Apple Seeds Fifth Beta of tvOS 16.1 to Developers

Apple today seeded the fifth beta of an upcoming tvOS 16.1 update to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming one week after the launch of the fourth beta.

apple tv 4k design blue
tvOS updates are typically minor, focusing on under-the-hood bug fixes and improvements rather than outward-facing changes. No new features were found in the first beta of tvOS 16.1.

Apple shares some information on tvOS releases in its tvOS support document, which is updated after each tvOS launch. tvOS 16 brought enhanced multiuser support, Personalized Spatial Audio when using AirPods, and Accessibility improvements.

Though we don't often know what's new in tvOS during the beta testing process, we let MacRumors readers know when new updates are available so those who are developers can download it upon release.

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Top Rated Comments

Realityck Avatar
39 months ago

I've been meaning to ask this forever: Is it a sign of Apple's lack of oversight or quality control that Software Update is under "System" on ATV when it's under "General" on every other device and system?
Good question, it's probably a legacy placement that they never thought of applying a change of hierarchy to match iOS, IPadOS, and MacOS. Perhaps Apple's leadership needs people to suggest this. :)
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Queues Avatar
39 months ago
Is anyone else running into an issue on tvOS 16 where video stops playing (but audio keeps going) and the TV otherwise becomes completely unresponsive specifically during recap portions of TV shows? I can bypass the issue if I skip the recap but otherwise I have to shut it down entirely and restart. Happens with both HBO and Apple TV+ programming.

If so, I hope the new update fixes it…
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Realityck Avatar
39 months ago

I'd rather Apple load some new screensavers than worry about where the setting to update the OS is located. Either you have auto update turned on or you know where the updates are located.
For a while it was turning off beta updates, I had several betas in a row that I always found it off after the beta install, and I had to reenable that.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
srbNYC Avatar
39 months ago
I've been meaning to ask this forever: Is it a sign of Apple's lack of oversight or quality control that Software Update is under "System" on ATV when it's under "General" on every other device and system?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)