Apple Seeds Second Beta of tvOS 12.1 to Developers [Update: Public Beta Available] - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Seeds Second Beta of tvOS 12.1 to Developers [Update: Public Beta Available]

by

Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming tvOS 12.1 update to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after seeding the first update and a little over two weeks after releasing the tvOS 12 update.

Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models, the new tvOS 12.1 developer beta can be downloaded onto the Apple TV via a profile that's installed using Xcode.

appletv4k2
We're not yet sure what fixes and changes the tvOS 12.1 update might bring, but it's likely to focus on bugs that have been discovered since the release of tvOS 12. No new changes were discovered in the first tvOS 12.1 beta.

Apple's tvOS updates have historically been minor in scale, and Apple does not often provide us with detailed notes outlining what's new. We'll update this post should anything be found in the second beta.

Update: Apple has also seeded the second beta of tvOS 12.1 to public beta testers.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: Apple TV and Home Theater

Popular Stories

iOS 27 Feature Cool

Apple Releases New iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, and tvOS 27 Public Betas

Monday August 31, 2026 2:13 pm PDT by
Apple today released the sixth public betas of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, tvOS 27, and macOS Golden Gate, allowing anyone with a compatible device to download and test the new software. The sixth betas come a week after Apple seeded the fifth betas and a few hours after the eighth developer betas. You can get started by signing up on Apple's beta website and then opting in to the public beta by...
Read Full Article • 25 comments
Apple TV Color

Apple TV Buys an Existing Hit for the First Time Ever

Friday August 28, 2026 8:52 am PDT by
Apple TV has bought the worldwide rights to "Small Prophets," breaking with how it normally operates in acquiring an existing English-language hit rather than commissioning a show of its own from the start. Apple TV has typically developed or, at the very least, commissioned shows in-house and given them their premiere on the service, regardless of where they may eventually end up. This...
Read Full Article • 49 comments
apple tv 4k yellow bg feature

Next Apple TV Rumored to Have Five New Features, Including Siri AI

Wednesday August 19, 2026 7:43 am PDT by
According to rumors, the next-generation Apple TV 4K will have at least five new features, including an A17 Pro chip or newer, increased RAM, Siri AI support, an Apple-designed N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 support, and an updated Siri Remote. Below, we recap everything rumored for the next Apple TV, along with potential launch timing. Rumored Features A17 Pro Chip or Newer The next Apple TV wi...
Read Full Article • 126 comments

Top Rated Comments

busyscott Avatar
busyscott
104 months ago
The lack of attention given to this platform is truly tragic. The new gen Apple TV is one of the best devices apple has come out with in a long time (along with the AirPods) but there’s so much low hanging fruit ready to be harvested on the platform.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Solver Avatar
Solver
104 months ago
I wonder if there will ever be an Apple TV Remote app for the Watch. Either that, or add a Siri button and volume control to "Now Playing". I can't believe this hasn't happened yet. :eek:
Even my series 1 has a “Remote” app that controls both of my Apple TVs.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ipedro Avatar
ipedro
103 months ago
The lack of attention given to this platform is truly tragic. The new gen Apple TV is one of the best devices apple has come out with in a long time (along with the AirPods) but there’s so much low hanging fruit ready to be harvested on the platform.
Curious as to what that low hanging fruit is in your view.

tvOS has really come into its own in the past few years. While I can see some polishes or smaller features here and there, I can’t really think of any significant improvements.

Perhaps we’ll see a further shift towards the TV app as the new home screen. It functions as an aggregator of content within apps. It works really well.

I see tvOS as following watchOS’s template. You might think they couldn’t be any more different but the underlying model is the same. On AppleWatch, the Watch Face is the main screen where information is present and app content is consumed. On AppleTV, the TV app is the “Watch Face” where information is present and app content is consumed. On both platforms, the app screen is a secondary way of accessing apps.

I can imagine Apple further solidifying that model in an upcoming tvOS.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
B
Braderunner
104 months ago
Even my series 1 has a “Remote” app that controls both of my Apple TVs.
Nope. Re-read my post. Siri. Volume control. Just like the Apple TV Remote app on iOS.
Not talking about that lame iTunes remote.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
B
Braderunner
104 months ago
I wonder if there will ever be an Apple TV Remote app for the Watch. Either that, or add a Siri button and volume control to "Now Playing". I can't believe this hasn't happened yet. :eek:
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments