What you need to know about tvOS 26
What you need to know about tvOS 26
The new software update for Apple TV 4K devices is available now, and we’ll let you know what’s in it!
Apple started the week off with a bang! The company released software updates for its various devices on Monday, including the long-awaited tvOS 26 for Apple TV 4K devices. These streaming players are updated regularly with new software to keep that premium feel intact, and tvOS 26 continues that pattern. We’ll break down what you can expect to see on your Apple TV when you download the update.
What you’ll find in Apple’s tvOS 26 update
New Liquid Glass display
The headlining feature of the tvOS 26 update is the Liquid Glass display, which is rolling out across iOS, macOS, iPadOS, and tvOS simultaneously to create a unified visual style across all Apple devices. Liquid Glass “reflects and refracts its surroundings.” It will bring a refreshed flavor to the Apple TV user interface and is designed to make browsing more appealing to the eye with updated app icons, widgets, and more.
Profile switching screen update
Apple has simplified switching accounts on the Apple TV. You can set a setting to pull up the profile switching screen any time you wake up the Apple TV device from sleep, so people in your household are more likely to remember to browse on their own profile.
Enable the setting by opening Settings, clicking Users and Accounts, scrolling to Who’s watching?, then toggling it.
Different artwork size
Viewers on Apple TV devices will also notice that as they browse through content rows, TV show and movie tiles will be displayed in portrait format instead of landscape. A new visual treatment for the numbers in the Top 10 list is also part of the update.
The Continue Watching row now includes tiles that superimpose your playback progress, as well as descriptions of the episode or movie on top of the imagery. This gives viewers more detail about what point they’re jumping back into, and the title overall.
Apple Music Sing remote pairing with iPhone
Another update in the tvOS 26 software package is the ability to pair an iPhone to an Apple TV to act as a karaoke microphone when using Apple Music’s Sing feature. This allows you to go wireless and use some cool reverb options, as well as add friends with iPhones to the queue so they can have a turn as well.
Other updates
There are a couple more things to be aware of with the tvOS 26 update. First, new Aerial screensavers will offer incredible views of the varied landscapes of India. Audiences will be able to control what they see in the screensaver, as well.
Apple TV owners can now choose any AirPlay 2 as a permanent audio output, and FaceTime functionality has gotten a few updates, including the ability to get notifications for incoming calls to appear on the television screen. In addition, Sony DualSense controllers can now be paired with Apple TV 4K devices.
How to get tvOS 26
On your Apple TV device, open Settings, then click on System. Choose Update Software, and get started on your tvOS 26 download.
How are you feeling about the new tvOS 26 update? Are there any major things you wanted to see from Apple that weren’t included? Let us know how you feel in the comments.
Apple TV
Apple TV (formerly known as Apple TV+) is a subscription video streaming service for $14.99 per month, offering a growing slate of original series, films, documentaries, and specials. Unlike other platforms that combine licensed titles with originals, Apple TV is built entirely around exclusive programming, making it the home of critically acclaimed hits such as “Ted Lasso,” “Severance,” “The Morning Show,” and “Silo.” Its lineup continues to expand with award-winning dramas, comedies, family-friendly shows, and blockbuster original films like “CODA,” which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.