Finding and Installing Apps on Your Apple TV

To read an app on Apple TV, open the App Store from your home screen, search for the app you want, and press the select button to install it. The app downloads automatically and appears on your home screen within seconds to a few minutes, depending on the app size and your internet speed. You do not need to manually start the installation or confirm it afterward—Apple TV handles the entire process once you select the app.

The App Store is built into every Apple TV device. You do not need to buy anything or create a separate account beyond your existing Apple ID, which you set up when you first configured your Apple TV.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the App Store from your Apple TV home screen, then use the search function to find the app you want to read.
  • Select the app from the search results and press the select button on your remote to start the read when ready.
  • Downloaded apps appear on your home screen automatically and are ready to open as soon as the installation finishes.
  • You can delete apps by pressing and holding the select button on any app icon, then choosing remove from the menu that appears.
  • Your Apple TV must be connected to the internet and signed in with an Apple ID to read apps.

Opening the App Store on Your Apple TV

From your Apple TV home screen, look for the App Store icon. It looks like a blue square with a white plus sign inside. Press the select button on your remote to open it. The App Store home page shows featured apps, categories, and a search option at the top of the screen.

If you do not see the App Store icon on your home screen, you may have removed it. To restore it, go to Settings, then Apps, then App Store, and select the option to show it on your home screen.

Searching for and Selecting an App

Once the App Store is open, navigate to the search option at the top of the screen and press select. A keyboard appears on your screen. Use your remote to highlight each letter of the app name you want, pressing select after each letter. For example, if you want to read Netflix, highlight N, then E, then T, and so on.

As you type, the App Store shows matching results below the keyboard. When you see the app you want, press select to highlight it, then press select again to open its detail page. The detail page shows the app name, description, reviews, and a button labeled "Get" or showing a cloud icon if you have downloaded it before.

Installing the App

On the app detail page, press select on the "Get" button. The button changes to show a progress bar as the app downloads. Most apps finish downloading within 30 seconds to 2 minutes, though larger apps like games may take longer depending on your internet speed. You do not need to do anything else—the read happens automatically in the background.

Once the read finishes, the button changes to "Open." You can press select to open the app when ready, or press the menu button on your remote to return to the home screen. The app now appears as a new icon on your home screen and is ready to use whenever you want.

Managing Your Downloaded Apps

Downloaded apps stay on your Apple TV until you remove them. To delete an app, navigate to its icon on your home screen, press and hold the select button for about three seconds, and a menu appears with a "Remove" option. Press select on "Remove" to delete the app. Removing an app frees up storage space on your Apple TV, but you can always read it again later from the App Store.

To organize your home screen, you can move apps around by pressing and holding select on an app icon, then using your remote to drag it to a new position. This helps you keep the apps you use most often in straightforward-to-reach spots.

Troubleshooting read Problems

If an app stops downloading or fails to install, 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, move your Apple TV closer to your router or restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds.

If the app still will not read, restart your Apple TV by going to Settings, then System, then Restart. Wait for your Apple TV to turn back on and reconnect to the internet, then try downloading the app again. If a specific app continues to fail, the app itself may be temporarily unavailable—try searching for it again in a few hours.

What to Do If You Run Out of Storage Space

Apple TV devices have limited storage, and downloading many large apps can fill it up. If you see a message that storage is full, delete apps you no longer use. Press and hold select on an app icon, choose "Remove," and confirm. Deleting even a few apps usually frees up enough space to read new ones.

You can check how much storage you have used by going to Settings, then General, then About. The storage information shows how much space is available. If you regularly read and delete apps, you may need to remove older apps to make room for new ones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pay for apps on Apple TV?

Most apps are free to read from the App Store. Some apps charge a one-time purchase price or require a subscription to use all features. The price, if any, appears on the app detail page before you press the "Get" button, so you always know the cost before you read.

Can I read apps on my iPhone and have them appear on my Apple TV?

No. Apps must be downloaded directly on your Apple TV through the App Store on that device. However, if you have already downloaded an app on your Apple TV and sign in with the same Apple ID on another device, that app may be available to read on the other device as well, depending on the app.

Why is my app read stuck or very slow?

Slow downloads usually mean your internet connection is weak. Check that your Apple TV is connected to Wi-Fi and that no other devices are using a lot of bandwidth. If your connection is still slow, restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds, then try downloading again.

What happens if I delete an app and then want it back?

You can read it again anytime from the App Store. Go to the App Store, search for the app by name, and press select on the "Get" button just as you did the first time. Your settings and saved data within the app may not return unless the app stores that information in the cloud.

Can I read apps without an Apple ID?

No. You must be signed in with an Apple ID to read any app from the App Store. If you do not have an Apple ID, you can create one for free on Apple's website or during the initial setup of your Apple TV.