Step-by-step

Toggle Apple TV’S letterbox mode

1 Launch itunes

When you’re ready to watch a film you have a number of choices. One of the most popular is itunes which lets you buy or rent a host of movies. Launch this app on Apple TV.

2 Choose a movie

Search through the available films and select one you’d like to watch. Decide whether you’d like to preview, buy or rent the film. It will then play on your TV screen.

3 Check the format

If the movie has been filmed with an aspect ratio higher than your TV display (Black Panther, shown here, was released at 2.39:1), black bands will appear above and below.

4 Tap your remote

In order to fit the picture to your screen, thereby removing the letterbox format, you need to grab your Siri remote and lightly double-tap the touchpad. Don’t click it.

5 View full-screen

You will now see that the film is filling the full screen, with the black bars removed. If you don’t like what you’re seeing then just lightly double-tap the touchpad again.

6 Altering side bars

This Siri Remote feature also works if you are watching a film that is displaying with black bands to the sides of the screen, as we found when viewing the amazing Toy Story.