In comparison with the iPhone and its advanced capabilities, the Apple TV 4K is a comparatively easy gadget. You’ve obtained a easy Dwelling Display with massive icons, a number of menus throughout apps, and simply not a lot to arrange, actually.
Nonetheless, tvOS permits energy customers to customise sure UI parts, system conduct, the Siri Distant, and extra. Listed below are among the important settings tweaks that may assist you personalize your Apple TV expertise in as little as quarter-hour.
1. Customise the Siri Distant
Earlier than getting began, you’ll wish to be sure that your Apple TV’s bundled Siri Distant behaves as anticipated. Head to the Settings app and go to the Remotes and Units part. There, you possibly can optionally pace up or flip off the distant’s contact floor after testing its default sensitivity.
If you happen to don’t typically watch Apple TV+ content material, you might also wish to remap the Siri Distant’s TV button. By default, clicking it would launch the TV app, which homes TV+ and different appropriate streaming providers. When remapped through the identical Settings part, it’ll take you to the Dwelling Display as an alternative. This makes it sooner to go away apps or swap between them.
On the identical web page, scroll all the way down to the Dwelling Theater Management part and allow the Flip On Your TV with Your Distant toggle. This may allow you to management a appropriate show utilizing the Siri Distant, sparing you from needing separate remotes to your Apple TV 4K and the display itself.
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2. Join streaming providers (and never simply Apple’s)
As talked about above, the built-in TV app helps a variety of third-party streaming providers, together with Disney+, Paramount+, Max (sorry, HBO Max), Hulu, and extra. Some providers allow you to subscribe instantly from the TV app utilizing Apple’s billing, whereas others can hyperlink your present accounts. Regardless, by including your streaming providers to the TV app, you possibly can get pleasure from a common queue that surfaces your entire favourite films and collection.
3. Improve your setup with a HomePod (or two)
Apple is thought for its easily built-in ecosystem, and this may also help us to get next-level audio with the Apple TV.
If you happen to’re unhappy together with your TV’s built-in audio system and occur to have a HomePod or two mendacity round, you possibly can set them as much as wirelessly output Apple TV audio. Simply go to the Settings app and choose Video and Audio > Audio Output. On this web page, your HomePod or HomePod stereo pair ought to routinely seem as an out there choice. Merely set it because the default audio output gadget.
Not solely will this improve the sound high quality of content material you devour, however it’ll additionally allow you to management Apple TV media utilizing the HomePod’s touchscreen.
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4. Get extra correct audio and video
There are millions of distinctive TVs and audio system in the marketplace, providing varied specs and know-how. Naturally, the outputted colours and audio gained’t essentially be similar throughout the completely different fashions. That’s why we advise you to calibrate the colour stability and wi-fi audio sync on tvOS.
To take action, go to the Video and Audio web page within the Settings app. Towards the underside, you’ll discover a Calibration part housing the Shade Steadiness and Wi-fi Audio Sync choices. Deliver your iPhone near your Apple TV 4K and comply with the simple on-screen directions. The primary of these choices helps show correct colours when watching films and exhibits, whereas the second minimizes latency when counting on AirPlay or Bluetooth audio system for audio output.
5. Make the Dwelling Display be just right for you
Like iOS, tvOS has a Dwelling Display the place you possibly can see icons for each put in and offloaded apps. You possibly can faucet and maintain on an app icon to make it jiggle, then swipe in your Siri Distant’s contact floor to relocate it. It’s also possible to place an app icon on high of one other to create a brand new folder housing each.
If you happen to discover it laborious to determine which app is chosen when navigating by means of the dock, there’s a fast, everlasting repair. Go to Settings and choose Accessibility > Show. Underneath the Distinction part, you’ll discover a Focus Model menu. Choose the Excessive Distinction choice. This may add a white border round chosen apps on the Dwelling Display to make recognizing them much less difficult.
Now head again to the principle Settings web page and go to Customers and Accounts > [your name]. Underneath the iCloud part, toggle One Dwelling Display on. This may sync your present Dwelling Display structure to iCloud and apply it to present and future Apple TVs linked to your account.
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6. Keep away from that syncing feeling
If you happen to dwell with members of the family or flatmates, then chances are you’ll wish to watch out which iCloud images and movies sync to your Apple TV.
Head to Settings and choose Customers and Accounts > [your name]. Underneath iCloud, go to Images. There you possibly can determine whether or not the Images app on tvOS syncs your complete iCloud picture and video library, solely shared albums, or nothing in any respect.
It’s value noting that the Apple TV’s Images app gained’t present the Hidden album it doesn’t matter what setting you go for. If you happen to’re involved about a number of questionable photographs, you possibly can simply cover them utilizing your iPhone and show the remaining on the massive display.
7. Get pleasure from Apple’s lovely display savers
Like macOS, tvOS provides a wealthy library of display savers for when your Apple TV 4K is idle. To customise this function, launch Settings and go to Display Saver, then decide one of many 4 choices.
Aerials options movies taken in varied international locations and from outer area. In the meantime, the Reminiscences & Slideshows and Portraits choices allow you to show images out of your synced library. Lastly, Snoopy showcases customized animations of traditional cartoon characters.
It’s also possible to modify different display saver preferences through the identical Settings web page.
8. Lock out intruders
It might be an actual disgrace if somebody had been to take over your Apple TV 4K’s display and solid undesirable audio or video. Luckily, tvOS allows you to set mirroring boundaries effortlessly.
Open Settings and go to AirPlay and HomeKit > Enable Entry. The setting Everybody will let any close by iOS person detect and solid content material to your TV. Selecting it lets you optionally add a password to limit malicious customers close by.
Anybody on the Similar Community requires the caster’s iPhone to be linked to the identical router and equally helps password safety. Solely Folks Sharing This Dwelling is the most secure setting, as your Apple TV will solely be accessible to these you’ve added to your Dwelling app.
