tvOS 18 is Apple’s new operating system for the Apple TV streaming media player and HomePod speakers. After a packed tvOS 17 update, tvOS 18 adds nice-to-have features. While iOS 18 is full of AI functions, here’s what Apple offers for its set-top-boxes.
tvOS 18 release date
tvoS 18 has been available since September 16, 2024. Its first beta was released on June 10, with a public beta made available the following month.
tvOS 18 features
These are all the features available with tvOS 18.
Apple TV app gets several improvements
To improve the Apple TV experience, Apple has added to tvOS 18 a few tweaks to the TV app, including:
- InSight: An Amazon Prime Video-like feature that displays timely information about actors, characters, and music from Apple TV+ movies and shows onscreen in real-time. Users can select an actor to view their background and filmography page or quickly view the song that is playing in a scene and add it to an Apple Music playlist.
- Enhance Dialogue: This feature is getting smarter, leveraging machine learning and computation audio to deliver greater vocal clarity over music, action, and background noise on Apple TV 4K. In addition to HomePod speakers, users can now enjoy Enhance Dialogue when listening through built-in TV or HDMI-connected speakers, AirPods, and other Bluetooth-connected devices, and when playing supported content on iPhone and iPad;
- Automatic subtitles: Subtitles now automatically appear at just the right moments with tvOS 18, including when the language in a show or film does not match the device language, when users mute or when they skip back while watching something. Here’s why this is a game-changing feature.
These Apple TV+ upgrades make the best streaming app even better.
New video formats, screen savers, and more
Later this year, tvOS 18 is bringing 21:9 support for those connecting an Apple TV to a projector for playing movies and shows. In addition, the company has introduced new screen savers, such as:
- Portraits (already available);
- TVs and Movies (with Snoopy and Foundation coming later this year)
For FaceTime with Continuity Camera, Apple adds Live Captions for English in the US and Canada, so users can read what others are saying on a FaceTime call from the TV.
Apple has also added a clever way to access Safari using the Apple TV. If you try to watch an Apple Vision Pro immersive video on your set-top box, Apple displays an “About Apple Vision Pro button.” It then opens an AirDrop page to send a Safari link to your iPhone or iPad to the company’s spatial computer page.
Apple Services and Home features
Apple Fitness+ has been redesigned in tvOS 18 to help users make the most of its library, stay motivated, and keep consistent with their fitness routine. Updates include a personalized For You space, Explore and Library spaces, search features, and enhanced awards.
In partnership with leading utilities, beginning with Pacific Gas & Electric Company in California, eligible users can easily view their electricity usage in the Home app’s Energy category when they connect their utility account.
The Home app also introduces guest access, providing users with convenient ways to grant guests control of locks, garage doors, and security systems; schedule individualized or time-based access to the home with smart locks; and view Activity History for guests
Photos app gets the biggest update to date
Apple has an ambitious plan for tvOS 18’s Photos app. With its redesign, Apple wants to make it easier for users to find and relive special moments. With a single-view display, it offers new collections to help users browse by themes without having to organize content into albums.
Collections can be pinned to keep favorites easily accessible. While there was a new carousel view, Apple removed it during the beta test in favor of a more simplified experience. Apple says that auto-playing content throughout the app brings libraries to life “so past moments can be enjoyed while browsing.”
Apple Music SharePlay
During tvOS 17.4 beta testing, Apple planned to add Apple Music SharePlay to Apple TV. Users would be able to add songs to a queue by scanning a QR Code. Unfortunately, Apple removed this feature, and even with tvOS 17.5, it didn’t bring it back.
For tvOS 18, Apple will reintroduce this feature, so anyone can share control of music playing from HomePod and HomePod mini using SharePlay and Apple Music. Apple explains: “To join a SharePlay session, users can simply bring an iPhone close to another iPhone — or scan the QR code in the Apple Music SharePlay window on another iPhone — to add songs to the playlist and control playback, even if they do not have an Apple Music subscription.”
In addition, Apple adds Spatial Audio support for AirPlay, so users can get an immersive audio experience when streaming audio from iPhone and iPad to HomePod and compatible third-party audio equipment.
Delayed features
tvOS 18 is now available, but some features will arrive at a later date:
- Robot vacuum cleaners are now compatible with the Home app, so they can participate in automation and scenes and can be activated by a user’s voice using Siri.
- Screen savers: Movies and TV screen savers are yet to be added;
- 21:9 support: When connecting your Apple TV to a projector, Apple will give an option to watch content in this frame.
Major software updates
Here are the main tvOS 18 software updates.
tvOS 18.1 features
Apple released tvOS 18.1 on October 28. This is a mild update with mostly bug fixes and security patches. However, there’s a new function available with this software.
As spotted by Apple TV aficionado Sigmund Judge, Apple is adding a Watchlist to tvOS 18.1. According to him, “The new Watchlist replicates content from Continue Watching, but only the content you have yet to watch. Continue Watching features both TV shows and movies you have yet to begin, and those you have.”
Apple Intelligence rumors
While it’s not on Apple’s current plans, the company might add in the near future Apple Intelligence features to its upcoming tvOS devices. According to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, Apple wants to improve its “mediocre performance” in smart homes by launching more accessories and adding Apple Intelligence.
Currently, the only operating systems that offer Apple Intelligence are iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Gurman reports that visionOS is also rumored to get AI features starting in 2025. However, it seems the company is also planning to do the same with tvOS. The journalist writes:
The company’s goal is to use its new Apple Intelligence platform to offer home automation on steroids, as well as precise control of applications, devices and media. A core piece of Apple Intelligence is a new App Intents system that allows the Siri digital assistant to manipulate features inside apps.
So far, Apple is expected to launch two smart displays in the coming years. The first one could launch as soon as 2025, and users could stream Apple TV+ content, make FaceTime calls, surf the web, and access Apple’s core apps, such as Calendar and Notes. This entry-level product could directly compete with Amazon Echo, and the company wants people to buy several of them, such as the HomePod mini.
In the near future, Cupertino wants to release a super-powered tabletop device, costing around $1,000, focusing on home security monitoring, advanced videoconferencing, and media playback with high-quality audio. With a swiveling robotic limb, this device would use Apple Intelligence to move around following you, use Center Stage capabilities, and more.
This could also hint at a future homeOS operating system.
tvOS 18 beta and public beta
tvOS 18 beta has been available to Apple TV users since June 10. A public beta was released on July 15. If you want to get the latest features before everyone else, you should keep running tvOS’ beta.
- Open the Apple TV Settings app
- Tap System, then Software Updates
- Select Get Beta Updates, agree with the terms, and select tvOS 18 Beta Developer or tvOS 18 Public Beta
- Update your TV to the latest version available
How can I download HomePod Software 18 beta
Unlike tvOS 18, Apple doesn’t offer a developer’s beta of the HomePod operating system. Alongside the public betas of iOS 18 and the other software updates, Cupertino released HomePod Software 18 as well.
This update brings the following features:
- Enhance Dialogue: This feature is getting smarter, leveraging machine learning and computation audio to deliver greater vocal clarity over music, action, and background noise on Apple TV 4K.
- AirPlay adds Spatial Audio so users can get an immersive audio experience, including support for Dolby Atmos, when using AirPlay to stream audio from iPhone and iPad to HomePod and compatible third-party audio equipment.
To download the public beta of HomePod Software 18, follow the steps below:
- After enrolling your Apple Account on the Apple Beta Software Program, open the Home app on your iPhone running iOS 18
- Tap the three dots in the upper right corner and select Home Settings
- Search for Software Update
- Tap HomePod Beta Updates
- Enable the beta updates for HomePod mini or HomePod 2.
Compatible Apple TV and HomePod models
Since Apple introduced tvOS, the company has supported all Apple TV models, starting with the 2015 HD version. The same is true for tvOS 18, and all previously supported devices are here:
- Apple TV HD (2015)
- Apple TV 4K (1st gen)
- Apple TV 4K (2nd gen)
- Apple TV 4K (3rd gen)
- HomePod (2018)
- HomePod mini (2020)
- HomePod 2 (2023)
