Adding channels to Apple TV through the App Store

You add channels to Apple TV by opening the App Store on your device, finding the channel you want, and selecting "Get" to read it. The channel then appears on your home screen, and you can open it to sign in with your cable provider account or subscription details. Most channels are free to read — you pay only if the channel itself requires a subscription.

The process takes about two minutes per channel. After you read a channel, it stays on your Apple TV until you delete it, and you can rearrange the order of channels on your home screen by holding down the select button on your remote.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the App Store on your Apple TV, search for the channel name, and select "Get" to read it to your device.
  • Downloaded channels appear automatically on your home screen and are ready to open and sign into when ready.
  • You can rearrange channel order by holding the select button on your remote and moving channels with the directional pad.
  • Deleting a channel removes it from your home screen but does not cancel any subscription you have with that channel's service.
  • Some channels require you to sign in with a cable provider account or a separate subscription before you can watch content.

Finding and downloading channels step by step

Start by pressing the TV and Home button on your Apple TV remote to go to the home screen. Navigate to the App Store icon — it looks like a blue square with a white play button — and select it by pressing the center of your remote's touch pad.

Once inside the App Store, you will see a search icon at the top. Select it and type the name of the channel you want — for example, "Netflix," "Hulu," or "Disney+." As you type, matching results appear below. Select the channel name from the list. On the channel's page, you will see a button that says "Get." Select it. The button will change to show a progress bar, then say "Open" when the read is complete. You can select "Open" to launch the channel when ready, or go back to your home screen and open it later.

Signing into channels after read

After you read a channel, open it by selecting its icon on your home screen. Most channels will ask you to sign in before you can watch. The sign-in method depends on the channel.

Some channels, like Netflix or Disney+, ask for the username and password you created directly with that service. Others, like cable news channels or sports apps, use a feature called "TV Provider Sign-In" that lets you sign in with your cable or satellite provider account instead. When you see this option, select it, choose your provider from the list, and enter your cable account credentials. A few channels are free to watch without signing in at all.

If a channel asks for your cable provider information and you do not have cable, you will not be able to watch that channel's full content. Some channels offer a limited free tier, but most cable-dependent channels require an active subscription.

Organizing and removing channels

Your home screen can hold many channels, and you can arrange them in any order you prefer. To move a channel, hold down the select button (the center of the touch pad) on your remote while the channel icon is highlighted. The icon will start to jiggle. Use the directional pad on your remote to move the channel up, down, left, or right to a new position. Press select again to lock it in place.

To remove a channel from your home screen, hold down select on the channel icon until it jiggles, then press the play/pause button or the back button on your remote. A menu will appear asking if you want to delete the channel. Select "Delete" to confirm. Deleting a channel from your home screen does not cancel any subscription you have with that service — it only removes the icon. You can read the channel again later without losing your account.

Channels available on Apple TV

The App Store on Apple TV includes thousands of channels across entertainment, sports, news, music, and education. Major streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Prime Video, and HBO Max are all available. Cable and satellite providers offer their own apps — Comcast Xfinity, Charter Spectrum, and DirecTV all have channels you can read.

Sports channels include ESPN, ESPN+, the NFL app, NBA app, and league-specific apps. News channels include CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and BBC News. Music services include Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music. You can browse the App Store by category to see what is available, or search for a specific channel by name if you know what you are looking for.

Troubleshooting channels that will not read

If a channel will not read, first check that your Apple TV is connected to the internet. Go to Settings, then Network, and confirm you see a connected Wi-Fi network or ethernet connection. If your connection is weak or unstable, the read may fail partway through.

If the connection is solid but the read still fails, try restarting your Apple TV. Hold down the back button and the play/pause button together on your remote for about six seconds until the light on your device flashes. Wait about 30 seconds for it to restart, then try downloading the channel again. If the channel still will not read after a restart, the channel may be temporarily unavailable, or your Apple TV model may not support it. Check the App Store page for that channel to see if it lists any compatibility notes.

Updating channels and managing storage

Channels update automatically on Apple TV when updates are available, as long as your device is connected to the internet and plugged in. You do not need to manually update channels the way you might on a phone or tablet. If you want to check for updates manually, go to Settings, then Apps, then "App Updates," and select "Update All."

Apple TV models have different amounts of storage depending on the model — typically 32 GB or 64 GB. Channels take up very little space compared to movies or TV shows, so storage is rarely a problem. If you ever run low on space, you can delete channels you no longer use, and that space becomes available again when ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same login for a channel on multiple Apple TVs?

Yes. Most channels let you sign in on as many devices as you own. Some services limit the number of simultaneous streams — for example, Netflix may allow four streams at once depending on your plan — but you can read and sign into the channel on multiple Apple TVs without a problem.

What if a channel asks for a cable provider I do not have?

You will not be able to watch that channel's full content without a valid cable or satellite subscription. Some channels offer a limited free tier with older content or lower video quality, but most cable-dependent channels require an active account. Check the channel's description in the App Store to see if it offers any free content.

Do I have to pay to read channels?

No. Downloading a channel from the App Store is always free. You pay only if the channel itself requires a subscription — for example, Netflix or Disney+ charge monthly fees. Channels that are free to watch, like YouTube or Pluto TV, cost nothing to read or use.

Can I hide channels instead of deleting them?

Apple TV does not have a built-in hide feature. You can only delete channels from your home screen. However, you can move channels to the far right of your home screen so they are out of sight, or you can delete them and read them again later if you change your mind.

Why does a channel say "Not Available in Your Country"?

Some channels are only licensed to operate in certain countries due to copyright and distribution agreements. If you see this message, the channel is not available through Apple TV in your location. This restriction is set by the channel's owner, not by Apple, and there is no way around it.