tvOS 14 Brings Apple TV Support for AirPods Audio Sharing and Watching YouTube Videos in 4K

tvOS 14, which Apple introduced briefly on stage while previewing HomeKit features, is bringing a few major new feature updates to the Apple TV.

appletv4k2
For ‌Apple TV‌ 4K users, with tvOS 14, you'll finally be able to watch YouTube videos in 4K resolution, something that has not been previously possible. The ‌Apple TV‌ has not supported the 4K video codec that YouTube uses, limiting viewing to 1080p.

As noted by The Verge, the Apple TV 4K website highlights new additions to tvOS, with a mention of the 4K YouTube feature.

Apple is also bringing Audio Sharing for AirPods to the ‌Apple TV‌, which means two sets of AirPods can be connected to an ‌Apple TV‌ 4K at the same time. This will let multiple users watch movies and TV shows without disturbing others in the room.

Other new features include picture in picture support, an option to view ‌HomeKit‌ video feeds, multiuser support for gaming, and the option to use additional controllers like the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 and Xbox Adaptive Controller.

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

Popular Stories

iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
apple tv 4k new orange

New Apple TV Expected Later This Year With These New Features

Saturday July 12, 2025 3:09 pm PDT by
A new Apple TV is expected to be released later this year, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the next Apple TV, according to rumors. Rumors Faster Wi-Fi Support The next Apple TV will be equipped with Apple's own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. He said the chip supports ...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 16 New Features

Friday July 11, 2025 12:40 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are only two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Latest Rumors These rumors surfaced in June and July:A redesigned Dynamic Island: It has been rumored that all iPhone 17 models will have a redesigned Dynamic Island interface — it might ...
macbook pro blue green

M5 MacBook Pro No Longer Coming in 2025

Thursday July 10, 2025 12:38 pm PDT by
Apple does not plan to refresh any Macs with updated M5 chips in 2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are now planned for the first half of 2026. Gurman previously said that Apple would debut the M5 MacBook Pro models in late 2025, but his newest report suggests that Apple is "considering" pushing them back to 2026. Apple is now said to be...
iphone 16 pro pro max

iPhone 17 Pro Models With BOE Displays Will Be Sold in China Only

Thursday July 10, 2025 11:59 pm PDT by
iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models with displays made by BOE will be sold exclusively in China, according to a new report. Last week, it emerged that Chinese display manufacturer BOE was aggressively ramping up its OLED production capacity for future iPhone models as part of a plan to recapture a major role in Apple's supply chain. Now, tech news aggregator Jukan Choi reports...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Complications

Apple Watch Ultra 3: What to Expect

Sunday July 13, 2025 10:30 am PDT by
The long wait for an Apple Watch Ultra 3 is nearly over, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the Apple Watch Ultra 3:Satellite connectivity for sending and receiving text messages when Wi-Fi and cellular coverage is unavailable 5G support, up from LTE on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Likely a wide-angle OLED display that ...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
iPhone 17 Air Colors Thumb 2

iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air Rumored to Come in These 9 Colors

Friday July 11, 2025 12:30 am PDT by
The iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air will be available in a total of nine color options, according to new information coming out of Asia. The iPhone 17 Air's expected color options. According to the leaker going by the account name "yeux1122" on the Korean blog Naver, accessory manufacturers are now producing camera protector rings for the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air in colors to match their...

Top Rated Comments

Bandaman Avatar
66 months ago
I hope 4K YouTube works across all Mac devices ... especially Safari on macOS.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macintologist Avatar
66 months ago
Does 4K YouTube playback mean that Apple now supports the VP9 codec?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MysteryMii215 Avatar
66 months ago

For Apple TV 4K users, with tvOS 14, you'll finally be able to watch YouTube videos in 4K resolution
Finally! Our long (inter)national nightmare is over!
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Wackery Avatar
66 months ago
I wonder who compromised with the 4K, apple or google
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mikevangorkom Avatar
66 months ago
4K currently not showing up in tvOS 14. Must require an update on YouTube's side first. But this is huge, and easily the biggest news for AppleTV. Let's hope this carries over to iPad and Safari as well.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
weekendwarrior123 Avatar
66 months ago

It must have been Apple. If Google caved, they would need to re-encode all their 4K videos to something the Apple TV supports.
The text on Apple’s website does specify that this applies to “the latest YouTube videos,” so it could be a change on YouTube’s side.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)