 WebServer: ***
20:59:43 WebServer: started: 20:59:43
20:59:43 WebServer: ***
20:59:43 WebServer: WebServer: Serving HTTPS on 109.123.111.24 port 443.
20:59:43 WebServer: ***
I have tried downloading the PlexConnect-02 zip instead of the PlexConnect master zip before, and then it discovered my plex media server. However then I also ran into problems later one, so I am in the process of reinstalling everything according to your guide “Installing PlexConnect On Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 After Apple TV Update”
Hi Einar,
the Plex Media Server has to be running on your windows PC before starting PlexConnect. Did you reboot your Windows PC after installing Plex Media Server, Python and PlexConnect? Unplug and re-plug your ATV, too.
Cheers,
Gee Are
I had not restarted my computer. But I did that now, unplugged ATV, rand Plex Media Server, then PlexConnect. Nothing changed however. Not really sure what it could be.
Hi Einar,
the certificate is correctly installed? Go to setting, general and then to profiles: There should be ‘trailers.apple.com’ as a profile.
Did you do it without using an USB cable? Did you change the DNS-address of your ATV? Please check that you followed all my instructions completely?
Cheers,
Gee Are
Hi,
This is before I try to add profile on my ATV, but I am doing it without a USB cable, and yes I have changed the DNS address of my ATV to be the same as IP SELF on PlexConnect…
If I try to add the profile now, I get the unknown URL type error again.. However I have tried uninstalling and re-installing python many times, even different installations of python (python 2.7.5, 2.7.5(x64), 2,7,6 and lastly 2.7.6(x64)).
As a side note the unknown URL error does not come up if I go through your instructions but use PlexConnect v0.2 instead of the master zip file. But then in turn I get an error when adding the profile
.
Hi Einar,
did you use this url: http://your-Plex-Server-IP-address/trailers.der?
And just use ‘Python 2.7.6 Windows installler’ version, not the x64 one.
Cheers,
Gee Are
yes so mine became:
http://109.123.111.24/trailers.der
Since this is from the PlexConnect log:
20:59:43 PlexConnect: IP_self: 109.123.111.24
That’s the right ip isn’t it?
Hi Einar,
to be sure you should go to your router to see if the IP address is correct. And you should have a fixed IP for your PC, not a dynamic one.
Cheers,
Gee Are
Hey
When I am doing this is looks to be hanging on adding profile how long should this take left it for 5 minutes or so and then started it again but still no luck.
my first issue was I had the firewall on but disabling that allowed me to add the profile but now its just stuck here
Cheers
Sam
Hi Sam,
It should normally take seconds. So I wonder what is wrong in your case, too.
Do you have more than one (WiFi-)network. Your devices should be in the same network.
What often helps is to unplug the Apple TV from power, wait 30 seconds, plug it in again and restart the Apple TV and repeat the whole process.
Cheers,
Gee Are
Hey
Thanks for getting back to me so soon!! The laptop I am attempting to run it all off had a dynamic IP I have changed this now to a static and trying again (wish me luck)
Did try turning it on and off again so lets hope it works this time
Cheers,
Sam
Update: I have added the profile manually i no look the be having issues with the server not working correctly looks like the 2 are not talking to each other. First time I ran the Plexconnect it looked to be working okay but anytime after there I was not getting “DNS response from higher level” after extracting the zip again I have got it working!!
Hope my comments help someone and thank you very much for your guide!
Cheers,
Sam
Hi Sam,
you’re welcome! I’m glad that you finally got it working! Thanks for commenting! You’re invited to join miApple.me community on Google+ or following miApple.me on Twitter, facebook or Google+!
Cheers,
Gee Are
when i add http:///trailers.der on apple tv giving error “Unable to add profile”. Plex connect is working fine
Hi Bob,
you forgot the computer’s IP address: …//your-Plex-Server-IP-address/trailers.cer […/trailers.der for Windows] !
Cheers,
Gee Are
PlexConnect: Installling Certificates On Apple TV Without USB http://t.co/xmNeZONwLt
12/24/2015
I used this tonight, worked like a champ. Thanks for a great article. I used my ATV3 with the latest updates, Linux Mint 17.3 on a laptop running Plex (PMS). I’m working on a setting up a small tablet to run a light version of linux, Kodi and Plex.
Thanks again
Dan
Hi Dan Hux,
you’re welcome! Thanks for your feedback! Let me know your proceedings with the light versions on a small tablet!
Cheers,
Gee Are