Apple Reveals tvOS 13 With New Home Screen and Support for Multiple User Profiles

During the WWDC 2019 keynote Apple unveiled tvOS 13, the latest operating system update for Apple TV HD and ‌Apple TV‌ 4K devices. The update introduces a new Home screen, multi-user support, updates to Apple Music, new underwater screensavers, and more.

The updates start at the new Home screen, which Apple said is "designed for discovery." Apps on the dock can now play full-screen video previews on the Home screen, instead of just showcasing still images.

tvos 13 home screen
The big new addition to ‌Apple TV‌ with tvOS 13 is support for multiple user profiles on the new ‌Apple TV‌ Control Center. With this feature, you can easily switch between family members and change entire aspects of the operating system depending on who is using it.

This means that individual family members will have their own Up Next list in the TV app, see their own TV and movie recommendations based on their tastes, and also receive their own curated suggestions in ‌Apple Music‌.

In regards to ‌Apple Music‌, Control Center will also include quick access to the currently playing song. A new lyric feature has been added as well, which showcases onscreen lyrics timed in sync with the track.

tvOS 13 is also adding support for the Xbox One S controller and the PlayStation DualShock 4 controller. This way, users who already own one of these controllers will be able to play a wide variety of games on the tvOS App Store with ease. It'll also enhance games available on Apple Arcade when that service launches in the fall.

tvos 13 underwater
Lastly, ‌Apple TV‌ 4K devices will gain new 4K HDR screen savers that were filmed in collaboration with the BBC Natural History Unit. These screen savers are focused on underwater locations and showcase the depths of the oceans around the world.

tvOS 13 will be available for Apple Developer Program members starting today, while the public beta of the software won't launch until later in June. For everyone else, tvOS 13 will be available in the fall for free.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

Popular Stories

iOS 18

Apple Releases iOS 18.5 With New Wallpaper, Screen Time Changes, Carrier Satellite Support for iPhone 13 and More

Monday May 12, 2025 10:06 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5, the fifth updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating systems that came out last September. iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5 come a little over a month after Apple released iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. The iOS 18.5 update has a...
tvOS 18 Feature

Apple Releases tvOS 18.5

Monday May 12, 2025 10:01 am PDT by
Apple today released tvOS 18.5, the latest version of the tvOS operating system. tvOS 18.5 comes a little over a month after the launch of tvOS 18.4, and it is available for the Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD models. tvOS 18.5 can be downloaded using the Settings app on the ‌Apple TV‌. Open up Settings and go to System > Software Update to get the new software. ‌Apple TV‌ owners who have...
iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

WSJ: Apple Weighing Price Hikes for iPhone 17 Lineup Without Blaming Tariffs

Monday May 12, 2025 3:36 am PDT by
Apple is considering raising prices for its upcoming iPhone 17 models set to release this fall, according to people familiar with the matter cited by The Wall Street Journal. The company reportedly aims to pair the potential price hikes with new features and design changes to justify the increased cost to consumers, rather than attributing them to U.S. tariffs on goods from China. The...
macOS Sequoia Feature

Apple Releases macOS Sequoia 15.5

Monday May 12, 2025 10:10 am PDT by
Apple today released macOS Sequoia 15.5, the fifth major update to the macOS Sequoia operating system that launched last September. macOS Sequoia 15.5 comes a little over a month after the launch of macOS Sequoia 15.4. Mac users can download the ‌‌‌macOS Sequoia 15.5‌‌‌ update through the Software Update section of System Settings. It is available for free on all Macs able to run ...
iOS 18

iOS 18.5 Expected This Week With These New Features

Monday May 12, 2025 7:20 am PDT by
Following more than a month of beta testing, Apple is expected to release iOS 18.5 to the general public this week. While the software update is relatively minor, it still includes a handful of new features and changes for iPhones. Below, we recap everything new in iOS 18.5. Pride Wallpaper Apple recently announced its 2025 Pride Collection, including a new Apple Watch band, watch face,...
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Triad

20th Anniversary iPhone Will Be Mostly Glass With All-Screen Design

Monday May 12, 2025 2:52 am PDT by
Apple will mark the 10th anniversary of the iPhone X in 2027 by launching a mostly glass, curved iPhone without any cutouts in the display, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman said the all-screen device will arrive later in 2027, suggesting a fall release. The model will be preceded by Apple's first foldable iPhone, claims the reporter....
AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Tuesday April 29, 2025 1:30 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...

Top Rated Comments

farewelwilliams Avatar
78 months ago
Us 5 years ago:
"WE WANT MULTIUSER SUPPORT ON IPAD"

Apple Today:
"Here's multiuser support on tvOS!"
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dimwhit Avatar
78 months ago
Auto-play trailers? Way to take the worst feature of Netflix and implement it, Apple. Hopefully at least Apple will let us turn it off.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JoeShades Avatar
78 months ago
Conspicuously missing... any mention of "Computers" (even in the below-the-fold icons) or Home Sharing. Home Sharing not mentioned in any materials related to iTunes split-up either (that I've found).

"Houston, we (I) may have a problem."
Computers App is still in TVOS 13
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
spinedoc77 Avatar
78 months ago
Multi user is awesome, finally I can install youtube back onto my Apple TV and let my kids log into a different account. What boggles my mind is how we still don't have multi user support for iOS. Both TVOS and iOS continue to need more parental controls.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Hanterdro Avatar
78 months ago
Auto-play trailers? Way to take the worst feature of Netflix and implement it, Apple. Hopefully at least Apple will let us turn it off.
I would be also interested to know if these can be turned of. Really that them on Netflix
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JoeShades Avatar
78 months ago
I’ve seen from the Catalina beta. Home Sharing does still exist. It’s now activated in Settings> Sharing Tab and now called Media tab. With the separate apps you can now specify what type of Media library you want to share. So I am expecting the Computers app still exists unless they roll it into the TV app.
Computers App still there

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)