Apple Seeds Fourth tvOS 18.1 Beta to Developers

Apple today seeded the fourth beta of an upcoming tvOS 18.1 beta to developers for testing purposes, with the new software coming a week after Apple seeded the third tvOS 18.1 beta.

apple tv 4k new orange
Registered developers are able to download the tvOS 18.1 update by opting in to the beta through the Settings app on the Apple TV. A registered developer account is required.

tvOS software releases are usually minor in scale compared to other operating system updates, focusing primarily on smaller improvements rather than outward-facing changes. We don't know what's included in tvOS 18.1.

Apple shares some information on tvOS releases in its tvOS support document, which is updated after each tvOS launch, but Apple does not provide notes during beta testing.

Though we don't always know what's new in tvOS betas, we let MacRumors readers know when new updates are available so those who are developers can download new software upon release.

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

Popular Stories

iOS 26

When Will Apple Release iOS 26.2?

Monday December 1, 2025 4:37 pm PST by
We're getting closer to the launch of the final major iOS update of the year, with Apple set to release iOS 26.2 in December. We've had three betas so far and are expecting a fourth beta or a release candidate this week, so a launch could follow as soon as next week. Past Launch Dates Apple's past iOS x.2 updates from the last few years have all happened right around the middle of the...
iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket is Now Completely Sold Out Worldwide

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:16 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. However, it is now completely sold out in all countries where it was released. iPhone Pocket became available to order on Apple's online store starting Friday, November 14, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, ...
Sad Siri Feature

Apple AI Chief John Giannandrea Retiring After Siri Delays

Monday December 1, 2025 2:16 pm PST by
Apple AI chief John Giannandrea is stepping down from his position and retiring in spring 2026, Apple announced today. Giannandrea will serve as an advisor between now and 2026, with former Microsoft AI researcher Amar Subramanya set to take over as vice president of AI. Subramanya will report to Apple engineering chief Craig Federighi, and will lead Apple Foundation Models, ML research, and ...
Netflix Smaller 4

Netflix Kills Casting From Its Mobile App to Most Modern TVs

Monday December 1, 2025 4:36 am PST by
Netflix has quietly removed the ability to cast content from its mobile apps to most modern TVs and streaming devices, including newer Chromecast models and the Google TV Streamer. The change was first spotted by users on Reddit and confirmed in an updated Netflix support page (via Android Authority), which now states that the streaming service no longer supports casting from mobile devices...
Cyber Week Deals 2025

Best Cyber Week Apple Deals Include Big Discounts on AirPods, Apple Watch, and More

Sunday November 30, 2025 7:33 am PST by
Cyber Week is here, and you can find popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more at all-time low prices. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running. Specifically,...
maxresdefault

iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Monday December 1, 2025 3:00 am PST by
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that ...
studio display purple february

M5 iPad Pro Could Hint at New Studio Display Feature

Sunday November 30, 2025 10:30 am PST by
The updated specs of the M5 iPad Pro may point toward a major new feature for Apple's next-generation Studio Display expected in early 2026. Apple's latest iPad Pro debuted last month and contains one display-related change that stands out: it can now drive external monitors at up to 120Hz with Adaptive Sync. The feature should deliver lower latency, smoother motion, and fewer visual...
Touchscreen MacBook Feature

Here Are the Four MacBooks Apple Is Expected to Launch Next Year

Monday December 1, 2025 5:00 am PST by
2026 could be a bumper year for Apple's Mac lineup, with the company expected to announce as many as four separate MacBook launches. Rumors suggest Apple will court both ends of the consumer spectrum, with more affordable options for students and feature-rich premium lines for users that seek the highest specifications from a laptop. Below is a breakdown of what we're expecting over the next ...
New Intel Logo

Apple and Intel Rumored to Partner on Mac Chips Again in a New Way

Friday November 28, 2025 7:33 am PST by
While all Macs are now powered by Apple's custom-designed chips, a new rumor claims that Apple may rekindle its partnership with Intel, albeit in a new and limited way. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said Intel is expected to begin shipping Apple's lowest-end M-series chip as early as mid-2027. Kuo said Apple plans to utilize Intel's 18A process, which is the "earliest...
iphone black friday gold

The Best Black Friday iPhone Deals Still Available

Friday November 28, 2025 6:24 am PST by
Cellular carriers have always offered big savings on the newest iPhone models during the holidays, and Black Friday 2025 sales have kicked off at AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and more. Right now we're tracking notable offers on the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air. For even more savings, keep an eye on older models during the holiday shopping season. Note: MacRumors is...

Top Rated Comments

djjuice80 Avatar
15 months ago
No Snoopy, that's all you need to know...
(that's all anyone really cared about anyways)
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
djjuice80 Avatar
15 months ago

Just because Support & Feedback might miss it:

TVOS18.0 is also a nightmare...

Some bugs I discovered:

* Dialogue Boost is broken and deactivated is also much worse than it was before updating. Now you cannot watch movies without constantly adjusting the volume. SHUT THE FRONT DOOR !
* When leaving an app you get the Apple TV app as a result and not the Home Screen, WTF?
* Subtitles are there even if you don't want them, changing settings is ignored by the device, ARE YOU SERIOUS ?

Whenever Apple loudly advertises a new Version of its OS, FROM NOW ON I WILL WAIT AT LEAST FOR 6 MONTHS in order to let them fix their brand new bugs (LMFAO)

Updates are meant to make things better.
The world is laughing at Apple for this deployment quality.

Where is QA's Head at?
well it is still a beta so issues are still expected, the A builds are bug fixes so expect more fixes to come
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jhwalker Avatar
15 months ago

In English it is a choice from the Language select menu, but all the other naguages are not covered.

Sorry you're having these problems, but I have 18.1 on THREE Apple TVs and have not had anything like this on ANY of them.

Just pointing out it's actually not a universal thing - if anything, anecdotal evidence suggests it may be limited, as TallGuyGT is also not having issues.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
5097842 Avatar
15 months ago
I was really hoping that we'd be able to delete the two iTunes Store icons by now. They've been redirecting to the AppleTV app since 17.something. I understand why they leave them there on first start, but at least give us the ability to hide or delete. Otherwise I haven't seen much new in tvOS 18.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MisterBlueSky Avatar
15 months ago
Just because Support & Feedback might miss it:

TVOS18.0 is also a nightmare...

Some bugs I discovered:

* Dialogue Boost is broken and deactivated is also much worse than it was before updating. Now you cannot watch movies without constantly adjusting the volume. SHUT THE FRONT DOOR !
* When leaving an app you get the Apple TV app as a result and not the Home Screen, WTF?
* Subtitles are there even if you don't want them, changing settings is ignored by the device, ARE YOU SERIOUS ?

Whenever Apple loudly advertises a new Version of its OS, FROM NOW ON I WILL WAIT AT LEAST FOR 6 MONTHS in order to let them fix their brand new bugs (LMFAO)

Updates are meant to make things better.
The world is laughing at Apple for this deployment quality.

Where is QA's Head at?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
5097842 Avatar
15 months ago

Just because Support & Feedback might miss it:

TVOS18.0 is also a nightmare...

Some bugs I discovered:

* Dialogue Boost is broken and deactivated is also much worse than it was before updating. Now you cannot watch movies without constantly adjusting the volume. SHUT THE FRONT DOOR !
* When leaving an app you get the Apple TV app as a result and not the Home Screen, WTF?
* Subtitles are there even if you don't want them, changing settings is ignored by the device, ARE YOU SERIOUS ?

Whenever Apple loudly advertises a new Version of its OS, FROM NOW ON I WILL WAIT AT LEAST FOR 6 MONTHS in order to let them fix their brand new bugs (LMFAO)

Updates are meant to make things better.
The world is laughing at Apple for this deployment quality.

Where is QA's Head at?
Not to discount your issues, but I have not have any of them on the 18 betas. Have you tried resetting the device? Why model are you using?

For example, I was shocked at how well Dialog Boost worked. Exiting goes to home, and no surprise subtitles. Not sure what a reset would do with an AppleTV, but may be worth a try.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)