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Auto-start XBMC on Apple TV boot

Update: There is now a much easier way to auto-start XBMC on Apple TV boot.
See details here.
I’ll leave the below post here for posterity…

Here’s how to have XBMC auto-start when your Apple TV boots.

Create a text file with the following content:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
	<key>Label</key>
	<string>com.teamxbmc.xbmc</string>
	<key>OnDemand</key>
	<false/>
	<key>ProgramArguments</key>
	<array>
		<string>/Applications/XBMC.app/Contents/MacOS/XBMC</string>
		<string>-fs</string>
	</array>
</dict>
</plist>

Save it on your Desktop, as com.teamxbmc.xbmc.plist

Create another text file with the following content:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
	<key>Label</key>
	<string>com.teamxbmc.xbmchelper</string>
	<key>OnDemand</key>
	<false/>
	<key>ProgramArguments</key>
	<array>
		<string>/Applications/MultiFinder.app/Contents/Resources/xbmchelper</string>
		<string>-v</string>
		<string>-u</string>
	</array>
</dict>
</plist>

Save it on your Desktop, as com.teamxbmc.xbmchelper.plist

Install both files to your AppleTV using Terminal.app:

scp ~/Desktop/com.teamxbmc.xbmc*.plist frontrow@your_appletv_ip_address:.
ssh frontrow@your_appletv_ip_address
sudo mv com.teamxbmc.xbmc*.plist /Library/LaunchAgents/
sudo chown root:wheel /Library/LaunchAgents/com.teamxbmc.xbmc*.plist
sudo chmod 644 /Library/LaunchAgents/com.teamxbmc.xbmc*.plist
launchctl load /Library/LaunchAgents/com.teamxbmc.xbmc.plist
launchctl load /Library/LaunchAgents/com.teamxbmc.xbmchelper.plist


That’s it. You can then delete the two files left on your Desktop.

Author:

This entry was posted on Friday, July 3rd, 2009 at 07:15 and is filed under Mac OS X. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

12 Responses to “Auto-start XBMC on Apple TV boot”

  1. Rudi says:
    2009-08-06 at 13:21

    Tankxx for this helpfull tewak.
    But, how to disable autostart xbmc at a later point?

    Cheers,
    Rudi

    Reply
  2. Cortez says:
    2009-12-02 at 17:15

    Hi. Followed the steps provided. Worked like a charm to get XBMC to launch on boot. However, I cannot close xbmc and return to the Finder it just freezes XBMC. I cannot uninstall using the info provided. Any help would be useful. Thanks.

    Reply
  3. Cortez says:
    2009-12-02 at 17:24

    Uninstalled via SFTP. Found the 4 files to remove and deleted them.

    Reply
    • Guillaume Boudreau says:
      2010-01-19 at 19:48

      Ah, indeed, my bad! launchctl unload is not enough. You’ll need to remove or move the plist files out of /Library/LaunchAgents/:

      So to uninstall:
      ssh frontrow@your_appletv_ip_address
      launchctl unload /Library/LaunchAgents/com.teamxbmc.xbmc.plist
      launchctl unload /Library/LaunchAgents/com.teamxbmc.xbmchelper.plist
      sudo mv /Library/LaunchAgents/com.teamxbmc.xbmc.plist .
      sudo mv /Library/LaunchAgents/com.teamxbmc.xbmchelper.plist .
      sudo reboot

      Reply
      • Anthony says:
        2011-06-14 at 10:08

        Good morning Guillaume. I know this post is a few years old. However i thing you maybe able to help me. I installed the auto start XBMC on my apple TV 2 and now I can’t get back to the front row start on my box. I have netflix and some other apps that I Loved about this box and now all I can get is XBMC Please help if you can or direct me in the right direction.Many thanks in advance

        Reply
  4. Defunk says:
    2010-10-03 at 22:37

    I have been looking for this for a while! my friend has an apple tv and we couldn’t figure out how to auto start xbmc!

    Reply
  5. Raymond says:
    2011-03-13 at 00:45

    Does that method (auto-boot into XBMC) still on Apple TV 2?
    Thank you.

    Reply
  6. jimmy says:
    2012-01-24 at 18:34

    hi, Im a absolute ultra newb, my xbmc wasnt working (kept kicking me) so i figured maybe installing the auto loader would help me, now all that happens is xbmc constantly reloads itself and I have no idea what to do , i have no software on my laptop to correct this, and basically … im pissed lol , please help me I bought the box off a friend but I am unable to contact him at the moment I am under the impression i need to update xbmc for it to work but without a front row menu thats looking fairly problematic…pleeeease help !! thank you

    Reply

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