How to find out which generation Apple TV you have in 4 different ways

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• You can find out which generation Apple TV you have using four different methods.
• You can check the input or output ports on the back of your Apple TV device to determine which generation model you have.
• To determine your Apple TV generation model you can also check your Settings.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Apple has released multiple versions of the Apple TV, each with its own capabilities and features. 

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If you want to find out which generation Apple TV you own, there are a few different ways to do it.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Apple TV 4K (From $179.99 at Best Buy)

How to find out which generation Apple TV you have

Here are four ways to find out your Apple TV model.

Check your input and output ports

The back of every Apple TV has distinct input and output arrangements, with the exception of the Apple TV 2 and Apple TV 3, which have the same arrangement. 

All Apple TV devices have the same style power port, but here's how they vary otherwise.

• Apple TV generation 1 is the only version with component video outputs.

Apple TV 1 distinctly has five round video ports on the back. Apple

• Apple TV generations 2 and 3 have an HDMI port, a Micro USB port, an Optical Audio port, and an Ethernet port.

Apple TV 2 and 3 models should have five ports total on the back. Apple

• Apple TV HD has an HDMI port, a USB-C port, and a Gigabit Ethernet port.

The Apple TV HD model has a USB-C port in the middle distinctly. Apple

• Apple TV 4K has only an HDMI port and a Gigabit Ethernet port.

On Apple TV 4K the power supply is on the left, then the HDMI port, and to the very right is the Ethernet port. Apple

Check the bottom of the device

On the bottom of your Apple TV, there are specifications for your device.

The first line, towards the middle, should include your Apple TV's model number.

The model number will be located towards the middle on the first line of fine-print text. Apple

Check in Settings

1. Open Settings on Apple TV.

2. Select "General."

3. Select "About."

Select "About" using your Apple TV remote. Ryan Ariano/Business Insider

4. On the "About" screen, several lines down, you will find your model number.

• Model numbers are A1218 for 1st generation, A1378 for 2nd generation, A1427 or A1469 for 3rd generation, A1625 for Apple TV HD, and A1842 for Apple TV 4K.

Where you'll find your Apple TV model number. Ryan Ariano/Business Insider

Check your Apple TV box

If you still have the box your Apple TV came in, the model number will be on the back of the box.

 

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

• How to turn off your Apple TV by putting it into Sleep Mode, in 3 different ways

• How to manually update your Apple TV, or set it to update automatically in the background

• How to charge your Apple TV remote, or change its battery if you have an older model

• How to turn on your Apple TV without a remote and control it with your iPhone or iPad

• How to close apps on your Apple TV, so nothing is slowing your system down in the background

Ryan Ariano Ryan Ariano grew up in Baltimore when the Macintosh was cutting edge, lived in Los Angeles as Blackberries gave way to iPhones, and now lives in Jackson Hole where his life is held together by Bluetooth. He writes on a wide range of topics but especially loves nerding out across the tech spectrum. Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here. Read more Read less

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