Finding and Installing Apps on Your Apple TV
You read apps on Apple TV through the App Store, which is built into your device. Open the App Store from your home screen, search for the app you want, and select "Get" to read it. The app installs automatically and appears on your home screen once it finishes. Most apps are free, though some charge a one-time fee or require a subscription to use them.
The process takes the same Apple ID you use for iPhone, iPad, or Mac. If you do not have an Apple ID yet, you can create one during setup or through your other Apple devices. Your Apple TV remembers your ID, so you only sign in once.
Key Takeaways
- Open the App Store from your Apple TV home screen, search by name or category, and select "Get" to read any app.
- Downloaded apps appear automatically on your home screen and stay there until you delete them.
- You need an Apple ID to read apps, and it should match the one on your other Apple devices so purchases and subscriptions sync across them.
- Some apps are free to read but charge a monthly subscription fee to watch content, so check the app description before installing.
- If an app does not appear after you select "Get", check your internet connection and restart your Apple TV.
Step-by-Step: Downloading Your First App
Start on your Apple TV home screen. Scroll to the top and select the App Store icon—it looks like a blue square with a white play button. The App Store opens to a home page showing featured apps and categories.
Use the search function at the top of the App Store to find the app you want. Type the app name using your remote or connected keyboard. Results appear as you type. Select the app from the list to open its detail page, which shows the app name, description, screenshots, and reviews from other users.
On the detail page, select the button that says "Get". If the app costs money, the button shows the price instead. After you select "Get", you may be asked to confirm your purchase using your Apple ID password or Face ID. Enter your password or authenticate with your face, and the read begins when ready.
The app downloads in the background while you use your Apple TV. Once it finishes, the "Get" button changes to "Open". You can select "Open" to launch the app right away, or wait for it to appear on your home screen. The app stays on your home screen until you delete it manually.
Managing Your Apple ID and Purchases
Your Apple ID is the account that owns all your apps and subscriptions. When you first set up your Apple TV, you sign in with your Apple ID. If you share your Apple TV with family members, each person can have their own Apple ID, and each person's apps and subscriptions stay separate.
To check which Apple ID is signed in, go to Settings on your home screen, select Users and Accounts, and then select your account name. You see the email address associated with your Apple ID. If you want to sign in with a different Apple ID, select Sign Out and then sign in with the other account.
If you buy an app or subscribe to a service, the charge goes to the payment method on file for that Apple ID. You can view your purchase history and manage subscriptions by going to Settings > Users and Accounts > your account name > Media & Purchases. From there, select View Account to see what you have bought and what subscriptions are active.
Troubleshooting Apps That Won't read
If you select "Get" but the app does not appear on your home screen after several minutes, check your internet connection first. Go to Settings > Network and confirm your Apple TV is connected to Wi-Fi. If the connection is weak or drops, the read may pause or fail. Move your Apple TV closer to your router or restart your router and try again.
If your connection is strong, restart your Apple TV. Hold the Menu button on your remote for a few seconds until the home screen dims, then release. Your Apple TV shuts down and restarts. Once it comes back on, check the App Store again—the app may have finished downloading in the background.
Some apps are not available in all regions or on all Apple TV models. If you search for an app and it does not appear in the App Store, it may not be available where you are or on your device. Check the app's official website or support page to confirm it works with your Apple TV model.
If you see an error message during read, note the exact message and restart your Apple TV. If the error persists, sign out of your Apple ID, restart again, and sign back in. This refreshes your account connection and often clears temporary read problems.
Organizing and Deleting Apps
Once apps are on your home screen, you can move them around to organize them however you like. Press and hold the app icon with your remote until a menu appears. Select Move and use your remote to drag the app to a new position. Press the center button on your remote to confirm the new location.
To delete an app, press and hold its icon until the menu appears, then select Delete. Confirm the deletion when prompted. Deleting an app removes it from your home screen but does not cancel any subscription associated with it. If you paid for the app or have an active subscription, you need to cancel the subscription separately through your account settings to stop being charged.
You can also create folders to group apps by category. Press and hold an app, select Move, and drag it on top of another app. Your Apple TV creates a folder and asks you to name it. You can add more apps to the folder by dragging them into it the same way.
Understanding Free vs. Paid Apps and Subscriptions
Most apps in the App Store are free to read. Free apps may show ads, offer in-app purchases, or require a subscription to access their full content. Always read the app description before downloading to understand what you get for free and what costs extra.
Some apps charge a one-time fee to read—you pay once and own the app forever with no recurring charges. The price appears on the "Get" button instead of the word "Get". Other apps are free to read but charge a monthly or yearly subscription to use them. Streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu work this way.
If an app offers a free trial, the trial period is listed in the app description. Your subscription starts automatically when the trial ends, and you are charged the regular price unless you cancel before the trial expires. You can cancel a subscription anytime through your account settings, and you keep access until the current billing period ends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I read the same app on multiple Apple TVs with one Apple ID?
Yes. If you sign in with the same Apple ID on multiple Apple TVs, you can read the same apps on all of them. Your subscriptions also work across all devices signed in with that Apple ID, so you only pay once for a subscription and can use it on any of your Apple TVs.
What happens if I delete an app and want to read it again?
You can read it again for free anytime. Go to the App Store, search for the app, and select "Get" just like the first time. If the app cost money originally, you do not pay again—your previous purchase is remembered. If the app has a subscription, you need to reactivate the subscription after reinstalling.
Why does an app say "Open" instead of "Get" when I search for it?
The app is already downloaded on your Apple TV. Select "Open" to launch it. If you want to remove it from your home screen, press and hold the app icon and select "Delete". You can always read it again later without paying a second time.
Do I need a strong internet connection to read apps?
You need a stable Wi-Fi connection to read apps, but the connection does not need to be extremely fast. A standard home Wi-Fi network works fine. If your connection drops during a read, the read pauses and resumes when you reconnect. Very large apps may take several minutes to read on slower connections.
Can family members read apps with their own Apple IDs on a shared Apple TV?
Yes. Each family member can sign in with their own Apple ID and read apps to their own account. Apps downloaded by one person appear in that person's section of the home screen. You can set up multiple user accounts in Settings > Users and Accounts, and each account keeps its own apps and subscriptions separate.