Apple Seeds Second tvOS 14.5 Beta to Developers

Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming tvOS 14.5 update to developers for testing purposes, with the new beta software coming two weeks after Apple released the first tvOS 14.5 beta.

apple tv 4k banner
Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV, the tvOS 14.5 developer beta can be downloaded onto the ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌Apple TV‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ via a profile that's installed using Xcode.

tvOS 14.5 brings support for the latest PlayStation 5 DualSense and Xbox Series X controllers, which can be used to play games from the tvOS App Store and Apple Arcade.

play station dualsense controller
Support for the new controllers has also been included in iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5, so the latest gaming controller options from Sony and Microsoft are now compatible with Apple's product lineup.

We don't yet know if there's anything else included in tvOS 14.5 in terms of features because tvOS updates are often minor in scale, but the release of tvOS will see Apple begin enforcing its new App Tracking Transparency rules, with developers now required to ask for and receive a user's permission to access their random advertising identifier (known as the IDFA) to track user activity across apps and websites for ad customization purposes.

Going forward, when an app wants to access a person's advertising identifier on tvOS, users will have a prompt with options to "Allow Tracking" or "Ask App Not to Track." Selecting "Ask App Not to Track" will prevent the app's developer from accessing the user's IDFA, and developers will also have to respect the user's tracking preference and refrain from using other invasive cross-app tracking methods.

The main tvOS 14 update released in September brought expanded Picture in Picture support, new HomeKit integration with HomeKit Secure Video cameras, support for multiple ‌Apple Arcade‌ profiles, and more, with details available in our tvOS 14 roundup.

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

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro and Air Feature

Two iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air Colors Appear to Scratch More Easily

Friday September 19, 2025 10:02 am PDT by
As reported by Bloomberg today, some of the new iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air models on display at Apple Stores today are already scratched and scuffed. French blog Consomac also reported on this topic. The scratches appear to be most prominent on models with darker finishes, including the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max in Deep Blue, and the iPhone Air in Space Black. Images Credit: Consoma ...
iOS 26

iOS 26.0.1 Coming Soon, Likely With iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro Fix

Thursday September 18, 2025 9:17 am PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 26.0.1, according to a private account on X with a proven track record of sharing information about future iOS versions. The update will have a build number of 23A350, or similar, the account said. It is likely that iOS 26.0.1 will fix a camera-related bug on the new iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro models. In his iPhone Air review, CNN Underscored's Henry T. ...
iphone 17 pro max techwoven

Here Are The Best Cases You Can Buy for Your New iPhone 17 and iPhone Air

Friday September 19, 2025 6:46 am PDT by
Apple's new iPhones launch today, and there are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to protecting your new device from drops and scratches. In this article, we're taking a look at some of the best options for iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Air cases, as well as a few charging accessories. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a...
iPhone 17 Pro Colors

iPhone 17 Pro Max Teardown Reveals Qualcomm's Snapdragon X80 Modem for 5G

Friday September 19, 2025 7:39 am PDT by
While the iPhone Air is equipped with Apple's custom C1X modem for cellular connectivity, all of the iPhone 17 models are outfitted with Qualcomm modems still. A teardown video shared on Chinese platform Bilibili today (via Reddit) appears to confirm the iPhone 17 Pro Max is equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X80 modem in particular. The same modem is likely used in the iPhone 17 and iPhone ...
iOS 26 on Three iPhones

iOS 26's Liquid Glass Design Draws Criticism From Users

Wednesday September 17, 2025 2:56 pm PDT by
It's been two days since iOS 26 was released, and Apple's new Liquid Glass design is even more divisive than expected. Any major design change can create controversy as people get used to the new look, but the MacRumors forums, Reddit, Apple Support Communities, and social media sites seem to feature more criticism than praise as people discuss the update. Complaints There are a long...
iphone 17 pro inside

iPhone 17 Teardowns Confirm SIM and eSIM-Only Battery Capacities

Friday September 19, 2025 8:39 am PDT by
YouTube channel REWA Technology today shared an iPhone 17 Pro teardown video, offering a closer look inside the model with a SIM card tray. We are still waiting for repair website iFixit to share a more comprehensive teardown of the latest iPhone models, but this video provides a good look in the meantime. The device features various internal design changes, including larger rear camera...

Top Rated Comments

upandown Avatar
60 months ago
Macrumors. Please highlight the framerate issue and development.

Backstory: The Appletv hardware has never supported integer frame rates such as 24.000 FPS. Only fractional frame rates are supported such as 23.976 FPS. This is usually fine however there is more and more content, especially on Netflix that is produced at 24.000 FPS. So there is a skipped frame every 41 seconds or so. The viewer would see a stutter in the content. People like myself have been blasting on the forums and Apple feedback that their hardware doesn’t support a widely used FPS operation. (Side note, most if not all other streaming boxes that are much cheaper support both fractional and integer frame rates)

Two weeks ago: tvOS beta 14.5 beta 1 did something never seen before… it added support for 24fps!! However! They removed support for 23.976fps! With this configuration it presents a similar but opposite issue. Frame doubling when playing back 23.976fps material. It’s being forced to play it at 24fps.

Since beta 2 was released today we will see very shortly what steps Apple has taken to rectify the situation, but considering how our input has fallen on deaf ears for almost 4 years, I’m not too hopeful. So Macrumors please make a post about this in the likely event it’s not fixed today to support both fractional and integer frame rates. I can give links to other forums with better information if needed. Thank you.

EDIT: Well it appears in tvOS 14.5 beta 2 both fractional and integer frame rates are supported!!! Truly a day to celebrate!!
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
upandown Avatar
60 months ago
Well it appears in tvOS 14.5 beta 2 both fractional and integer frame rates are supported!!! Truly a day to celebrate!!

Macrumors, I still think this is news worthy considering how long it’s been an issue. It would be a positive post that it’s finally fixed and hopefully it would pressure them to not do something stupid like remove the change. Lol
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Realityck Avatar
60 months ago
Note the Public Beta of this beta2 (tvOS 14.5) is available now that the Macrumors site is back up
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
upandown Avatar
60 months ago

I noticed with tvOS 14.5 beta 1 that the custom resolutions using DV got rid of 4K 24Hz and made it 30Hz, is that still the case with beta 2?
It is. Hopefully it gets added back with the next beta.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jairopena Avatar
60 months ago
Now that the frame rate is finally resolved I just hope for bitstream audio, or at least something that makes PCM louder. I’m using a Sony DH790 receiver and PCM outside Atmos is low compared to DD+
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
IT Troll Avatar
60 months ago
Disappointing that MR haven’t updated the article with the frame rate support news. I would argue that this is more report worthy than support for new game controls.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)