The fastest way to disconnect Apple TV from your iPhone
To disconnect Apple TV from your iPhone, open the Apple TV app on your phone, tap your profile icon in the top right corner, select your account, and tap Sign Out. This removes your Apple ID from the app and stops syncing between the devices. If you want to keep using Apple TV on other devices, signing out of just the iPhone app is all you need to do.
If you are trying to stop AirPlay streaming from your iPhone to an Apple TV box connected to your television, the process is different — you would swipe up from the bottom of your iPhone screen to open Control Center, tap the AirPlay icon, and select a different device or turn off AirPlay entirely.
Key Takeaways
- Signing out of the Apple TV app on your iPhone removes your account from that device without affecting your account on other devices.
- Open the Apple TV app, tap your profile icon, select your account, and choose Sign Out to disconnect.
- If you want to stop streaming video to an Apple TV box via AirPlay, use Control Center on your iPhone instead of the app settings.
- After signing out, you can sign back in anytime with your Apple ID and password.
Signing out of the Apple TV app on your iPhone
The Apple TV app stores your account information on your phone so it can remember your watch history, recommendations, and purchases. Signing out erases that information from the device. Open the Apple TV app and look for the profile icon — it usually appears as a circle with your initials or photo in the top right corner of the screen.
Tap the profile icon, then tap your name or Apple ID email address at the top of the menu. You will see an option that says Sign Out. Tap it, and the app will ask you to confirm. After you confirm, your account is removed from that iPhone, and the app will show the sign-in screen the next time you open it.
What happens after you sign out
Once you sign out, the Apple TV app on your iPhone no longer syncs with your account. Your watch history, saved shows, and purchases stay tied to your Apple ID in the cloud, so they will reappear if you sign back in later on any device. The app itself remains installed on your phone — you are just removing your account from it.
Other devices using the same Apple ID are not affected. If you have Apple TV on your iPad, Mac, or Apple TV box, those devices will continue to work normally with your account. Signing out of one device only disconnects that specific phone.
Stopping AirPlay streaming to an Apple TV box
If you are trying to stop sending video or audio from your iPhone to an Apple TV device connected to your television, you need to turn off AirPlay rather than sign out of the app. Swipe up from the bottom of your iPhone screen to open Control Center — on newer iPhones without a home button, swipe down from the top right corner instead.
Look for the AirPlay icon, which looks like a triangle with a rectangle underneath it. Tap it to see a list of available devices. Select your iPhone or a different device to stop streaming to the Apple TV box. You can also tap Turn Off AirPlay if that option appears.
Removing Apple TV from your iPhone entirely
If you do not want the Apple TV app on your iPhone at all, you can delete it like any other app. Press and hold the Apple TV app icon on your home screen, tap Remove App, and then tap Delete App to confirm. The app will be removed from your phone, though you can reinstall it from the App Store anytime.
Deleting the app does not affect your Apple TV account or any other devices. Your watch history and purchases remain saved to your Apple ID. When you reinstall the app and sign back in, everything will be there.
If you forgot your Apple ID password
If you want to sign out but cannot remember your Apple ID password, you can still disconnect the app. On the sign-out confirmation screen, you may see an option to sign out without entering your password, depending on your iPhone model and iOS version. If you are stuck, you can delete the app instead, which removes your account from the device without needing a password.
To reset your Apple ID password, visit iforgot.apple.com on any web browser, enter your Apple ID email, and follow the steps to verify your identity. You can use a recovery email, phone number, or security questions. Once your password is reset, you can sign back into the Apple TV app on your iPhone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will signing out of Apple TV on my iPhone delete my watch history?
No. Your watch history, saved shows, and purchases are stored with your Apple ID in the cloud, not on your phone. Signing out only removes your account from that device. When you sign back in on any device, your history will be there.
Can I sign out of Apple TV on my iPhone without knowing my password?
Yes, in most cases. The sign-out confirmation screen often lets you disconnect without re-entering your password. If it requires a password and you do not have it, you can delete the app instead, which removes your account from the device.
Does signing out of Apple TV on my iPhone affect my Apple TV subscription?
No. Your subscription is tied to your Apple ID, not to any single device. Signing out of the app on your iPhone does not cancel your subscription or affect it on other devices.
How do I stop my iPhone from automatically connecting to my Apple TV box?
Turn off AirPlay on your iPhone by opening Control Center and tapping the AirPlay icon, then selecting a different device or turning off AirPlay. You can also turn off AirPlay on your Apple TV box itself through its settings menu.