Everything New in tvOS 26: Apple TV’s Big Redesign

Apple unveiled tvOS 26 at WWDC 2025 alongside iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS. While it often flies under the radar compared to iOS or macOS, this year’s tvOS update is a surprisingly robust one—and it’s not just about the shiny new Liquid Glass redesign. Here’s everything new in tvOS 26, explained in simple, user-friendly terms.

A New Look with Liquid Glass

Let’s start with the most noticeable change. Apple has brought its new Liquid Glass design to tvOS, just like it did with its other operating systems. The interface feels more modern and dynamic—buttons reflect light, menu bars subtly distort the background, and everything from the Control Center to the playback screens feels more immersive and alive.

Important Note: Liquid Glass is only available on Apple TV 4K (2nd and 3rd generation) models. Older Apple TVs will continue using the previous flat design.

Apple Music Sing Gets iPhone Karaoke Mode

tvOS 26 levels up the karaoke experience. With Apple Music Sing, your iPhone now becomes a wireless mic. Just scan a QR code, and your phone turns into a mic—complete with a mute button and emoji reactions.

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When you sing, your voice plays directly through the TV speakers. You’ll also get:

• Real-time lyrics on screen.
• Live emoji cheers from friends.
• Lyric translation and pronunciation tools, helping you sing in different languages.

This feature works only on Apple TV 4K (3rd gen) and iPhone 11 or later.

Profiles Automatically Show Up on Wake

Apple TV now automatically displays user profiles when waking up. No more manual switching—you’re instantly taken to your personal watchlist, Apple Music playlists, and content recommendations. This makes Apple TV feel smarter and more tailored, especially in households with multiple users.

App Logins Linked to Apple Account

Setting up a new Apple TV just became easier. With tvOS 26, supported apps can now log in using your Apple ID. That means no more typing passwords for every streaming app. Developers can implement this via a new API, making the setup process faster and more secure.

Apple TV App Gets Vertical Posters and Smarter Layout

The Apple TV app is also getting a visual and functional refresh. Vertical poster art now replaces traditional wide banners, allowing you to view more content at once.

Other improvements include:

• Smarter Watchlist layout.
• Labels showing streaming availability, episode duration, and “new” tags for fresh content.

A Redesigned Control Center

The Control Center gets the Liquid Glass upgrade too. It maintains the familiar four-tab layout (Profiles, Quick Controls, Apple Home, and VPN), but now features sleek visuals, soft reflections, and an immersive interface that matches the overall redesign.

FaceTime Enhancements

tvOS 26 improves the FaceTime experience on Apple TV. Here’s what’s new:

• Notifications for incoming calls (video and audio).
• Contact Posters that display a caller’s photo and name.
• Expanded Live Captions support in multiple languages including:
  • French
  • German
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Mandarin
  • Spanish

Permanent AirPlay Speaker Option

Previously, only select HomePods could be set as the default speaker. With tvOS 26, you can now set any AirPlay-compatible speaker—including third-party speakers and soundbars—as the permanent audio output. Ideal for enhanced audio setups.

Support for Dolby Atmos 9.1.6 and Passthrough Audio

For audiophiles, tvOS 26 introduces support for Dolby Atmos 9.1.6. This adds two additional speaker channels—one in front and one above—for a richer surround sound experience.

It also supports passthrough audio, which allows unprocessed sound to be sent directly to your AV receiver, ensuring pristine audio fidelity.

New Aerial Screensavers from India

Apple has added stunning new aerial screen savers from India, including scenic visuals from Goa and Kerala. For the first time, users can choose specific videos to display or hide, rather than disabling an entire screen saver category.

Smart Home Upgrades

tvOS 26 enhances Apple TV’s role as a Home Hub. It now supports Thread 1.4, which strengthens the mesh network between your smart devices. While this update didn’t introduce major new smart home features, it prepares Apple TV for better reliability with future Matter-compatible accessories.

Release Timeline and Compatibility

• Developer Beta: Available now
• Public Beta: Arriving in July
• Final Release: Scheduled for Fall 2025

Compatibility: tvOS 26 works with all Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD models, but advanced features like Liquid Glass and Karaoke Mic Mode require the latest hardware.

A Surprisingly Big Year for Apple TV

tvOS 26 may not grab headlines like iOS or macOS, but it delivers one of the most user-focused updates Apple TV has seen in years. From personalized profiles and karaoke fun to powerful audio upgrades and smart home readiness, Apple’s media hub is evolving—quietly, but confidently.

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