Software:tvOS

Short description: Operating system for the Apple TV

tvOS

The homescreen of tvOS 13
Developer	Apple Inc.
Written in	C, C++, Swift, Objective-C, assembly language
OS family	Unix-like BSD
Working state	Current
Source model	Closed, with open-source components
Initial release	January 9, 2007 (2007-01-09) as Apple TV Software October 29, 2015 (2015-10-29) as tvOS
|Final release|Latest release}}	17.3 (January 22, 2024 (2024-01-22)) [±]
Marketing target	Television, 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
Support status
Supported

tvOS (formerly referred to as 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. Starting with the second-generation, it is based on the iOS operating system and has many similar frameworks, technologies, and concepts.

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

On September 9, 2015, at a media event, Apple announced the fourth generation Apple TV, with support for third-party applications. Apple 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.

History

On October 30, 2015, the fourth generation Apple TV became available, and 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. Along with these updates, Apple also updated the Remote apps on iOS and watchOS, allowing for basic remote functionality for the fourth generation Apple TV (previously, said app only worked with past versions of Apple TV).

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.

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.

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

On June 4, 2018, at WWDC 2018, tvOS 12 was announced. tvOS 12 brought support for Dolby Atmos E-AC3 and was officially 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.

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

On June 7, 2021, at WWDC 2021, tvOS 15 was announced. tvOS 15 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 and was officially released on September 20, 2021, along with iOS 15 and iPadOS 15.

On June 6, 2022, at WWDC 2022, tvOS 16 was announced. tvOS 16 brought support for Nintendo Switch's Joy-Con and Pro Controllers and additional Bluetooth and USB game controllers and was officially 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, and was officially released on September 18, 2023, along with iOS 17 and iPadOS 17.

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.

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 ships with all-new development tools for developers. tvOS 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. It also adds the tvOS App Store which allows users to browse, download, and install a wide variety of applications. 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 of charge to all registered Apple developers. 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.

Supported OS releases

Supported OS releases
OS release	Generations
	1st	2nd	3rd	HD	4K	4K (2nd)	4K (3rd)
Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger		N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
iOS 4		4.1	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
iOS 5			5.1	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
iOS 6				N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
iOS 7				N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
iOS 8				N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
tvOS 9				9.0	N/A	N/A	N/A
tvOS 10					N/A	N/A	N/A
tvOS 11					11.0	N/A	N/A
tvOS 12						N/A	N/A
tvOS 13						N/A	N/A
tvOS 14						14.5	N/A
tvOS 15							N/A
tvOS 16							16.1
tvOS 17

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 OS x v10.4 Tiger.

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.

Apple TV Software 3.0

In October 2009, Apple released another update for the Apple TV called "Apple TV Software 3.0". 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). This update also added features such as content filtering, iTunes Extras, 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.

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). 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. 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).

Table of versions: iOS 4.x – Apple TV (2nd generation)
Apple TV Software	iOS Version based on	Build	Release date	Features
4.0	4.1	8M89	September 1, 2010 (2010-09-01)	Initial release on Apple TV (2nd generation)
4.1	4.2	8C150 (1539)	November 22, 2010 (2010-11-22)	AirPlay support. VoiceOver in menus. Bug fixes.
4.1.1	4.2.1	8C154 (1553)	December 14, 2010 (2010-12-14)	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.
4.2	4.3	8F191m (2060)	March 9, 2011 (2011-03-09)	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.
4.2.1		8F202 (2100)	March 22, 2011 (2011-03-22)	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.
4.2.2		8F305 (2203)	May 11, 2011 (2011-05-11)	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.
4.3		8F455 (2557)	August 1, 2011 (2011-08-01)	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.
4.4	5.0	9A334v (3140)	2011-10-12	Coincides with iOS 5 for portable iOS devices. Photo Stream. AirPlay mirroring for iPad 2 and iPhone 4S. Wall Street Journal. New Slideshow themes. Netflix subtitles. Upgrading from this version resets the device to factory settings as part of the upgrade process.
4.4.1		9A335a (3150)	2011-10-17	Bug fixes Upgrading from this version resets the device to factory settings as part of the upgrade process.
4.4.2		9A336a (3160)	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.
4.4.3	5.0.1	9A405l (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.
4.4.4		9A406a (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.

Table of versions: Apple TV Software 5 – Apple TV (2nd and 3rd generation)
Apple TV Software	iOS Version based on	Build	Release date	Features
5.0	5.1	9B179b (4099)	2012-03-07	Initial release on Apple TV (3rd generation). Support for 1080p video resolution. 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.
5.0.1	5.1.1	9B206f (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.
5.0.2		9B830 (4250)	2012-06-05	Addresses an issue which caused content restrictions to be incorrectly applied for the iTunes Store in Australia.
5.1	6.0	10A406E (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.
5.1.1	6.0.2	10A831 (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.
5.2	6.1	10B144b (6010.96)	2013-01-28	Initial release on Apple TV (3rd generation Revision A). Bluetooth keyboards: Adds support for some Bluetooth keyboards (including Apple Wireless Keyboard). 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.
5.2.1	6.1.3	10B329a (6025)	2013-03-19	Hulu Plus app: Completely redesigned, adds support for closed-captioning. iTunes in the Cloud: Adds support for Music in the Cloud in Japan and Israel. Stability and performance: Including improvements for software update, subtitles, and general performance. Security Fixes.
5.3	6.1.4	10B809 (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 (some sources depend on country)

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.

Table of versions: Apple TV Software 6 – Apple TV (2nd and 3rd generation)
Apple TV Software	iOS Version based on	Build	Release date	Features
6.0	7.0.1 / 7.0.2	11A470e/11A502	2013-09-23	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. iMovie Theater app was added on October 22, 2013, without a software update.
6.0.1	7.0.3	11B511d	2013-10-25	Stability and performance Includes general performance and stability improvements.
6.0.2	7.0.4 / 7.0.6	11B554a/11B651	2013-11-14	Stability and performance Includes general performance and stability improvements. Security (11B651 build only) Provides a fix for SSL connection verification.
6.1	7.1	11D169b	March 10, 2014 (2014-03-10)	Main menu Includes ability to make hiding channels easier 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). 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. Remote app View purchased TV Shows and Movies in the Remote app and tap to play them instantly on Apple TV. Create and play iTunes Radio stations (needs Remote app version 4.2 or later). Stability and performance Bug fixes, general performance and stability improvements.
6.1.1	7.1.1	11D201c	April 22, 2014 (2014-04-22)	Stability and performance Includes general performance and stability improvements.
6.2	7.1.2	11D257c	June 30, 2014 (2014-06-30)	Stability and performance Includes general performance and stability improvements. iTunes Extras Added ability to explore deleted scenes, photos, cast and crew, and more with select iTunes movie purchases. (Only available for HD purchases)
6.2.1		11D258	September 17, 2014 (2014-09-17)	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.

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.

Table of versions: Apple TV Software 7 – Apple TV (3rd generation)
Apple TV Software	iOS Version based on	Build	Release date	Features
7.0	8.0	12A365b	September 17, 2014 (2014-09-17)	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). 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.
7.0.1	8.1	12B410a	October 20, 2014 (2014-10-20)	Stability and performance Includes general performance and stability improvements. Bug fixes.
7.0.2	8.1.1	12B435	November 17, 2014 (2014-11-17)	Stability and performance Includes general performance and stability improvements. Bug fixes.
7.0.3	8.1.3	12B466	January 27, 2015 (2015-01-27)	Stability and performance Includes general performance and stability improvements. Bug fixes.
7.1	8.2	12D508	March 9, 2015 (2015-03-09)	Stability and performance Includes general performance and stability improvements. Bug fixes.
7.2	8.3	12F69	April 8, 2015 (2015-04-08)	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)
7.2.1	8.4	12H523	February 25, 2016 (2016-02-25)	Stability and performance Includes general performance and stability improvements. Bug fixes
7.2.2	8.4.1	12H606	December 12, 2016 (2016-12-12)	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.
7.3	8.4.2	12H847	May 13, 2019 (2019-05-13)	Apple TV Software 7.3 brings the updated TV app to provide support for Apple TV+ services.
7.3.1		12H864	July 22, 2019 (2019-07-22)	Bug fixes and stability improvements
7.4	8.4.3	12H876	September 24, 2019 (2019-09-24)	Bug fixes and stability improvements
7.5	8.4.4	March 24, 2020 (2020-03-24)	Adds the ability to control the Apple TV from the control center of an iOS device, bug fixes and stability improvements.
7.6		September 16, 2020 (2020-09-16)	Bug fixes and stability improvements
7.6.2		December 14, 2020 (2020-12-14)	Bug fixes and stability improvements
7.7		April 26, 2021 (2021-04-26)	Bug fixes and stability improvements
7.8		September 20, 2021 (2021-09-20)	Bug fixes and stability improvements
7.9		March 14, 2022 (2022-03-14)	Bug 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.

Table of versions: tvOS 9.x – Apple TV HD
tvOS version	iOS version based on	Build	Release date	Features
9.0	9.0	13T396	October 29, 2015 (2015-10-29)	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.
9.0.1	9.1	13T402	November 9, 2015 (2015-11-09)	General performance and stability improvements.
9.1	9.2	13U85	December 8, 2015 (2015-12-08)	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.
9.1.1	9.2.1	13U717	January 25, 2016 (2016-01-25)	General performance and stability improvements Adds the Podcasts app to the Apple TV
9.2	9.3	13Y234	March 21, 2016 (2016-03-21)	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. Updates the remote firmware which includes improved motion sensor performance and support for additional sound bar and receiver hardware. Enhancements to speed and performance.
9.2.1	9.3.2	13Y772	May 16, 2016 (2016-05-16)	General performance and stability improvements.
9.2.2	9.3.3	13Y825	July 18, 2016 (2016-07-18)	Final update for tvOS 9. General performance and stability improvements. Bug fixes.

tvOS 10

Table of versions: tvOS 10.x – Apple TV HD
tvOS version	Build	Release date	Features
10.0	14T330	September 13, 2016 (2016-09-13)	User Interface Adds the option for users to select between a light mode or a new dark mode. 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.
10.0.1	14U71 14U100	October 24, 2016 (2016-10-24) November 14, 2016 (2016-11-14) (14U100)	General performance and stability improvements. Bug fixes.
10.1	14U593	December 12, 2016 (2016-12-12)	General performance and stability improvements. New "TV" app Added "Single Sign-On"
10.1.1	14U712a	January 23, 2017 (2017-01-23)	General performance and stability improvements.
10.2	14W265	March 27, 2017 (2017-03-27)	Adds support for Apple File System (APFS) General performance and stability improvements
10.2.1	14W585a	May 15, 2017 (2017-05-15)	Security and Bug Fixes
10.2.2	14W756	July 19, 2017 (2017-07-19)	Final update for tvOS 10. There is no 10.2.3 update. Security and Bug Fixes

tvOS 11

Table of versions: tvOS 11.x – Apple TV HD, Apple TV 4K (1st generation)
tvOS version	Build	Release date	Features
11.0	15J381	September 19, 2017 (2017-09-19)	Initial release on Apple TV 4K (1st generation). Adds support for 2160p output in HDR10 and Dolby Vision with Apple TV 4K. 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).
11.1	15J582	October 31, 2017 (2017-10-31)	Includes bug fixes and security improvements
11.2	15K106	December 4, 2017 (2017-12-04)	The 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.
11.2.1	15K152	December 13, 2017 (2017-12-13)	Includes bug fixes and security improvements
11.2.5	15K552	January 23, 2018 (2018-01-23)	Includes bug fixes and security improvements
11.2.6	15K600	February 19, 2018 (2018-02-19)	Includes bug fixes and security improvements
11.3	15L211	March 29, 2018 (2018-03-29)	tvOS 11.3 beta provides Dolby Vision support for certain Sony 2017 4K HDR televisions with the X1 Extreme processor.
11.4	15L577	May 29, 2018 (2018-05-29)	AirPlay 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.
11.4.1	15M73	July 9, 2018 (2018-07-09)	Final update for tvOS 11. Bug fixes and improvements

tvOS 12

Table of versions: tvOS 12.x – Apple TV HD, Apple TV 4K (1st generation)
tvOS version	Build	Release date	Features
12.0	16J364	September 17, 2018 (2018-09-17)	Audio Adds support for Dolby Atmos E-AC3 passthrough on Apple TV 4K, up to 7.1.4 channels 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.
12.0.1	16J380	September 24, 2018 (2018-09-24)	Bug fixes and improvements
12.1	16J602	October 30, 2018 (2018-10-30)	Bug fixes and improvements
12.1.1	16K45	December 5, 2018 (2018-12-05)	Bug fixes and improvements
12.1.2	16K534	January 22, 2019 (2019-01-22)	Bug fixes and improvements
12.2	16L226	March 25, 2019 (2019-03-25)	Siri and Apple TV Remote improvements
12.2.1	16L250	April 10, 2019 (2019-04-10)	Bug fixes and improvements
12.3	16M153	May 13, 2019 (2019-05-13)	Adds redesigned TV app GUI changes in video player
12.4	16M568	July 22, 2019 (2019-07-22)	Bug fixes and improvements
12.4.1	16M600	August 26, 2019 (2019-08-26)	Final update for tvOS 12. Security fixes

tvOS 13

Table of versions: tvOS 13.x – Apple TV HD, Apple TV 4K (1st generation)
tvOS version	Build	Release date	Features
13.0	17J586	September 24, 2019 (2019-09-24)	Experience 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. Adds Apple Arcade app. Adds new underwater screensavers. Only menu and TV button wake from sleep. Control Adds support for the Xbox One and DualShock 4 wireless controllers. Security Content
13.2	17K82	October 28, 2019 (2019-10-28)	Adds support for AirPods Pro. Other stability improvements and bug fixes. Security Content
13.3	17K449	December 10, 2019 (2019-12-10)	Stability improvements and bug fixes. Security Content
13.3.1	17K795	January 28, 2020 (2020-01-28)	Security Content
13.4	17L256	March 24, 2020 (2020-03-24)	Security Content
13.4.5	17L562	May 20, 2020 (2020-05-20)	Stability improvements and bug fixes. Security Content
13.4.6	17L570	June 1, 2020 (2020-06-01)	Stability improvements and bug fixes. Security Content
13.4.8	17M61	July 15, 2020 (2020-07-15)	Final update for tvOS 13. Stability improvements and bug fixes. Security Content

tvOS 14

Table of versions: tvOS 14.x – Apple TV HD, Apple TV 4K (1st and 2nd generation)
tvOS version	Build	Release date	Features
14.0	18J386	September 16, 2020 (2020-09-16)	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. 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.
14.0.1	18J400	September 24, 2020 (2020-09-24)	This update includes general performance and stability improvements.
14.0.2	18J411	October 5, 2020 (2020-10-05)	This update includes general performance and stability improvements.
14.2	18K57	November 5, 2020 (2020-11-05)	Adds support for using HomePod as Apple TV speaker. Adds support for subscribing to Apple One subscription plan.
14.3	18K561	December 14, 2020 (2020-12-14)	New Apple TV+ tab in the Apple TV app. Adds support for Apple Fitness.
14.4	18K802	January 26, 2021 (2021-01-26)	Stability improvements and bug fixes.
14.5	18L204	April 26, 2021 (2021-04-26)	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.
14.6	18L569	May 24, 2021 (2021-05-24)	Stability improvements and bug fixes. Adds support for lossless playback and Dolby Atmos music in Apple Music on all Apple TV 4K models.
14.7	18M60	July 19, 2021 (2021-07-19)	Stability improvements and bug fixes.

tvOS 15

Table of versions: tvOS 15.x – Apple TV HD, Apple TV 4K (1st and 2nd generation)
tvOS version	Build	Release date	Features
15.0	19J346	September 20, 2021 (2021-09-20)	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. Audio: Adds ability to use HomePod Mini as a speaker, supporting up to a stereo pair. Adds support for spatial audio on Apple TV 4K with AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. Automatic onscreen notification to connect AirPods family headphones. 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.
15.1	19J572	October 25, 2021 (2021-10-25)	Stability improvements and bug fixes. Adds support for SharePlay.
15.1.1	19J581	November 1, 2021 (2021-11-01)	Adds Apple TV support in South Korea.
15.2	19K53	December 13, 2021 (2021-12-13)	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.
15.3	19K547	January 26, 2022 (2022-01-26)	Stability improvements and bug fixes. Resolves several security vulnerabilities.
15.4	19L440	March 14, 2022 (2022-03-14)	Support for captive portal networks via a connected iPhone or iPad. Adds "Up Next" queue and volume controller to video player Adds purchase authentication with Apple Watch Adds support for displaying HomeKit cameras in picture-in-picture
15.4.1	19L452	March 31, 2022 (2022-03-31)	Stability improvements and bug fixes when setting up/restoring Apple TV.
15.5	19L570	May 16, 2022 (2022-05-16)	Stability improvements and bug fixes.
15.5.1	19L580	May 25, 2022 (2022-05-25)	Fix for a bug where music playback could stop after a while.
15.6	19M65	July 20, 2022 (2022-07-20)	Stability improvements and bug fixes.

tvOS 16

Table of versions: tvOS 16.x – Apple TV HD, Apple TV 4K (1st, 2nd and 3rd generation)
tvOS version	Build	Release date	Features
16.0	20J8378	Preinstalled	Adds support for Nintendo Switch's Joy-Cons and Pro Controllers, and additional Bluetooth and USB game controllers. Adds support for HDR10+ in Apple TV app on Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) Adds video previews in Apple TV app Adds on-screen Intensity Metrics with Fitness+
	20J373	September 12, 2022 (2022-09-12)
16.1	20K71	October 24, 2022 (2022-10-24)	Initial release on Apple TV 4K (3rd generation). Adds support for Matter 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
16.1.1	20K80	November 16, 2022 (2022-11-16)	For Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) 128 GB only. Fix for a bug where Apple TV could become unable to install apps.
16.2	20K362	December 13, 2022 (2022-12-13)	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).
16.3	20K650	January 24, 2023 (2023-01-24)	Stability improvements and bug fixes.
16.3.1	20K661	February 6, 2023 (2023-02-06)	Stability improvements and bug fixes.
16.3.2	20K672	February 13, 2023 (2023-02-13)	Stability improvements and bug fixes.
16.3.3	20K680	March 6, 2023 (2023-03-06)	This update fixes an issue where the Siri Remote can become unresponsive on Apple TV 4K (3rd generation only).
16.4	20L497	March 21, 2023 (2023-03-21)	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.
16.4.1	20L498	April 12, 2023 (2023-04-12)	Stability improvements and bug fixes. Security fix.
16.5	20L563	May 18, 2023 (2023-05-18)	Adds multiview support in TV app for MLS Season Pass and Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV 4K Adds Thread 1.3 support
16.6	20M73	July 24, 2023 (2023-07-24)	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

Table of versions: tvOS 17.x – Apple TV HD, Apple TV 4K (1st, 2nd and 3rd generation)
tvOS version	Build	Release date	Features
17.0	21J354	September 18, 2023 (2023-09-18)	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 Reduces 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) Adds support for VPNs
17.1	21K69	October 25, 2023 (2023-10-25)	Adds support for Enhance Dialogue with the HomePod (1st generation) and HomePod Mini. Adds a new favoriting option to the Music app, along with some other minor Music changes.
17.2	21K365	December 11, 2023 (2023-12-11)	Redesigned TV app including a new sidebar menu and the ability to switch between profiles within the app 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.
17.3	21K646	January 22, 2024 (2024-01-22)
17.4 beta 1	21L5195h	January 25, 2024 (2024-01-25)

See also

Other operating systems developed by Apple Inc.

• iOS
• iPadOS
• watchOS
• macOS

External links

• – Official site for Apple TV (Hardware)