The fastest way to search on Apple TV
Open the Apple TV app and tap the Search icon at the bottom of the screen — it looks like a magnifying glass. Type the name of a show, movie, actor, or director using the on-screen keyboard. Results appear as you type, organized by category: shows, movies, people, and channels. Tap any result to open its details page.
On a Mac or web browser, go to tv.apple.com, click the Search icon in the top right, and type the same way. On an Apple TV box connected to your television, use the Siri Remote: press and hold the microphone button and say the title or actor name aloud. Siri will search and show matches on your screen.
Key Takeaways
- The Search icon at the bottom of the Apple TV app opens a text field where you can type show titles, movie names, actors, or directors.
- Results sort into categories — shows, movies, people, and channels — so you can narrow down what you are looking for without extra steps.
- On an Apple TV box, hold down the microphone button on your Siri Remote and speak the title or name instead of typing.
- Searching across Apple TV shows results from both free and paid content, including Apple TV+ subscriptions and third-party channels you may have added.
Searching by show or movie title
Type the full name or part of the name — Apple TV will show matches as you type. If you are looking for "The Morning Show," typing "morning" will bring it up. The app does not require you to spell the entire title correctly; partial matches appear in the results.
Once results load, look at the category labels under each result. A result labeled "Show" is a series; one labeled "Movie" is a film. Tap the result to see the full description, runtime, cast, and where to watch it — whether it is included with Apple TV+, available to rent or buy, or free through a channel you subscribe to.
Searching by actor or director name
Type an actor's or director's name into the search field the same way you would a title. Apple TV groups results by the person's name, then lists shows and movies they appear in or directed. This is useful if you remember an actor but not the title, or if you want to see everything someone has worked on.
Tap the actor or director's name at the top of the results to see their full profile, which includes their filmography, biography, and links to all their work available on Apple TV. From there you can browse their shows and movies without running a new search.
Narrowing results with filters
After you search, the results page shows a row of filter buttons: "All," "Shows," "Movies," "People," and "Channels." Tap "Shows" to see only television series, or "Movies" to see only films. This cuts through results when you know what type of content you want but the search returned a mix.
The "Channels" filter shows results from specific streaming services you have added to Apple TV — like HBO, Paramount+, or others. If you subscribe to multiple channels and want to search within one, this filter narrows the results to that channel alone.
Using voice search on Apple TV boxes
If you have an Apple TV box (4th generation or later) connected to your television, hold down the microphone button on the Siri Remote. Speak the show title, movie name, or actor name clearly. Siri will search Apple TV and display results on your screen within a few seconds.
Voice search works best with exact or near-exact titles — saying "Game of Thrones" will find it faster than saying "that show with dragons." If Siri does not understand your first attempt, try again with a different phrasing or switch to typing on the on-screen keyboard instead.
What to do when search returns no results
If a show or movie does not appear in search results, it may not be available on Apple TV at all, or it may be available only in certain regions. Try searching for the actor or director instead — sometimes a title search fails because of spelling variations or regional naming differences.
You can also check the Apple TV+ catalog directly by browsing categories like "TV Shows," "Movies," or "Originals" without searching. If you know the content exists but search is not finding it, the title may be available through a third-party channel you have not yet added to your Apple TV app.
Searching on Mac and web browsers
On a Mac, open the Apple TV app and click the Search icon in the top right corner. On a web browser at tv.apple.com, the Search icon is also in the top right. Type your query the same way as on iPhone or iPad. Results appear in the same categories: shows, movies, people, and channels.
Web search on tv.apple.com works best in Chrome, Safari, and Edge. Results load faster on a computer than on mobile devices, and you can click directly to watch or rent content without navigating through additional screens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I search for content within a specific channel?
Yes. After you search, tap the "Channels" filter to see results only from channels you subscribe to. You can also open a specific channel's app directly and search within that app instead of searching across all of Apple TV.
Does Apple TV search show both free and paid content?
Yes. Search results include shows and movies you can watch free with Apple TV+, content you can rent or buy, and content available through third-party channels. The details page for each result shows where it is available and what it costs.
Why does my search not find a show I know exists?
The show may not be available in your region, or it may be available only through a channel you have not added to Apple TV yet. Try searching for an actor from the show instead, or browse the channel's app directly if you know which service carries it.
Can I search by genre instead of title?
Apple TV search works by title, actor, director, and channel name — not by genre. To browse by genre, use the category tabs at the bottom of the app: tap "TV Shows" or "Movies," then look for genre filters within those sections.
Does voice search work on iPhone and iPad?
No. Voice search through Siri Remote works only on Apple TV boxes. On iPhone and iPad, use the on-screen keyboard to type your search instead.