One of LightLoop’s core principles is download-first playback. Every video, image, and audio file is downloaded to the Apple TV before it plays — so your service runs smoothly even if the internet goes out.Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.lightloop.app/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
How caching works
When an Apple TV connects to a feed or receives an update:- It fetches the current feed structure (playlists, items, settings)
- For each item that needs to be downloaded (video, image, audio), it checks whether the file is already cached
- Cached files are reused — only new or changed items are downloaded
- Downloads happen in the background — you can use the TV while it downloads
- Once an item is fully downloaded, it becomes available for playback
What’s cached vs. what’s live
| Type | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Video | Downloaded entirely before playing |
| Image | Downloaded entirely before playing |
| Audio (soundtrack) | Downloaded entirely before playing |
| Livestream | Never downloaded — streams in real time |
| Web snapshot | Not stored locally — fetched from server on each view |
| Monitor | Not stored locally — rendered live by server |
| Calendar | Not stored locally — rendered live by server |
Livestreams, web snapshots, monitors, and calendars require internet connectivity to display current content. However, if internet is unavailable, these items are simply skipped rather than freezing or crashing.
Playing without internet
Once all items in a playlist are cached, that playlist plays without any internet connection. This means:- Power outages with backup generator — LightLoop keeps playing
- ISP issues during a service — no interruption to pre-service loops or announcement slides
- Rural locations with unreliable connectivity — cache everything before Sunday, then go offline
Storage usage
LightLoop caches files in the Apple TV’s local storage. Typical space usage:- A 5-minute HD video (1080p H.264) ≈ 500 MB – 1.5 GB
- A 4K video ≈ 2–8 GB
- Images ≈ 1–20 MB each
Smart cache updates
When content changes in the dashboard, LightLoop doesn’t re-download everything — it only downloads what’s different:- Item added → download the new item
- Item reordered → no download needed (order metadata only)
- Item hidden/unhidden → no download needed
- Item deleted → purge the cached file
- Item replaced → download the new version, purge the old
Troubleshooting slow downloads
If downloads are slower than expected:- Check your internet speed — large video files need a decent connection. At 10 Mbps, a 1 GB video takes ~14 minutes.
- Check your Google Drive quota — if your Drive is full, files may fail to upload (and thus fail to download).
- Restart the Apple TV — a fresh boot can clear stalled download queues.
- Check for incompatible items — if a file fails to download, it may be flagged as incompatible. Check the media library in the dashboard for any items with a warning badge.