If you've ever tried entering a complex password on your Apple TV, you know the pain. That default linear keyboard layout has you swiping endlessly left and right, hunting for characters like you're playing some sort of tedious game show.
Here's a secret that'll save your sanity: You can switch to a grid layout that actually makes sense. Head to Settings ➝ General ➝ Keyboard Layout and swap from Linear to Grid. After that, your on-screen keyboard will transform from a horizontal nightmare into a sensible square arrangement.
Perhaps you're asking "why didn't I know this sooner?" Indeed, it's one of those useful Apple TV settings that are hiding in plain sight. The grid layout feels infinitely more natural, especially if you're used to typing on literally any other device made in the past decade.
Of course, you've got other options too. Siri can handle voice dictation for most text entry, assuming you don't mind potentially shouting your Disney+ password across the living room. And if your iPhone or iPad is signed into the same Apple Account, you'll get a notification to type on your phone's keyboard instead.
But when you're stuck using the Apple TV remote itself, that grid keyboard is a game-changer. It's the kind of simple tweak that makes you appreciate Apple's attention to user experience, even if it doesn't explicitly tell you that an alternative exists.
The setting applies immediately, so you don't need to restart anything or jump through additional hoops. Just switch it once and forget about it.
