Everything you need to know about the Apple TV!
Version 5.0, updated May 15, 2025
Whether you're considering an Apple TV, already own one, or have a smart TV or streaming device that supports AirPlay and/or the Apple TV app, you can more fully enjoy Apple’s ecosystem with this ultimate guide. You'll learn about the best TVs and sound equipment to buy, how to maximize your Apple TV's picture quality, get the most out of the Apple TV app, control your media with AirPlay, and so much more!
With the fifth edition, Glenn Fleishman takes over updating this title from the original author, Josh Centers. Glenn walks you through cables, ports, and setup, and explains how to use gestures and spoken commands with the Siri Remote. He helps you navigate and customize the Home screen, plus describes getting-started settings such as inputting your Apple Account info and enabling parental controls.
You'll learn how to use the TV app (whether on the Apple TV box itself, on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad; or on a third-party smart TV), and how you can best view home movies and TV shows. The book also looks at using an Apple TV to listen to your music or Apple Music, download and play podcasts from the Podcasts app, and browse your photos.
In Take Control of Apple TV you'll also read about:
• What's new in tvOS 18
• Which Apple TV model to buy—or whether you should get different hardware instead
• Getting the most out of your the Siri Remote (either version)
• Using Control Center on an Apple TV
• Using a game controller with Apple TV
• Sorting through video formats and options like HDR and Dolby Vision
• Using AirPlay to beam the display of your Mac or iPhone screen to your TV
• Making Mac, iPhone, or iPad audio play through your TV’s speakers
• Making and receiving FaceTime calls on an Apple TV
• How the new Insight feature can show you extra info on actors and music
• Using SharePlay to watch shows with friends in other places
• Running Home Sharing to play media from a local computer
• Using one or more HomePods as speakers for your Apple TV
• Using an Apple Watch to control your Apple TV
• What you can do with Conference Room Display mode
• How to tell whether an iPhone/iPad app includes a free copy of its Apple TV version
• How to reset or restore an Apple TV—useful for troubleshooting or for handing your device to a new owner
Compatibility? This book covers the 4th-generation Apple TV (now called Apple TV HD) and the newer Apple TV 4K models. It does not cover earlier generations of Apple TV hardware.
