TvOS

Last updated

tvOS
TvOS.svg
Developer Apple Inc.
Written in C, C++, Swift, Objective-C, assembly language
OS family
Working stateCurrent
Source model Closed, with open-source components
Initial releaseJanuary 9, 2007;17 years ago (2007-01-09) as Apple TV Software
October 29, 2015;9 years ago (2015-10-29) as tvOS
Latest release 18.2 [1] (December 11, 2024;17 days ago (2024-12-11)) [±]
Latest preview 18.3 beta [2] (December 16, 2024;12 days ago (2024-12-16)) [±]
Marketing targetTelevision, casual gaming
Available in 71 languages
List of languages
Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Melayu, Català, Čeština, Dansk, Deutsch (Deutschland), Deutsch (Österreich), Deutsch (Schweiz), English (Australia), English (Canada), English (India), English (Ireland), English (New Zealand), English (Singapore), English (South Africa), English (United Kingdom), English (United States), Español (Argentina), Español (Bolivia), Español (Chile), Español (Colombia), Español (Costa Rica), Español (Ecuador), Español (El Salvador), Español (España), Español (Estados Unidos), Español (Guatemala), Español (Honduras), Español (Latinoamérica), Español (México), Español (Nicaragua), Español (Panamá), Español (Paraguay), Español (Perú), Español (Puerto Rico), Español (República Dominicana), Español (Uruguay), Español (Venezuela), Français (Belgique), Français (Canada), Français (France), Français (Suisse), Hrvatski, Italiano (Italia), Italiano (Svizzera), Magyar, Nederlands (België), Nederlands (Nederland), Norsk bokmål, Polski, Português (Brasil), Português (Portugal), Română, Slovenčina, Suomi, Svenska, Tiếng Việt, Türkçe, Ελληνικά, Русский, Українська, עברית, العربية, हिंदी, ภาษาไทย, 한국어, 日本語, 简体中文, 繁體中文 (台灣), 繁體中文 (澳門), 繁體中文 (香港)
Update method Firmware-over-the-air
Platforms
  • ARMv8-A (tvOS 9 and later)
  • ARMv7-A (Apple TV Software 4 – Apple TV Software 7)
Kernel type Hybrid (XNU)
Default
user interface 		10-foot user interface
License Commercial proprietary software
Official website developer.apple.com/tvos/
Support status
Supported

tvOS (formerly Apple TV Software) is an operating system developed by Apple Inc. for the Apple TV, a digital media player. In the first-generation Apple TV, Apple TV Software was based on Mac OS X. [3] The software for the second-generation and later Apple TVs is based on the iOS operating system and has many similar frameworks, technologies, and concepts.

Contents

The second- and third-generation Apple TV have several built-in applications, but do not support third-party applications.

On September 9, 2015, Apple announced the fourth-generation Apple TV, with support for third-party applications. Apple also changed the name of the Apple TV operating system to tvOS, adopting the camel case nomenclature that they were using for their other operating systems, iOS and watchOS. [4]

History

On October 30, 2015, the fourth-generation Apple TV became available; it shipped with tvOS 9.0. On November 9, 2015, tvOS 9.0.1 was released, primarily an update to address minor issues.

tvOS 9.1 was released on December 8, 2015, along with OS X 10.11.2, iOS 9.2, and watchOS 2.1. [5] Apple also updated the Remote apps on iOS and watchOS, enabling basic remote functionality for the fourth-generation Apple TV (previously, the app only worked with past versions of Apple TV). [6]

On November 25, 2015, Facebook debuted their SDK for tvOS, allowing applications to log into Facebook, share to Facebook, and use Facebook Analytics in the same way that iOS applications can. [7]

On December 2, 2015, Twitter debuted their login authentication service for tvOS – "Digits" – allowing users to log into apps and services with a simple, unique code available online. [8]

On June 13, 2016, at WWDC 2016, Apple SVP of Internet Services Eddy Cue announced tvOS 10. It brought new functionality, such as Siri search improvements, single sign-on for cable subscriptions, a dark mode, and a new Remote application for controlling the Apple TV; it was released on September 13, 2016, along with iOS 10.

On June 4, 2018, at WWDC 2018, tvOS 12 was announced. It brought support for Dolby Atmos E-AC3 and was released on September 17, 2018, along with iOS 12.

On April 13, 2020, it was discovered that Apple's Siri Smart Speaker HomePod began to run variants of the tvOS software. [9]

On June 22, 2020, at WWDC 2020, tvOS 14 was announced. It brought support for the Home app and 4K YouTube videos and was released on September 16, 2020, along with iOS 14 and iPadOS 14.

On June 7, 2021, at WWDC 2021, tvOS 15 was announced. It brought new features and improvements, including SharePlay, a new "Shared with You" section on the TV app, and the ability to play content via voice command. [10] It was released on September 20, 2021, along with iOS 15 and iPadOS 15.

On June 6, 2022, at WWDC 2022, tvOS 16 was announced. It brought support for Nintendo Switch's Joy-Con and Pro Controllers and additional Bluetooth and USB game controllers. It was released on September 12, 2022, along with iOS 16.

On June 5, 2023, at WWDC 2023, tvOS 17 was announced. tvOS 17 brings new features, such as support for FaceTime and video conferencing apps when paired with a iPhone or iPad, a redesigned control center interface, and third-party VPN support. It was released on September 18, 2023, along with iOS 17 and iPadOS 17.

On June 10, 2024, at WWDC 2024, tvOS 18 was announced. It was released on September 16, 2024, along with iOS 18 and iPadOS 18.

Features

tvOS 9 shipped with several new features on the fourth-generation Apple TV. One major new feature was the ability to move through the interface with the new touchpad remote using multi-touch gestures. It also introduced a new App Store in which users can download and install new applications (such as apps and games) made available by developers for the Apple TV and tvOS. tvOS 9 adds support for Siri, which offers a multitude of features such as a cross-application search for a movie/TV show, rewind, fast forward, name and actor/director of the current movie, and skip back 15 seconds. tvOS added support for an application switcher on the Apple TV, more application customization options, cinematic screensavers, and control the TV using the included Siri Remote with the built-in support for HDMI-CEC in tvOS. In addition, tvOS allows the user to control the Apple TV in many different ways, such as using the included Siri Remote, pairing a third-party universal remote, pairing an MFi Gamepad to control games, using the Remote app on iOS, and pairing a Bluetooth keyboard to aid in the typing experience of the user. [11]

Accessibility

tvOS was designed based on iOS, as such tvOS inherited many of the accessibility features of iOS and macOS.

tvOS includes the Apple technologies of VoiceOver, Zoom, and Siri to help the blind and those with impaired vision. VoiceOver, Apple's screen reader, is available in more than 30 languages and enables visually impaired users to know what is on the visual display and input responses to on-screen prompts. VoiceOver uses gestures similar to other Apple products (flicks, taps, and the rotor).

Like other Apple products such as the iPhone with a three click sequence to the home button to activate accessibility features, with Apple TV's tvOS, a user can activate VoiceOver without any installation process. One needs only to triple-click the Menu button on the Siri Remote and the Apple TV will guide the user through the complete initial setup, a task that is non-trivial to the visually impaired in most comparable products on the market.

Another accessibility feature is to increase contrast on the screen which acts by reducing the transparency of background elements on Movie and TV Show pages, menu tabs, and other parts of the operating system. High-contrast can also be turned on, with a cursor to better delineate the focused content. The user can also opt to turn on Reduce Motion which in some screen actions, such as moving between app icons on the Home screen and launching apps are visually simpler which is of benefit to reduce strain on the eyes.

tvOS enables users to watch movies with audio descriptions of what is being shown on the screen. Movies with audio descriptions are displayed with the AD (Audio Description) icon in the iTunes Store for tvOS and in iTunes on a Macintosh or Windows PC.

Pairing a Bluetooth keyboard with the tvOS on the Apple TV enables another accessibility feature that also is an incorporation of VoiceOver. When typing, VoiceOver mirrors with an audio voice, each character pressed on the keyboard and repeated again when it is entered. The Apple TV is designed to work with the Apple Wireless Keyboard or the Apple Magic Keyboard. It will work however with almost any brand of Bluetooth keyboard.

Apple TV with and without tvOS supports closed captioning, so the deaf or hard of hearing can experience TV episodes and feature-length movies. Compatible episodes and movies are denoted with a CC (closed captioning) or SDH (subtitles for the deaf or hard-of-hearing) icon in the iTunes Store either on the Apple TV or in iTunes itself. The viewer can customize the captions in episodes or movies with styles and fonts that are more conducive to their hearing and/or visual impairment.

The Touch surface on the Siri Remote is customizable. Tracking when set to Fast adjusts the thumb movements made to amplify the distance in relation to how far the thumb has moved on the glass touchpad. Conversely when tracking is set to slow, larger movements of the thumb on the touchpad will tune down the distance that is traversed on the screen. This can help people with disabilities.

Apple's Remote app on iOS devices allows control of the Apple TV from an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. The iOS remote app increases the accessibility of the Apple TV by enabling Switch Control. Switch Control is a unique Apple technology that enables navigation sequentially through onscreen items and perform specific actions such as selecting, tapping, dragging, typing using third party Bluetooth-enabled switch hardware made for those with handicaps.

Development

tvOS 9 shipped with all-new development tools for developers, adding support for a new SDK for developers to build apps for the TV including all of the APIs included in iOS 9 such as Metal. It also adds the tvOS App Store which allows users to browse, download, and install a wide variety of applications. [12] In addition, developers can now use their own interface inside of their application rather than only being able to use Apple's interface. Since tvOS is based on iOS, it is easy to port existing iOS apps to the Apple TV with Xcode while making only a few refinements to the app to better suit the larger screen. Apple provides Xcode free to all registered Apple developers. [13] To develop for the new Apple TV, it is necessary to make a parallax image for the application icon. In order to do this, Apple provides a Parallax exporter and previewer in the development tools for the Apple TV.

Version history

Legend:  Obsolete  Discontinued  Current  Beta

Information about software updates for Apple TV (2nd generation) onwards is published on Apple's support website. [14] [15] [16]

Supported OS releases

Supported OS versions on Apple TV
OS releaseGenerations
1st2nd3rdHD4K4K (2nd)4K (3rd)
Apple TV Software 1.0Check-green.svg——————
Apple TV Software 2.0Check-green.svg——————
Apple TV Software 3.0Check-green.svg——————
Apple TV Software 4Dark Red x.svg4.0—————
Apple TV Software 5Dark Red x.svgCheck-green.svg5.0————
Apple TV Software 6Dark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg————
Apple TV Software 7Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svg————
tvOS 9Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg9.0———
tvOS 10Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svg———
tvOS 11Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svg11.0——
tvOS 12Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg——
tvOS 13Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg——
tvOS 14Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg14.5—
tvOS 15Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg—
tvOS 16Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg16.1
tvOS 17Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
tvOS 18Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg

Apple TV Software 1.0

Apple TV software 1.0 presented the user with an interface similar to that of Front Row. Like Front Row on the Mac, it presents the user with seven options for consuming content. Movies, TV Shows, Music, Podcasts, Photos, Settings, and Sources. It was a modified version of Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger. [17]

Apple TV Software 2.0

In February 2008, Apple released a major and free upgrade to the Apple TV, labelled "Take Two" (2.0). This update did away with Front Row and introduced a new interface in which content was organized into six categories, all of which appeared in a large square box on the screen upon startup (movies, TV shows, music, YouTube, podcasts, and photos) and presented in the initial menu, along with a "Settings" option for configuration, including software updates. [18] [19]

Apple TV Software 3.0

In October 2009, Apple released another update for the Apple TV called "Apple TV Software 3.0". [20] This update replaced the interface in version 2.0 with a new interface which presented seven horizontal columns across the top of the screen for the different categories of content (Movies, TV Shows, Music, Podcasts, Photos, Internet, and Settings). [21] This update also added features such as content filtering, iTunes Extras, [22] new fonts, and a new Internet radio app. One new feature in particular was the 'Genius' playlist option allowing for easier and more user friendly playlist creating. [23]

Apple TV Software 4

Apple TV Software 4, based on iOS 4 and 5, was the first version of Apple TV Software available on the Apple TV (2nd generation). It ended support for the Apple TV (1st generation). [14] Apple TV Software 4.4 brought My Photo Stream, AirPlay mirroring (from iPhone 4S and iPad 2), NHL, Wall Street Journal, slideshow themes and Netflix subtitles. [14] [24] Contrary to rumors and code found in iOS 5, the release did not bring support for Bluetooth or apps to the Apple TV (2nd generation). [25]

Apple TV Software 4 version history
Apple TV Software iOS Version based onBuildRelease dateFeatures
4.04.18M89 (1493)September 1, 2010;14 years ago
  • Initial release on Apple TV (2nd generation)
4.14.28C150 (1539)November 22, 2010;14 years ago
4.1.14.2.18C154 (1553)December 14, 2010;14 years ago

Bug fixes

  • Addresses an issue that causes some high-definition TVs to incorrectly display at 480p.
  • Addresses an issue that may cause a movie or TV show to be re-downloaded. [14]
4.24.38F191m (2060)March 9, 2011;13 years ago
  • AirPlay video support for third party apps on iDevices.
  • New slideshow themes: View photos with the new Scrapbook, Photo Mobile, and Holiday Mobile slideshow themes.
  • Improved on-screen keyboard: Search and enter names and passwords more easily with the redesigned on-screen keyboard.
  • Enjoy Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound when watching Netflix.
4.2.18F202 (2100)March 22, 2011;13 years ago

Bug fixes

  • Addresses issues that may cause the screen to flicker or display incorrect colour on some older TVs.
  • Addresses an issue where Apple TV may not wake up from sleep.
  • Addresses an issue where audio may not be heard on some TV models after switching from another input.
  • Apple TV Software 4.2.1 includes stability and performance fixes for Apple TV. [14]
4.2.28F305 (2203)May 11, 2011;13 years ago

Bug fixes

  • Addresses an issue in which audio is not output when playing some video content.
  • Addresses an issue in which video is not displayed when playing some content.
  • Adds an audio output setting for switching to 16-bit audio for compatibility with some TVs and AV receivers.
  • Improves the performance of fast-forwarding and rewinding live events.
  • Addresses an issue in which the description information is not displayed for some movies.
  • Addresses an issue in which YouTube subscription videos are not ordered by date.
4.38F455 (2557)August 1, 2011;13 years ago
  • Ability to watch videos from Vimeo.
  • US-only feature: streams purchased TV shows from iTunes on Apple TV (and past purchases); formerly, only rentals were available.
4.45.09A334v (3140)[ citation needed ]2011-10-12
  • Coincides with iOS 5 for portable iOS devices.
  • Photo Stream.
  • AirPlay mirroring for iPad 2 and iPhone 4S. [26]
  • Wall Street Journal.
  • New Slideshow themes.
  • Netflix subtitles.

Upgrading from this version resets the device to factory settings as part of the upgrade process. [27]

4.4.19A335a (3150)2011-10-17Bug fixes
  • Upgrading from this version resets the device to factory settings as part of the upgrade process. [27]
4.4.2 [28] 9A336a (3160)[ citation needed ]2011-10-24
  • Audio playback: addresses an issue in which audio is not output when playing some video content.
  • Video playback: addresses an issue in which video is not displayed when playing some content.
  • Audio output setting: adds an audio output setting for switching to 16-bit audio for compatibility with some TVs and AV receivers.
  • Live FF/RW improvements: improves the performance of fast-forwarding and rewinding live events.
  • Movie description: addresses an issue in which the description information is not displayed for some movies.
  • YouTube video order: addresses an issue in which YouTube subscription videos were not ordered by date.
4.4.35.0.19A405l (3323)2011-11-17
  • Added support for Netflix in Mexico.
  • Addresses an issue in which audio may not play through the optical port when the TV is turned off.
4.4.49A406a (3330)2011-12-15
  • General performance and stability improvements, including a fix for an issue that displayed an error when playing some video content.

Apple TV Software 5

On September 24, 2012, Apple TV (2nd generation) onwards received the Apple TV Software 5 software update, based on iOS 5 and 6, with Shared Photo Streams, iTunes account switching, better AirPlay functionality, and Trailers searching, among other smaller improvements.

Apple TV Software 5 version history
Apple TV Software iOS Version based onBuildRelease dateFeatures
5.05.19B179b (4099)2012-03-07
  • Initial release on Apple TV (3rd generation).
  • Support for 1080p video resolution. A3
  • Completely redesigned menus.
    • Content categories now resemble iOS app icons.
    • Third-party apps (Netflix, YouTube, NBA, Flickr, etc.) have their own icon.
  • Ability to create a Netflix account.
5.0.15.1.19B206f (4224)2012-05-10
  • Previews for movies and TV shows from the iTunes Store can now be viewed in HD.
  • Fixes an issue that caused some iOS apps to have trouble connecting via AirPlay.
  • Improves the reliability of Home Sharing connections.
  • Addresses an issue affecting Netflix login and navigation.
  • Includes fixes for issues affecting stability and performance.
5.0.29B830 (4250)2012-06-05
  • Addresses an issue which caused content restrictions to be incorrectly applied for the iTunes Store in Australia.
5.16.010A406E (5201)2012-09-24
  • Shared Photo Streams: Accept invitations for Shared Photo Streams, browse photos and comments, and receive notifications of new content.
  • AirPlay: Send audio content from Apple TV to AirPlay-enabled speakers/devices (including AirPort Express and other Apple TVs). Also includes the ability to require an onscreen code to use AirPlay with Apple TV.
  • iTunes account switching: Save multiple iTunes accounts and switch quickly between them.
  • Trailers: Search for movie trailers. In the United States, see show times for local theaters.
  • Screen savers: New Cascade, Shrinking Tiles, and Sliding Panels screen savers.
  • Main menu: Reorder icons on the second page by holding down the select button on the remote.
  • Subtitles: SDH support for the hearing-impaired; improvements to viewing and selecting subtitles.
  • Network configuration: Support for setting up advanced network options using configuration profiles.
  • Stability and performance: Includes general performance and stability improvements.
5.1.16.0.210A831 (5433)2012-11-29
  • Adds support for Up Next with iTunes 11 or iTunes Match.
  • Includes performance and stability improvements with the iTunes Store, AirPlay, Netflix, iTunes Match, and wired Ethernet connections.
5.26.110B144b (6010.96) [29] 2013-01-28
  • Initial release on Apple TV (3rd generation Revision A).
  • Bluetooth keyboards: Adds support for some Bluetooth keyboards (including Apple Wireless Keyboard). [30]
  • iTunes in the Cloud: Browse and play purchased iTunes music directly from iCloud.
  • Airplay: Send stereo audio from video content on Apple TV to AirPlay-enabled speakers/devices (including AirPort Express and other Apple TVs).
  • Stability and performance: Includes general performance and stability improvements.
5.2.16.1.310B329a (6025)2013-03-19
  • Hulu Plus app: Completely redesigned, adds support for closed-captioning. [31]
  • iTunes in the Cloud: Adds support for Music in the Cloud in Japan and Israel. [14]
  • Stability and performance: Including improvements for software update, subtitles, and general performance. [14]
  • Security Fixes. [32]
5.36.1.410B809 (6105)2013-06-19
  • Third-party content: Adds support for Crunchyroll, ESPN, HBO GO, Qello, and Sky News (some sources depend on country).
  • iTunes Store: Improves reliability of signing into the iTunes Store and playing purchased content.

Further channels added on August 27, 2013, without a software update: Vevo, Weather Channel, Disney Channel, Disney XD, and Smithsonian Channel [33] [34] [35] (some sources depend on country) [36]

Apple TV Software 6

On September 20, 2013, Apple TV (second generation) onwards received the Apple TV Software 6 software update, based on iOS 7, with iTunes Radio and AirPlay from iCloud.

Apple TV Software 6 version history
Apple TV Software iOS Version based onBuildRelease dateFeatures
6.07.0.1 / 7.0.211A470e/11A5022013-09-23
  • iTunes Radio
    • Create user radio stations and listen to them ad-free with iTunes Match (United States and Australia only).
  • iTunes Store
    • Browse, purchase, and play music directly from the iTunes Store.
  • iCloud Photos
    • Adds support to play video from a shared Photo Stream and view Photo Streams from multiple contributors.
  • AirPlay from iCloud
    • Apple TV will play content from iTunes In The Cloud instead of user AirPlay device when possible (needs iOS 7 on AirPlay device).
  • Podcasts
    • Sync user podcasts and podcast stations across Apple TV and all user iOS devices.
  • iMovie Theater
    • Stream user iMovie creations instantly in high definition from iCloud (needs latest version of iMovie for iOS or Mac and an iCloud account).
  • Subtitles & Captioning
    • Automatic subtitle selection based on Apple TV language setting, with customizable closed caption style.
  • Conference Room Display
    • Lock Apple TV into Conference Room Display (for business and education environments) and show onscreen instructions for using AirPlay.
  • Software update
    • Keep Apple TV always updated by automatically installing software updates when available.
  • Setup
    • Use an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch with iOS 7 to automatically transfer network settings, user Apple ID, and language preferences to Apple TV (3rd generation) (not available on iPhone 4 or iPad 2).

Third-party US-only content added on September 26, 2013, without a software update: Major League Soccer (MLS) and Disney Junior. [37] [38]

iMovie Theater app was added on October 22, 2013, without a software update. [39]

6.0.17.0.311B511d2013-10-25
  • Stability and performance
    • Includes general performance and stability improvements. [14]
6.0.27.0.4 / 7.0.611B554a/11B6512013-11-14
  • Stability and performance
    • Includes general performance and stability improvements. [14]
  • Security (11B651 build only)
    • Provides a fix for SSL connection verification.
6.17.111D169bMarch 10, 2014;10 years ago
  • Main menu
    • Includes ability to make hiding channels easier [14]
  • AirPlay
    • Security option for iOS devices or Macs to require verifying via a one-time, onscreen code before using AirPlay (needs iOS 7.1 or later on an iOS device, or OS X 10.9.2 or later on a Mac). [14]
    • Adds support to allow an AirPlay device to discover Apple TV over Bluetooth in environments where multicast or Bonjour traffic is blocked on the network or the AirPlay device is on a different subnet. [14]
  • Remote app
    • View purchased TV Shows and Movies in the Remote app and tap to play them instantly on Apple TV. [14]
    • Create and play iTunes Radio stations (needs Remote app version 4.2 or later). [14]
  • Stability and performance
    • Bug fixes, general performance and stability improvements. [14]
6.1.17.1.111D201cApril 22, 2014;10 years ago
  • Stability and performance
    • Includes general performance and stability improvements. [14]
6.27.1.211D257cJune 30, 2014;10 years ago
  • Stability and performance
    • Includes general performance and stability improvements. [14]
  • iTunes Extras
    • Added ability to explore deleted scenes, photos, cast and crew, and more with select iTunes movie purchases. (Only available for HD purchases) [14]
6.2.111D258September 17, 2014;10 years ago

Final release on Apple TV (2nd generation)

As of May 2015, the YouTube app only works on newer Apple TVs that have software 7.2 or later due to an API change implemented by Google.

  • Stability and performance
    • Includes general performance and stability improvements. [14]

Apple TV Software 7

On September 18, 2014, the third generation Apple TV received the Apple TV Software 7.0 software update based on iOS 8, with a redesigned UI, Family Sharing and peer-to-peer AirPlay. This release dropped support for the second generation Apple TV.

Apple TV Software 7 version history
Apple TV Software iOS Version based onBuildRelease dateFeatures
7.08.012A365bSeptember 17, 2014;10 years ago
  • UI
    • Redesigned UI that adopts a similar look to the "flat" look that is presented in iOS 8 and OS X Yosemite.
    • UI redesign includes redesigned icons and borders, menus, and many of the controls inside many of the apps that are included with the Apple TV.
  • Family Sharing
    • Adds support for a service of sharing purchases from iTunes between up to 6 people.
    • Supports iTunes music, video, podcasts, and TV show purchases.
    • All group members must pay for family purchases with the same credit/debit card.
    • Ask To Buy – parents can approve a child's spending from the parent's device.
  • Descriptive Video Services
    • Hear descriptive video with a new accessibility feature support select iTunes movies and TV shows.
  • Peer-to-peer AirPlay
    • Guests can AirPlay from their Mac or iOS device directly to an Apple TV without connecting to a wireless network (needs ATV 3 Rev-A (A1469), iPhone 4S and later; iPad 2 and later; and iPod Touch (5th generation) running iOS 8 or a Mac running OS X Yosemite (10.10) or later). A3R
  • Beats Music
    • Beats Music has now been shut down in favor of Apple Music, which requires an Apple TV 4 running tvOS 9.0 or later.
7.0.18.112B410aOctober 20, 2014;10 years ago
  • Stability and performance
    • Includes general performance and stability improvements.
  • Bug fixes.
7.0.28.1.112B435November 17, 2014;10 years ago
  • Stability and performance
    • Includes general performance and stability improvements.
  • Bug fixes.
7.0.38.1.312B466January 27, 2015;9 years ago
  • Stability and performance
    • Includes general performance and stability improvements.
  • Bug fixes.
7.18.212D508March 9, 2015;9 years ago
  • Stability and performance
    • Includes general performance and stability improvements.
  • Bug fixes.
7.28.312F69April 8, 2015;9 years ago

As of May 2015, the YouTube app only works on Apple TVs that have software 7.2 or later due to an API change implemented by Google.

  • Stability and performance
    • Includes general performance and stability improvements.
  • Bug fixes
Apple TV Software updates released after the release of Apple TV (4th generation)
7.2.18.412H523February 25, 2016;8 years ago
  • Stability and performance
    • Includes general performance and stability improvements.
  • Bug fixes
7.2.28.4.112H606December 12, 2016;8 years ago
  • Stability and performance
    • Includes general performance and stability improvements.
  • Bug fixes

Amazon Video was automatically added to Apple TVs running 7.2.2 on December 6, 2017. [40]

7.38.4.212H847 [41] May 13, 2019;5 years agoApple TV Software 7.3 brings the updated TV app to provide support for Apple TV+ services.
7.3.112H864 [42] July 22, 2019;5 years agoBug fixes and stability improvements
7.48.4.312H876 [43] September 24, 2019;5 years agoBug fixes and stability improvements
7.58.4.412H885[ citation needed ]March 24, 2020;4 years agoAdds the ability to control the Apple TV from the control center of an iOS device, bug fixes and stability improvements.
7.612H903[ citation needed ]September 16, 2020;4 years agoBug fixes and stability improvements
7.6.212H914[ citation needed ]December 14, 2020;4 years agoBug fixes and stability improvements
7.712H923[ citation needed ]April 26, 2021;3 years agoBug fixes and stability improvements
7.812H937[ citation needed ]September 20, 2021;3 years agoBug fixes and stability improvements
7.912H1006[ citation needed ]March 14, 2022;2 years agoBug fixes and/or stability improvements

tvOS 9

tvOS 9 is based on iOS 9, with adaptations made for a television interface. It was announced on September 9, 2015, alongside the new iPad Pro and iPhone 6S. Tim Cook introduced tvOS, saying that it was time for the Apple TV to gain a modern OS with support for apps, as they are "the future of TV." It will only be available on the Apple TV (4th generation), released in October 2015. It adds a native SDK to develop apps, an App Store to distribute them, support for Siri, and universal search across multiple apps.

tvOS 9 version history
tvOS version iOS version based onBuildRelease dateFeatures
9.09.013T396October 29, 2015;9 years ago

Initial release on Apple TV (4th generation).

  • User Interface
    • Introduces a new user interface that uses lighter colors and transparency, adds support for control via an all new remote. This remote can be used to navigate the user interface by using multi-touch gestures on the trackpad on the remote rather than physical buttons.
  • App Store/SDK
    • Adds support for an all new SDK for developers to build apps for the TV including all of the APIs included in iOS 9 such as Metal.
    • Adds an App Store which allows users to browse, download, and install a wide variety of applications from things such as games, video applications, etc.
    • Developers can now use their own interface inside of their application rather than only being able to use Apple's interface.
  • Siri
    • Adds support for Siri which can be toggled by pressing the microphone button on the remote.
    • Siri, beyond all of its iOS abilities, can take many voice commands tailored for the TV, such as a cross-application search for a movie/TV show, rewind, fast forward, name and actor/director of the current movie, and even skip back 15 seconds.
  • Experience
    • It is now possible to switch between two applications by double-clicking the trackpad on the remote and scrolling to the desired application.
    • Users can now customize the home screen by placing any applications they wish on the top row, including third-party types.
    • New cinematic screen savers display time-lapse images of scenic cities when the Apple TV is asleep.
    • It is now possible to control the volume of the TV and turn it on/off using just the new Siri Remote and the built in support for HDMI CEC in tvOS.
  • Third-Party Controllers
    • Adds support for pairing third-party Bluetooth game controllers in order to play games.
  • Apple Music
    • Adds Apple Music support for Apple TV.
9.0.19.113T402November 9, 2015;9 years ago
  • General performance and stability improvements.
9.19.213U85December 8, 2015;9 years ago
  • Adds support for controlling Apple Music with Siri.
  • Adds support for controlling the Apple TV with the Remote app for iOS and Apple Watch.
  • Improvements to networking and scrolling.
9.1.19.2.113U717January 25, 2016;8 years ago
  • General performance and stability improvements
  • Adds the Podcasts app to the Apple TV
9.29.313Y234March 21, 2016;8 years ago
  • Adds support for folders on the Apple TV.
    • A folder can be made by selecting an app, clicking and holding on the touchpad, clicking the Play/Pause button, and then choosing "New Folder" from the popup menu.
  • Adds the ability to pair Bluetooth keyboards with the 4th Generation Apple TV
  • Adds a redesigned application switcher similar to the one found in iOS 9 rather than the one found in iOS 8 as tvOS 9.1 contained.
  • Adds support for iCloud Photo Library and Live Photos
  • Enables developers to add maps to their applications with the use of the MapKit API.
  • Siri/Voice Dictation
    • Adds support for Voice Dictation to enable users to enter text in text fields using their voice. Voice Dictation can be invoked by selecting the text field and pressing the Siri button on the Siri Remote.
    • Adds Support for searching the App Store on the Apple TV using Siri.
    • Adds support for new Siri languages which include Spanish(United States), French(Canada), and English(United Kingdom and Australia).
  • Remote operability improvements
    • In order to rewind/fast forward the video in tvOS 9.2, it is now necessary to click the touchpad before swiping left or right. [44]
    • Updates the remote firmware which includes improved motion sensor performance and support for additional sound bar and receiver hardware. [45]
  • Enhancements to speed and performance.
9.2.19.3.213Y772May 16, 2016;8 years ago
  • General performance and stability improvements.
9.2.29.3.313Y825July 18, 2016;8 years ago
  • General performance and stability improvements.
  • Bug fixes.

tvOS 10

tvOS 10 version history
tvOS version BuildRelease dateFeatures
10.014T330September 13, 2016;8 years ago
  • User Interface
    • Adds the option for users to select between a light mode or a new dark mode. [46]
    • Adds support for app notification badge icons on the tvOS home screen.
  • Siri
    • Support for searching YouTube for content using Siri.
    • Support for searching for content by topic.
  • Photos
    • Adds support for the new Photos app available in iOS 10 which adds a new feature called Memories
  • Music
    • Update the UI of Apple Music to match the UI of Apple Music on iOS 10 and macOS Sierra.
  • Control
    • When users start typing on the Apple TV using the Siri Remote, their iPhone on iOS 10 or later gives them a lockscreen notification that allows for text entry, even without the remote app installed on the iOS device.
    • No longer requires developers to provide support for the Siri Remote in games. A game can now make a third-party MFI controller required for gameplay.
  • HomeKit
    • Allows the control of HomeKit accessories from the Apple TV.
  • Developer Tools
    • Adds many new APIs that developers can take advantage of on tvOS such as ReplayKit, SpriteKit, SceneKit, and more.
10.0.114U71
14U100		October 24, 2016;8 years ago
November 14, 2016;8 years ago (14U100)
  • General performance and stability improvements.
  • Bug fixes.
10.114U593December 12, 2016;8 years ago
  • General performance and stability improvements.
  • New "TV" app
  • Added "Single Sign-On"
10.1.114U712aJanuary 23, 2017;7 years ago
  • General performance and stability improvements.
10.214W265March 27, 2017;7 years ago
  • Adds support for Apple File System (APFS)
  • General performance and stability improvements
10.2.114W585aMay 15, 2017;7 years ago
  • Security and Bug Fixes [47]
10.2.214W756July 19, 2017;7 years ago
  • Security and Bug Fixes [48]

tvOS 11

tvOS 11 version history
tvOS version BuildRelease dateFeatures
11.015J381September 19, 2017;7 years ago
  • Initial release on Apple TV 4K (1st generation).
  • Control
    • Adds option to reprogram the TV button on Siri remote to open the TV app or to return to the home screen.
    • Adds support for controlling via Control Center from devices running iOS 11.
  • Experience
    • Apple AirPods automatically connect when paired with a device signed in with the same iCloud account.
    • Option for automatic switching between light and dark mode based on time of day.
    • Adds Home Screen Sync option that synchronizes apps and home screens across Apple TVs signed in with the same iCloud account.
    • Double tapping Siri remote will zoom in on pillarboxed or letterboxed video to fill frame.
    • Tapping timeline a second time will switch to a time-of-day display.
  • Developer tools
    • Increases maximum On-Demand Resource bundle size to 4 GB from 200 MB.
    • Adds support for HEVC and HEIF, hardware decoding on Apple TV 4K and software decoding on Apple TV (4th generation).
11.115J582October 31, 2017;7 years agoIncludes bug fixes and security improvements
11.215K106December 4, 2017;7 years agoThe update includes support for switching the Apple TV 4K display output to SDR for apps that are GPU-bound when running in HDR and it re-introduces the Unwatched category in Home Sharing for Movies, TV Shows, and Home Videos.
11.2.115K152December 13, 2017;7 years agoIncludes bug fixes and security improvements
11.2.515K552January 23, 2018;6 years agoIncludes bug fixes and security improvements
11.2.615K600February 19, 2018;6 years agoIncludes bug fixes and security improvements
11.315L211March 29, 2018;6 years agotvOS 11.3 beta provides Dolby Vision support for certain Sony 2017 4K HDR televisions with the X1 Extreme processor.
11.415L577May 29, 2018;6 years agoAirPlay 2
  • Listen to your favorite songs across every Apple TV, HomePod, and AirPlay 2-compatible speaker you have in your home. Or play something different in every room at the same time.
11.4.115M73July 9, 2018;6 years ago

Bug fixes and improvements

tvOS 12

tvOS 12 version history
tvOS version BuildRelease dateFeatures
12.016J364September 17, 2018;6 years ago
  • Audio
  • Experience
    • Adds support for Zero Sign-On automatic television app authentication with supported cable providers.
    • Adds password AutoFill from iPhones and iPads running iOS 12 or newer.
    • Adds new aerial screensavers.
  • Developer tools
    • Adds support for home control systems that include Control4, Crestron, and Savant.
    • Adds support for third-party remotes including Siri support.
12.0.116J380September 24, 2018;6 years agoBug fixes and improvements
12.116J602October 30, 2018;6 years agoBug fixes and improvements
12.1.116K45December 5, 2018;6 years agoBug fixes and improvements
12.1.216K534January 22, 2019;5 years agoBug fixes and improvements
12.216L226March 25, 2019;5 years agoSiri and Apple TV Remote improvements
12.2.116L250April 10, 2019;5 years agoBug fixes and improvements
12.316M153May 13, 2019;5 years ago
  • Adds redesigned TV app
  • GUI changes in video player
12.416M568July 22, 2019;5 years agoBug fixes and improvements
12.4.116M600August 26, 2019;5 years ago

Security fixes

tvOS 13

tvOS 13 version history
tvOS version BuildRelease dateFeatures
13.017J586September 24, 2019;5 years ago
  • Experience [50]
    • Adds redesigned home screen with full-screen video previews.
    • Changes shape of app icons with more rounded corners.
    • Adds Control Center.
    • Adds support for multiple Apple IDs for built-in apps.
    • Adds scrolling music lyrics in the Music app.
    • Picture-in-picture multitasking in TV app. [51]
    • Adds Apple Arcade app.
    • Adds new underwater screensavers.
    • Only menu and TV button wake from sleep.
  • Control
  • Security Content [52]
13.217K82October 28, 2019;5 years ago
  • Adds support for AirPods Pro.
  • Other stability improvements and bug fixes.
  • Security Content [53]
13.317K449December 10, 2019;5 years ago
  • Stability improvements and bug fixes.
  • Security Content [54]
13.3.117K795January 28, 2020;4 years ago
  • Security Content [55]
13.417L256March 24, 2020;4 years ago
  • Security Content [56]
13.4.517L562May 20, 2020;4 years ago
  • Stability improvements and bug fixes.
  • Security Content [57]
13.4.617L570June 1, 2020;4 years ago
  • Stability improvements and bug fixes.
  • Security Content [58]
13.4.817M61July 15, 2020;4 years ago
  • Stability improvements and bug fixes.
  • Security Content [59]

tvOS 14

tvOS 14 version history
tvOS version BuildRelease dateFeatures
14.018J386September 16, 2020;4 years ago
  • Experience:
    • Changes shape of app icons with more rounded corners and reduced size.
    • Adds picture-in-picture to third-party apps.
    • Adds Audio Sharing for simultaneously connecting two sets of AirPods on Apple TV 4K.
    • Supports full-resolution AirPlay for 4K videos and photos on Apple TV 4K.
    • Redesigned Control Center.
    • Support for Microsoft Elite 2 and Adaptive Xbox One controllers.
  • HomeKit :
    • Adds camera feeds and picture-in-picture monitoring for HomeKit-enabled security cameras. [60]
    • Adds direct control of HomeKit accessories in Control Center.
  • Developer:
    • Support for 4K YouTube videos on Apple TV 4K, supporting "the latest YouTube videos", reportedly through VP9 support. [61] [62]
14.0.118J400September 24, 2020;4 years ago
  • This update includes general performance and stability improvements.
14.0.218J411October 5, 2020;4 years ago
  • This update includes general performance and stability improvements.
14.218K57November 5, 2020;4 years ago
  • Adds support for using HomePod as Apple TV speaker.
  • Adds support for subscribing to Apple One subscription plan.
14.318K561December 14, 2020;4 years ago
  • New Apple TV+ tab in the Apple TV app.
  • Adds support for Apple Fitness.
14.418K802January 26, 2021;3 years ago
  • Stability improvements and bug fixes.
14.518L204April 26, 2021;3 years ago
  • Initial release on Apple TV 4K (2nd generation).
  • Adds support for Siri Remote (second generation).
  • New colour balance calibration setting in Settings app.
  • Adds Siri support in Austria (German) and Ireland/New Zealand (English).
  • Adds support for keyboard typing into Siri.
  • Adds support for offloading unused apps automatically.
  • Adds support for PlayStation DualSense and Xbox Wireless game controllers.
14.618L569May 24, 2021;3 years ago
  • Stability improvements and bug fixes.
  • Adds support for lossless playback and Dolby Atmos music in Apple Music on all Apple TV 4K models.
14.718M60July 19, 2021;3 years ago
  • Stability improvements and bug fixes.

tvOS 15

tvOS 15 version history
tvOS version BuildRelease dateFeatures
15.019J346September 20, 2021;3 years ago
  • Adds support for controlling Apple TV with a HomePod or HomePod Mini.
  • Adds "Shared with You" row in TV app for movies and TV shows shared in Messages.
  • Redesigned video player interface. [63]
  • Audio:
  • HomeKit :
    • Adds notifications from security devices.
    • Add support for viewing multiple HomeKit cameras simultaneously.
  • Developer:
    • Enables authenticating purchases and signing into apps using Touch ID or Face ID on a paired iPhone or iPad. [64]
15.119J572October 25, 2021;3 years ago
  • Stability improvements and bug fixes.
  • Adds support for SharePlay.
15.1.119J581November 1, 2021;3 years ago
  • Adds Apple TV support in South Korea.
15.219K53December 13, 2021;3 years ago
  • New Memories feature in Photos app.
  • New Store tab in Apple TV app.
  • Adds support for subscribing to Apple Music Voice subscription plan.
  • Adds Siri support for additional languages.
  • New screensavers.
15.319K547January 26, 2022;2 years ago
  • Stability improvements and bug fixes.
  • Resolves several security vulnerabilities.
15.419L440March 14, 2022;2 years ago
15.4.119L452March 31, 2022;2 years ago
  • Stability improvements and bug fixes when setting up/restoring Apple TV.
15.519L570May 16, 2022;2 years ago
  • Stability improvements and bug fixes.
15.5.119L580May 25, 2022;2 years ago
  • Fix for a bug where music playback could stop after a while.
15.619M65July 20, 2022;2 years ago
  • Stability improvements and bug fixes.

tvOS 16

tvOS 16 version history
tvOS version BuildRelease dateFeatures
16.020J8378Preinstalled [a]
20J373September 12, 2022;2 years ago
16.120K71October 24, 2022;2 years ago
  • Initial release on Apple TV 4K (3rd generation).
  • Adds support for Matter [16]
  • Adds support for shared Photo libraries
  • Redesigned Siri interface and voice recognition for up to six users.
  • Support for "Hey Siri" with AirPods family headphones [68]
16.1.120K80November 16, 2022;2 years ago
  • For Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) 128 GB only.
  • Fix for a bug where Apple TV could become unable to install apps. [69]
16.220K362December 13, 2022;2 years ago
  • Adds the ability to set the Siri language to be different from the language displayed on the Apple TV.
  • Adds language support to Siri for Danish in Denmark, French and German in Luxembourg, and English in Singapore.
  • Adds beat-by-beat, real-time lyrics in Apple Music.
  • Adds the ability to control the vocal volume of songs in Apple Music on the Apple TV 4K (3rd generation).
16.320K650January 24, 2023;23 months ago
  • Stability improvements and bug fixes.
16.3.120K661February 6, 2023;22 months ago
  • Stability improvements and bug fixes. [16]
16.3.220K672February 13, 2023;22 months ago
  • Stability improvements and bug fixes.
16.3.320K680March 6, 2023;21 months ago
  • This update fixes an issue where the Siri Remote can become unresponsive on Apple TV 4K (3rd generation only).
16.420L497March 21, 2023;21 months ago
  • New accessibility option called "Dim Flashing Lights" added to automatically dim the video when light flashes or strobe effects are detected onscreen.
  • Stability improvements and bug fixes.
16.4.120L498April 12, 2023;20 months ago
  • Stability improvements and bug fixes. [16]
  • Security fix. [70]
16.520L563May 18, 2023;19 months ago
  • Adds multiview support in TV app for MLS Season Pass and Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV 4K
  • Adds Thread 1.3 support [71]
16.620M73July 24, 2023;17 months ago
  • Adds Siri support for Hebrew in Israel to help you find TV programmes, music and more using just your voice
  • performance and stability improvements.

tvOS 17

tvOS 17 version history
tvOS version BuildRelease dateFeatures
17.021J354September 18, 2023;15 months ago
  • Adds support for FaceTime on Apple TV 4K (2nd generation and newer) with a paired iPhone or iPad running iOS 17/iPadOS 17, with support for Center Stage and Split View with iPhones and iPads with an Apple A13 chip or newer
  • Adds ability to locate a Siri Remote (2nd generation or later) with a paired iPhone or iPad
  • Redesigned Control Center
  • Adds option to reduce icon size to fit six icons per row
  • Adds custom plan and stacks to Apple Fitness+
  • Audio/video:
    • Adds support for Dolby Vision 8.1 on Apple TV 4K
    • Enhance Dialogue to boost dialogue volume on Apple TV 4K paired with HomePod (2nd generation)
  • Developer:
    • Adds support for third-party video conferencing applications on Apple TV 4K (2nd generation and newer) [72]
    • Adds support for VPNs [73]
17.121K69October 25, 2023;14 months ago
17.221K365December 11, 2023;12 months ago
  • Redesigned TV app including a new sidebar menu and the ability to switch between profiles within the app [75]
  • FaceTime:
    • Adds the ability to answer FaceTime calls directly on Apple TV 4K
    • FaceTime Audio calls are now supported on Apple TV 4K
    • Adds the ability to move a FaceTime call from an iPhone or iPad to an Apple TV 4K
  • Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital surround sound are now supported when using SharePlay
  • Adds audio focus to Apple Fitness+
  • Adds the ability to start voice search from anywhere in supported apps with the Siri button on the Siri Remote
  • Deprecates the iTunes Movies and iTunes TV Shows apps, with both apps now redirecting users to the TV app to access their purchased Movies and TV shows.
17.321K646 [76] January 22, 2024;11 months ago
  • This update includes performance and stability improvements.
17.421L227 [77] March 7, 2024;9 months ago
  • This update includes performance and stability improvements.
17.521L569 [78] May 13, 2024;7 months ago
17.5.121L580 [79] May 21, 2024;7 months ago
  • Fix Photos corruption bug that caused deleted images to reappear
17.621M71 [80] July 29, 2024;4 months ago
17.6.121M80 [81] August 19, 2024;4 months ago

tvOS 18

tvOS 18 version history
tvOS version BuildRelease dateFeatures
18.022J357 [82] September 16, 2024;3 months ago
  • Adds InSight to Apple TV app to display information about actors, characters, and music from Apple TV+ content.
  • Adds support for Enhance Dialogue with third party speakers with Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or later)
  • Live captions in FaceTime with Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or later)
  • Redesigned Fitness app
  • New Portraits screensaver mode
  • Using mute button on Siri Remote (2nd generation or later) automatically turns on subtitles [83]
18.122J580October 28, 2024;2 months ago
18.222K155December 11, 2024;17 days ago
18.3 beta22K5534eDecember 16, 2024;12 days ago

See also

Other operating systems developed by Apple Inc.

Notes

  1. ↑ tvOS 16.0 (20J8378) was shipped preinstalled on some launch Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) devices and is not released for download.

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References

  1. ↑ Clover, Juli (December 11, 2024). "Apple Releases tvOS 18.2 With Snoopy Screen Savers and Projector Support". MacRumors . Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  2. ↑ Clover, Juli (December 16, 2024). "Apple Seeds First Betas of macOS Sequoia 15.3 and More to Developers". MacRumors . Retrieved December 18, 2024. Apple has also seeded new betas of watchOS 11.3, tvOS 18.3, and visionOS 2.3.
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