Apple has seeded the first beta of an upcoming tvOS 16 software update to its public beta testing group, giving non-developers a chance to try out the new Apple TV software ahead of its official release in the fall.

apple tv 4k design triad
tvOS 16 brings several new features to ‌Apple TV‌. tvOS 16 enables cross-device connectivity, a feature that allows developers to integrate ‌‌Apple TV‌‌ apps with iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch apps to unlock new experiences on the TV. Apple has also improved how multiple user profiles work in tvOS 16 by adding a shared keychain, so users won't need to sign in and choose their profile when launching an ‌‌Apple TV‌‌ app.

Game controller support has been expanded to the Nintendo Joy-Cons and Pro Controller, and HDR10+ support is available in the tvOS 16 ‌‌Apple TV‌‌ app. With tvOS 16, the ‌‌Apple TV‌‌ will support Matter, an upcoming standard that will improve interoperability between smart home accessories from different companies.

Before you rush to install the tvOS 16 beta, it's worth remembering that this is pre-release software, so don't expect things to work 100 percent trouble-free. Apple has released relatively stable beta versions of its operating systems this year, but beta software is inherently unstable, as it contains bugs and issues that have yet to be ironed out. Still interested? Then read on.

Is tvOS 16 Compatible With My Apple TV?

tvOS 16 is designed to run on the fourth and fifth-generation ‌Apple TV‌ models (‌Apple TV‌ HD and ‌Apple TV‌ 4K, respectively). It is not compatible with earlier versions of the ‌Apple TV‌, because those models do not support tvOS.

How to Enroll in the Apple Beta Software Program

To download and install the tvOS 16 beta, you must enroll in the free Apple Beta Software Program. If you're already enrolled, you can skip these steps and jump to the next section.

  1. Open Apple's Safari browser on a computer or iOS device and navigate to the Apple Beta Software Program.
  2. Tap the blue Sign up button, or, if you're already a member, click Sign in in the top-right of the webpage.
  3. beta oses

  4. Enter your Apple ID credentials and tap the Sign in button.
  5. Agree to the Apple Beta Software Program terms and conditions if necessary.

How to Download and Install tvOS 16 on Apple TV

Once you're enrolled in the Apple Beta Software Program, you'll need to carry out the following steps on your ‌Apple TV‌.

  1. From your ‌Apple TV‌, click through to Settings > Accounts.
  2. Under ‌Apple ID‌, sign into at least one of the account options (iCloud, iTunes and App Store, or Game Center) with the same ‌Apple ID‌ that you used to register for the Apple Beta Software Program.
  3. On your ‌Apple TV‌, click through to Settings > System > Software Updates.
    apple tv software updates

  4. Click Get Beta Updates to turn it on.
  5. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the process.

Your ‌Apple TV‌ should automatically download and install the latest public beta software if you have Automatically Update turned on in the Software Updates settings, but you can always manually check for updates by clicking through to Settings > System > Software Updates > Update Software.

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

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Lower Logo Feature 1

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Monday June 30, 2025 1:08 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are less than three months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max in September this year. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an...
Apple Watch Ultra Night Mode Screen

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Launching Later This Year With Two Key Upgrades

Wednesday July 2, 2025 1:13 pm PDT by
The long wait for an Apple Watch Ultra 3 appears to be nearly over, and it is rumored to feature both satellite connectivity and 5G support. Apple Watch Ultra's existing Night Mode In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is on track to launch this year with "significant" new features, including satellite connectivity, which would let you...
iPhone 17 Pro Lower Logo Magsafe

iPhone 17 Pro's New MagSafe Design Revealed in Leaked Photo

Wednesday July 2, 2025 8:37 am PDT by
The upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are rumored to have a slightly different MagSafe magnet layout compared to existing iPhone models, and a leaked photo has offered a closer look at the supposed new design. The leaker Majin Bu today shared a photo of alleged MagSafe magnet arrays for third-party iPhone 17 Pro cases. On existing iPhone models with MagSafe, the magnets form a...
Wi Fi WiFi General Feature

iOS 26 Adds a Useful New Wi-Fi Feature to Your iPhone

Wednesday July 2, 2025 6:36 am PDT by
iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 add a smaller yet useful Wi-Fi feature to iPhones and iPads. As spotted by Creative Strategies analyst Max Weinbach, sign-in details for captive Wi-Fi networks are now synced across iPhones and iPads running iOS 26 and iPadOS 26. For example, while Weinbach was staying at a Hilton hotel, his iPhone prompted him to fill in Wi-Fi details from his iPad that was already...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Max Battery Capacity Leaked

Thursday July 3, 2025 5:40 am PDT by
The iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature the biggest ever battery in an iPhone, according to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital." In a new post, the leaker listed the battery capacities of the iPhone 11 Pro Max through to the iPhone 16 Pro Max, and added that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will feature a battery capacity of 5,000mAh: iPhone 11 Pro Max: 3,969mAh iPhone 12 Pro Max: 3,687mAh...
iOS 18

Apple Releases Second iOS 18.6 Public Beta

Tuesday July 1, 2025 10:19 am PDT by
Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 updates to public beta testers, with the betas coming just a day after Apple provided the betas to developers. Apple has also released a second beta of macOS Sequoia 15.6. Testers who have signed up for beta updates through Apple's beta site can download iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 from the Settings app on a compatible...
maxresdefault

New MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Spotted in Apple Code

Monday June 30, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
Apple is developing a MacBook with the A18 Pro chip, according to findings in backend code uncovered by MacRumors. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Earlier today, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip. The machine is expected to feature a 13-inch display, the A18 Pro chip, and color options...