Apple Releases tvOS 13.3.1 for Fourth and Fifth-Generation Apple TV

Apple today released tvOS 13.3.1, a minor update to the tvOS 13 operating system that runs on the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models. tvOS 13.3.1 comes over a month after the release of tvOS 13.3.

‌tvOS 13.3‌.1, which is a free update, 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 13‌‌‌.3.1 automatically.

appletv4k2
tvOS updates are usually minor, focusing on under-the-hood bug fixes and improvements rather than significant outward-facing changes. Apple provides limited information on what's new in tvOS updates, and we didn't find new features during the tvOS 13.3.1 beta testing period.

Details on the update will be provided through Apple's tvOS support document.

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

Popular Stories

maxresdefault

Where's the New Apple TV?

Monday December 22, 2025 11:30 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Apple TV 4K since 2022, and 2025 was supposed to be the year that we got a refresh. There were rumors suggesting Apple would release the new Apple TV before the end of 2025, but it looks like that's not going to happen now. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said several times across 2024 and 2025 that Apple would...
top stories 2025 12 20

Top Stories: iOS 26.3 Beta, Major Apple Leaks, and More

Saturday December 20, 2025 6:00 am PST by
You'd think things would be slowing down heading into the holidays, but this week saw a whirlwind of Apple leaks and rumors while Apple started its next cycle of betas following last week's release of iOS 26.2 and related updates. This week also saw the release of a new Apple Music integration with ChatGPT, so read on below for all the details on this week's biggest stories! Top Stories i...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 Brings AirPods-Like Pairing to Third-Party Devices in EU Under DMA

Monday December 22, 2025 3:20 pm PST by
The European Commission today praised the interoperability changes that Apple is introducing in iOS 26.3, once again crediting the Digital Markets Act (DMA) with bringing "new opportunities" to European users and developers. The Digital Markets Act requires Apple to provide third-party accessories with the same capabilities and access to device features that Apple's own products get. In iOS...
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Adds These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Monday December 22, 2025 8:47 am PST by
Earlier this month, Apple released iOS 26.2, following more than a month of beta testing. It is a big update, with many new features and changes for iPhones. iOS 26.2 adds a Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics in Apple Music, and more. Below, we have highlighted a total of eight new features. Liquid Glass Slider on Lock Screen A new slider in the Lock...
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Next Year With These 12 New Features

Tuesday December 23, 2025 8:36 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another nine months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models. The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras Under-screen Face ID Front camera in...
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

iPhone 18 Pro Features Leaked in New Report, Including Under-Screen Face ID

Tuesday December 16, 2025 8:44 am PST by
Next year's iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be equipped with under-screen Face ID, and the front camera will be moved to the top-left corner of the screen, according to a new report from The Information's Wayne Ma and Qianer Liu. As a result of these changes, the report said the iPhone 18 Pro models will not have a pill-shaped Dynamic Island cutout at the top of the screen....
iPhone Chips

Apple Clings to Samsung as RAM Prices Soar

Monday December 22, 2025 6:17 am PST by
Apple is significantly increasing its reliance on Samsung for iPhone memory as component prices surge, according to The Korea Economic Daily. Apple is said to be expanding the share of iPhone memory it sources from Samsung due to rapidly rising memory prices. The shift is expected to result in Samsung supplying roughly 60% to 70% of the low-power DRAM used in the iPhone 17, compared with a...
iPhone Fold Vertical Feature

Why Apple's Foldable iPhone May Be Smaller Than Expected

Tuesday December 23, 2025 5:21 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone, rumored for release next year, may turn out to be smaller than most people imagine, if a recent report is anything to go by. According to The Information, the outer display on the book-style device will measure just 5.3 inches – that's smaller than the 5.4-inch screen on the ‌iPhone‌ mini, a line Apple discontinued in 2022 due to poor sales. The report has led ...

Top Rated Comments

ipedro Avatar
77 months ago

Yea man I hear ya, I prefer the physical remote as well lol. The app is terrible. The crazy thing is, I've had my ATV 4k for over two years now and never charged the remote once and it's still over 50%.

There's always eBay.
I FOUND IT!!!

After over 2 months of no remote, you’ll never believe where it was...

...in the back of the fridge!! Hahaha ?

I must’ve had it in my hand when I went to the fridge to get something and set it down to pick something up. It still works! 33% battery left.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MakeAppleAwesomeAgain Avatar
77 months ago
I hope it fixes this issue, it's driving me crazy: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/atv-going-to-sleep-while-listening-to-music-apps.2203163/
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DinkThifferent Avatar
77 months ago

I FOUND IT!!!

After over 2 months of no remote, you’ll never believe where it was...

...in the back of the fridge!! Hahaha ?

I must’ve had it in my hand when I went to the fridge to get something and set it down to pick something up. It still works! 33% battery left.
I got so many questions right now, but i’m afraid they are all unrelated to tvOS 13.3.1
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ipedro Avatar
77 months ago

iPhone's have a built in ATV remote, not sure if compatible with older versions of ATV though. I use it for my 4k ATV.
I know. I use it. It’s not as responsive as the physical remote and really, I just want a remote to watch TV again. The better question is how does one lose a remote in a 600 sq ft condo? ? I swear, I’ve taken the entire place apart looking for it. I wish you could make the damn remote ring with the Find My app.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Konigi Avatar
77 months ago
What changes does it bring? Who knows! Perhaps even the devs have no clue!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gridlocked Avatar
77 months ago

I'm still waiting for a new Apple TV. I lost my remote and have been wrestling with the idea of buying a new remote for $79 or upgrading to the Apple TV 4K for $229. But at 2 and a half years old, the AppleTV is overdue for an update.
I'm hoping the next one will have hdmi 2.1 supporting eARC & quick media switching (no more black screen from frame rate matching w/a 2.1 compatible tv) and the av1 codec. There's going to be some tv's 2.1 compatible in 2020 so likely by 2021 quite a few will have it.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)