How to Install TvOS 15 Public Beta on Apple TV
While you may not think too often about the software that runs on your Apple TV, Apple releases major updates every year. In Fall 2021, Apple will release tvOS 15, which will bring some quality of life improvements to Apple TV: you can finally sign in to apps using Face ID on your iPhone, for example, not to mention Spatial Audio support for AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. and SharePlay support for watching movies and TV shows with your FaceTime friends on your iPh0ne.
If you don’t want to wait until fall to try these features, install the tvOS Public Beta. However, since this is a beta version, it will not be smooth as you may experience issues or freezes. Also, there is no way to restore the latest Apple TV 4K if something goes wrong, so you’ll have to wait for a software update to fix the error.
You can restore your original 2015 Apple TV HD, which we’ll talk about below.
Sounds great? Then let’s talk about installing the tvOS beta on your Apple TV.
How to download tvOS 15 public beta on Apple TV
To access the tvOS Public Beta, you need to sign up for Apple’s Public Beta Program. Once registered, your Apple TV can receive beta updates over the air. You don’t need to connect your Apple TV to your computer to do this – all you need to do is register your Apple ID with the Apple Public Beta Program.
Open the Apple Public Beta Program website on your computer and click Sign Up. Then sign in with your Apple ID (the same Apple ID you use with your Apple TV). Accept the program terms and conditions and that’s all you need to do on the website.
Now switch to Apple TV. First, make sure you are using the same Apple ID on your Apple TV. To do this, open the “Settings” application and go to the ” Accounts ” section. From here, go to iCloud , iTunes & App Store , or Game Center . Make sure your Apple ID is the same and you’re done.
Then, in the Settings app, choose System > Software Update , turn on Get Public Beta Updates , and agree to the terms.
Once enabled, your Apple TV will begin receiving public beta updates for tvOS 15. To install the public beta, go to Settings> System> Software Update and click the Update Software button . In the pop-up window, select Download and Install .
Now you can just let your Apple TV do its thing. It will download, install and restart your Apple TV. Once that is done, you will be working with tvOS 15.
What are the new features in tvOS 15?
If you have AirPods and HomePod minis, the tvOS 15 update will make your life so much better. tvOS 15 finally supports Apple AirPods’ auto-connect feature (you’ll see an on-screen notification to help you quickly connect your AirPods). In addition, AirPods Pro and AirPods Max will have access to Spatial Audio for immersive listening in supported apps. And you can use two HomePod minis in a stereo pair.
There is also built-in support for the SharePlay function. If you are using iOS 15 on your iPhone and are watching something with your friends over FaceTime, you should be able to move media to Apple TV without any problems while continuing the conversation on your iPhone. The playback and media controls will still be in sync with the rest of the group call.
And as we mentioned, you will be able to sign in to apps using Face ID on your iPhone (using the iCloud Keychain).
How to restore your Apple TV
If you’re having issues with the tvOS public beta, you can try restoring your Apple TV HD (this doesn’t work with 4K models).
- Disconnect the HDMI cable and power cable from your Apple TV and connect it to your Mac with a USB-C cable (best if you’re using macOS Catalina or higher).
- Open Finder on your Mac and select Apple TV in the sidebar. Here select the “Restore” option.
- Follow the instructions to complete the recovery process.
If you’re using a Mac with macOS Mojave or earlier, or a PC, you’ll need to use iTunes to restore your Apple TV (here, choose Apple TV from the list of sources).
What devices does tvOS 15 support?
tvOS 15 supports all three major Apple TVs that come with a Siri remote (with touchpad). Here’s a list:
- Apple TV HD (2015)
- Apple TV 4K (2017)
- Apple TV 4K (2021)