One of the joys of owning an Apple TV is continually uncovering new capabilities, even after months of use. The rapidly expanding App Store and streamlined settings—requiring less navigation than on iPhone or iPad for iCloud or Bluetooth management—keep discoveries coming.
As Apple TV experts with years of hands-on testing, we've highlighted three standout features you might have overlooked. Dive in to unlock their potential.
Your Siri Remote unlocks advanced controls based on your TV model. For newer TVs with HDMI-CEC support, it handles volume adjustments without a second remote.
Enable HDMI-CEC, and you can turn your TV on/off alongside the Apple TV. A single press wakes both from sleep; exiting sleep mode powers down the TV too.
To activate: Follow HDMI-CEC setup for volume control, then in Settings > Remotes and Devices, set "Turn on your TV with your remote" to On. (Labeling varies by TV.) Adjust touch sensitivity here as well.
Apple TV supports app multitasking via a familiar app switcher, though it's under-discussed. Double-click the TV icon (Home button) on your Siri Remote—just like on iPhone.
Switch between recent apps effortlessly. Swipe up on any to close it, mirroring iOS behavior.
Note: tvOS 9.2 (upcoming at the time) refreshes the UI to match iOS 9, but functionality remains identical.Ideal for families, Apple TV lets you store and switch between multiple iTunes accounts, accessing everyone's purchases.
Whether it's TV shows from one account, a movie rental from another, or kids' content, all are available. Go to Settings > Accounts > iTunes and App Store, then select Add New Apple ID below your primary login. Switch anytime via this menu.
