Apple today released the brand new tvOS 26 version for the Apple TV 4K set-top box. The update is available for Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD users, although not all features are available on older hardware generations.
The new update includes a set of visual design changes to harmonise with Apple’s platform-wide Liquid Glass design system, new karaoke features for Apple Music Sing, a new profile switching UI, and more. Here’s everything new …
To install the new software, open the Settings app on your Apple TV and navigate to System -> Software Update.
You can install tvOS 26 on any Apple TV (2015 or later), but not all features are available on older devices. For instance, all the new Liquid Glass effects require the second-generation Apple TV 4K and newer.
After installing the update, here’s all the new features to enjoy:
Liquid Glass redesign
All of Apple’s operating systems get a design overhaul this year, although the changes for tvOS are generally subtle. The new Liquid Glass material can be seen in Control Center, and as the background for the buttons in the system video player interface. Liquid Glass reflects and refracts light, just like how glass behaves in the real world.
When you are in any app, hold the TV button on the remote to open Control Center and you can see how the platters distort the content behind, with blur and refraction effects. It’s a more sophisticated appearance than the simpler blurs found in previous OS versions, and looks especially great on OLED TVs.
You can also enjoy an updated set of app icons, matching their iOS 26 counterparts. Even the edges of the home screen dock sparkle, thanks to Liquid Glass.
The TV app on Apple TV has received a sweeping design update, incorporating Liquid Glass and other changes to make it feel like a modern video streaming app. The biggest difference is the switch from landscape to portrait poster artwork when displaying lists of movies and TV shows. You also get a nice new visual treatment for the numbers in Top 10 lists.
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