Apple Releases tvOS 12.4 for Fourth and Fifth-Generation Apple TV

Monday July 22, 2019 10:05 AM PDT by Juli Clover
Apple today released tvOS 12.4, the eighth update to the tvOS 12 operating system that runs on the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models. tvOS 12.4 comes more than a month after the release of tvOS 12.3, which brought an updated TV app.

tvOS 12.4 is a free update that can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the Apple TV by going to System > Software Update. Apple TV owners who have automatic software updates turned on will be upgraded to tvOS 12.4 automatically.


There were no new features discovered during the beta testing period for tvOS 12.4, making it unclear what's included in the update.

Apple does not provide release notes for tvOS updates, making it difficult to determine what might be new or improved in the operating system.

The update likely focuses on introducing performance improvements and bug fixes, and there could be some refinements to the TV app that was introduced in tvOS 12.3.

Apple has also released new 7.3.1 Apple TV software that's designed for the third-generation Apple TV.

Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 12, tvOS 13
Tag: Apple TV Guide
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)
24 comments


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MarceloAvalos
8 weeks ago
Apple does provide release notes for tvOS updates. They're here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207936
Rating: 9 Votes
Avatar
BODYBUILDERPAUL
8 weeks ago

Definitely an Apple product that I will no longer invest in.

I had to replace two 3rd gen units because viewing activities on some streaming services don't sync between older AppleTV models and newer ones. Sure, it's ultimately the fault of the app developer (looking at you Hulu) but I can understand their dilemma. The 3rd gen AppleTV has an A5 processor. The 4th gen unit has an A8 processor. Yet the 3rd gen unit wasn't discontinued until one year after the 4th gen was introduced. Apple continued to sell its older unit knowing the product was essentially obsoleted.

Btw, I replaced my units with Amazon Firesticks. Got two for less than the price of one AppleTV. The UI is as thoughtful as Apple's. And the remote is worlds better. Will probably sell the 4th gen units we have and replace those with Firesticks too just to spite Apple for pretending their TV aspirations were just "a hobby".

Let's see how long your Amazon Firesticks last!
In all fairness, the ATV3 delivered amazing results in 2012 and 2013. By 2014, it's price was £59. Try and find something as beautifully made as that for £59!
For £59 the ATV3 was an incredible box for the Apple Eco-system. To this day, it still plays movies from iTunes in HD and has Apple HomeSharing and Airplay. All for £59. Not Apple's fault if third party apps decide not to go with it. To this day, Apple STILL updates the ATV3 - Amazon Prime, ATV+ etc. Name another company that will update a cheap £59 product dating back from 2012? I can't think of any.

Good luck if you think that you are getting a decent product with Amazon. Knowing that company and it's disgraceful components used in their mainstream thrash tells me that it'll end up in the landfill far quicker than any Apple product will.
Rating: 5 Votes
Avatar
Rigby
8 weeks ago
Every time a tvOS update is released, it's "Apple TV owners who have automatic software updates turned on will be upgraded to tvOS 12.4 automatically". I have had that option enabled for years and never, not once, has any of my two Apple TV 4 units (or the Apple TV 3s that I used before) upgraded automatically. Does this work for anybody?
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
MistrSynistr
8 weeks ago

Let's see how long your Amazon Firesticks last!
In all fairness, the ATV3 delivered amazing results in 2012 and 2013. By 2014, it's price was £59. Try and find something as beautifully made as that for £59!
For £59 the ATV3 was an incredible box for the Apple Eco-system. To this day, it still plays movies from iTunes in HD and has Apple HomeSharing and Airplay. All for £59. Not Apple's fault if third party apps decide not to go with it. To this day, Apple STILL updates the ATV3 - Amazon Prime, ATV+ etc. Name another company that will update a cheap £59 product dating back from 2012? I can't think of any.

Good luck if you think that you are getting a decent product with Amazon. Knowing that company and it's disgraceful components used in their mainstream thrash tells me that it'll end up in the landfill far quicker than any Apple product will.


I have two Apple TV 4k's and three Roku's. And love them all. I like the ATV's a little better though. I would NEVER get Chromecast/Amazon anything, that's for sure.
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
SandboxGeneral
8 weeks ago

Every time a tvOS update is released, it's "Apple TV owners who have automatic software updates turned on will be upgraded to tvOS 12.4 automatically". I have had that option enabled for years and never, not once, has any of my two Apple TV 4 units (or the Apple TV 3s that I used before) upgraded automatically. Does this work for anybody?

Nope. Never worked on mine either.
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
lsutigerfan1976
8 weeks ago

Does anyone know why my Apple TV updated TvOS 13 without a beta or developer account?

One of mine did this one day. I never enrolled it in the beta program. It just one day had tvOS 13 on it. And now I cannot roll it back to the way it is.
Rating: 1 Votes
Avatar
Defthand
8 weeks ago
Definitely an Apple product that I will no longer invest in.

I had to replace two 3rd gen units because viewing activities on some streaming services don't sync between older AppleTV models and newer ones. Sure, it's ultimately the fault of the app developer (looking at you Hulu) but I can understand their dilemma. The 3rd gen AppleTV has an A5 processor. The 4th gen unit has an A8 processor. Yet the 3rd gen unit wasn't discontinued until one year after the 4th gen was introduced. Apple continued to sell its older unit knowing the product was essentially obsoleted.

Btw, I replaced my units with Amazon Firesticks. Got two for less than the price of one AppleTV. The UI is as thoughtful as Apple's. And the remote is worlds better. Will probably sell the 4th gen units we have and replace those with Firesticks too just to spite Apple for pretending their TV aspirations were just "a hobby".
Rating: 1 Votes
Avatar
George Dawes
8 weeks ago
I’ve got several atvs and I love them

Replaced my blu ray and DVD players as well as my freeview , Freesat and sky pvrs

Streaming is the future - embrace it
Rating: 1 Votes
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