Put the tvOS beta on your Apple TV

Try out interface tweaks and other improvements to the little black box

REQUIRES

Apple TV (4th generation)

you will learn

How to receive public beta versions of tvOS.

IT WILL TAKE

15 minutes, depending on your internet connection

the latest tvOS is the easiest to install of all Apple’s public betas. There are no backups to make and no profiles to install; you only need the Apple ID you registered with the Apple Beta Software Program. See the steps to the right.

Rather than supplying feedback from your Apple TV, which would be tedious to enter using its Siri Remote, Apple expects you’ll also be running the iOS 11 public beta. Consequently, if you have bugs to report or suggestions to make about the tvOS beta, open Feedback Assistant on iOS 11 – you’ll find it on the Home screen, by entering at least some of its name in Spotlight, or by saying “Open Feedback Assistant” to Siri. Tap the new message icon, then choose your Apple TV under “Feedback for,” or tap Other Devices if you don’t see it listed there.

To restore your Apple TV to a non-beta version of tvOS, you’ll need a USB-C cable with the corresponding connector for your Mac at the other end. You’ll find steps to roll back at

Prepare Apple TV

In Settings > Accounts, sign in to iCloud, iTunes and App Store, or Game Center using your beta program Apple ID.

Opt in to betas

Go back to the top of Settings, then to System > Software Update and switch on Get Public Beta Updates.

Receive and install

In the same place, if Automatically Update is switched on, your Apple TV will receive public betas as part of that. Or, go to Settings > System > Software Updates > Update Software to check for and install the latest version right away.