General information

Answers to some common questions that come up when using the PBS app.

I see a list of providers but mine is not listed. What should I do?
You can select any of the providers listed but try to come as close as you can to your provider. For instance, if there is a long list of Comcast providers and you use Comcast, choose one of those. You can also, at any time, select any of the Broadcast TV providers. This would come in handy if you use a particular carrier but they are not listed.  Related topics: What is the Watchlist? Do I need to be signed in to use the Watchlist? Are videos ever removed from my Watchlist without my knowledge? Is there a limit to how many videos I can save to my Watchlist? Learn how to create an account I am getting a message that a video is unavailable in my area. Why? I want to watch a PBS program that was broadcast but is not yet available online. What are my options? Where can I find the transcript for a particular story or program? What is the benefit of creating an account? What are the system requirements to view PBS Video content?
Thu, 30 Jun, 2016 at 3:53 PM
I started a video and the ad at the beginning does not play. What can I do?
If you have pressed play on a video and nothing happens, try checking your router. The instructions below demonstrate how to check the settings on a Netgear router but you can check on whatever router you have. Find your router's username and password   F1.  Depending on your router, the username and password to log into its control panel may be on the bottom (or side). Figure 1 illustrates where to find this information on a Netgear router. Your router may or may not be a Netgear like the above image, in which case the format will look different depending on what model it is. If you can’t find something like that on your router, look for its model name and number. In the photo above, it would be a Netgear N900, Model number: WNDR4500. The name is in the middle, and the model number is to the right of the green box. Figure 1 Once you’ve found the model name and number of your router, open a browser and go to www.google.com.   Type “How to unblock sites on [model name, model number]” in the search textbox and search. Results should include the user name and password for your router model (the user names and passwords are universal for the router, unlike Wifi passwords, which you personalize). Log into your router's control panel with the username and password2. L Once you've got your username and password, log into the router control panel by going to the website of the router’s control panel. Each router model has a different link. The link for your router can be found on the back or side of your router (in Figure 1 you can see the website http://www.routerlogin.net inside the green box). If it does not, it should be included in the results of the Google search, or you can do another search for “Control panel for [model name, model number].” Once you are on the router login website, you will be asked to enter your router user name and password.  After you enter the name and password you will be directed to your router control panel. Look for an option to Unblock Websites, or an option named similarly. It may be behind an option for Security. Again, it depends on the router model, but it should be easy to find. Unblock the site www.doubleclick.net Look for a site that says www.doubleclick.net and unblock it. Doubleclick is the site PBS uses to run advertisements on Roku. Unblocking it will allow your connection to access the site, letting the ads play, and then letting the videos play. If you don’t see that site, try unblocking all of the sites. You may want to write down which sites your router was trying and later try adding them back one by one to diminish the likelihood of security breaches. Related topics: What is the Watchlist? Do I need to be signed in to use the Watchlist? Are videos ever removed from my Watchlist without my knowledge? Is there a limit to how many videos I can save to my Watchlist? Learn how to create an account I am getting a message that a video is unavailable in my area. Why? I want to watch a PBS program that was broadcast but is not yet available online. What are my options? Where can I find the transcript for a particular story or program? What is the benefit of creating an account? What are the system requirements to view PBS content?
Mon, 10 Jul, 2023 at 7:27 PM
I pressed play on a video but it doesn't play. What can I do?
If you have pressed play on a video and nothing happens, try checking your router. The instructions below demonstrate how to check the settings on a Netgear router but you can check on whatever router you have. Find your router's username and password F1.  Depending on your router, the username and password to log into its control panel may be on the bottom (or side). Figure 1 illustrates where to find this information on a Netgear router. Your router may or may not be a Netgear like the above image, in which case the format will look different depending on what model it is. If you can’t find something like that on your router, look for its model name and number. In the photo above, it would be a Netgear N900, Model number: WNDR4500. The name is in the middle, and the model number is to the right of the green box. Figure 1 Once you’ve found the model name and number of your router, open a browser and go to www.google.com.   Type “How to unblock sites on [model name, model number]” in the search textbox and search. Results should include the user name and password for your router model (the user names and passwords are universal for the router, unlike Wifi passwords, which you personalize). Log into your router's control panel with the username and password2. L Once you've got your username and password, log into the router control panel by going to the website of the router’s control panel. Each router model has a different link. The link for your router can be found on the back or side of your router (in Figure 1 you can see the website http://www.routerlogin.net inside the green box). If it does not, it should be included in the results of the Google search, or you can do another search for “Control panel for [model name, model number].” Once you are on the router login website, you will be asked to enter your router user name and password.  After you enter the name and password you will be directed to your router control panel. Look for an option to Unblock Websites, or an option named similarly. It may be behind an option for Security. Again, it depends on the router model, but it should be easy to find. Unblock the site www.doubleclick.net Look for a site that says www.doubleclick.net and unblock it. Doubleclick is the site PBS uses to run advertisements on Roku. Unblocking it will allow your connection to access the site, letting the ads play, and then letting the videos play. If you don’t see that site, try unblocking all of the sites. You may want to write down which sites your router was trying and later try adding them back one by one to diminish the likelihood of security breaches. Related topics: What is the Watchlist? Do I need to be signed in to use the Watchlist? Are videos ever removed from my Watchlist without my knowledge? Is there a limit to how many videos I can save to my Watchlist? Learn how to create an account I am getting a message that a video is unavailable in my area. Why? I want to watch a PBS program that was broadcast but is not yet available online. What are my options? Where can I find the transcript for a particular story or program? What is the benefit of creating an account? What are the system requirements to view PBS Video content?
Mon, 10 Jul, 2023 at 7:27 PM
I am able to see an advertisement but the video does not play. What can I do?
If you play a video and only the advertisement plays while the video does not, try playing the video on a different browser. For instance, if you are using Chrome, try using Firefox.  Related topics: What is the Watchlist? Do I need to be signed in to use the Watchlist? Are videos ever removed from my Watchlist without my knowledge? Is there a limit to how many videos I can save to my Watchlist? Learn how to create an account I am getting a message that a video is unavailable in my area. Why? I want to watch a PBS program that was broadcast but is not yet available online. What are my options? Where can I find the transcript for a particular story or program? What is the benefit of creating an account? What are the system requirements to view PBS Video content?
Thu, 30 Jun, 2016 at 3:55 PM
Can shows be downloaded to my device so that I can watch them on an airplane?
PBS.org does not provide a download option for PBS shows, however, you can go into iTunes and download some shows from there for viewing later. Related topics: What is the Watchlist? Do I need to be signed in to use the Watchlist? Are videos ever removed from my Watchlist without my knowledge? Is there a limit to how many videos I can save to my Watchlist? Learn how to create an account I am getting a message that a video is unavailable in my area. Why? I want to watch a PBS program that was broadcast but is not yet available online. What are my options? Where can I find the transcript for a particular story or program? What is the benefit of creating an account? What are the system requirements to view PBS content?
Mon, 10 Jul, 2023 at 7:12 PM
How do I play a video?
After you have selected the video you want to watch, simply tap the arrow icon located in the center of the video's image. Related topics: What is the Watchlist? Do I need to be signed in to use the Watchlist? Are videos ever removed from my Watchlist without my knowledge? Is there a limit to how many videos I can save to my Watchlist? Learn how to create an account I am getting a message that a video is unavailable in my area. Why? I want to watch a PBS program that was broadcast but is not yet available online. What are my options? Where can I find the transcript for a particular story or program? What is the benefit of creating an account? What are the system requirements to view PBS Video content?
Thu, 30 Jun, 2016 at 3:55 PM
It looks like I am signed in to Passport on my Apple TV but I keep getting a message to sign in. What can I do?
Begin by checking the following two things: Be sure your local station on your Apple TV is set to the local station with which you registered Passport. You can check this in the Settings menu of the PBS app. The option "Change your local station." Check to make sure the account you used to activate the PBS app of the Apple TV matches the account you used to activate Passport. Here's a step by step instruction: Enter the PBS app on Apple TV. At the top of the app go to the Settings menu. In the settings menu, at the bottom, there is an option to Change Account > Log Out. Select this option.   You will see a new screen saying the app needs to be activated. This new screen will give you activation instructions and an activation code, seven characters in length. Enter this code at http://www.pbs.org/activate After you hit continue, you will be brought to a new page asking you to sign in with a Google, Facebook, Apple ID, or PBS account. Choose the account you activated Passport with. You will see a screen that your Apple TV has been activated. Return to the Apple TV where it will automatically update and you can begin watching Passport videos.
Wed, 27 Jul, 2022 at 3:28 PM
Has the XBox app been retired?
Yes, the Xbox app was recently retired. We apologize for any inconvenience. You can still access PBS programming on a wide array of platforms, including the PBS App for tablet and mobile, as well as Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV and Chromecast. A list of ways users can stream PBS and PBS KIDS content can be found at: http://www.pbs.org/anywhere/. Related topics: Is the PBS app free? How do I download the app? I have downloaded the app, what do I do now? Is the app compatible with Chromecast? I don't see the Chromecast icon on the app. I can't connect to the app, help! Will I have the same browsing experience using the app that I have when I browse PBS on my computer? How do I view Shows on the iPhone/iPad app?
Mon, 10 Jul, 2023 at 7:13 PM
I am getting an error message stating "An error occurred loading this content"
This error typically occurs when the Apple TV is having trouble connecting to PBS or another app on the Apple TV. Please try the following:   Test the Apple TV Connection: From the main Apple TV menu, navigate to Settings. Select General. Select Network. Select Test Network. Select OK. Select Yes. Select the download speed you expect from your internet connection. If the connection test fails, see Apple's support site for help troubleshooting your Apple TV's connection to your home network. If the test succeeds, continue on to the next step. Or you can try powercycling your Apple TV: Unplug your Apple TV and the TV it's connected to for at least 1 minute. Plug both devices back in. Turn both devices back on. Try PBS again. You can also try resetting your home network by turning off your router/modem, waiting a few minutes, and then turning back on.
Mon, 10 Jul, 2023 at 7:24 PM
How do I turn on captions on my Apple TV?
For Apple TV 4th generation models and newer While a video is playing, swipe down on the touchpad remote to bring up caption options at the top of the screen. Select the English option to enable captions. Swipe up on the touchpad to dismiss the caption options at the top of the screen.
Tue, 11 Jul, 2023 at 7:14 PM