Learn how to open and use Control Center on your Apple TV to access important settings, controls, and options without going to the Settings app.
The use for Control Center on Apple TV is the same as iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch, which is to give users direct access to important settings. But unlike iOS, watchOS, and macOS, you cannot manually add or remove items from your Apple TV Control Center.
Open the Apple TV Control Center
Press and hold the TV button on your Siri Remote for a second or two to bring up the Control Center on your Apple TV HD or Apple TV 4K. If you use your iPhone or iPad as the Apple TV Remote, press the TV button on the remote screen.
Like with other Apple devices, Control Center on Apple TV can be summoned while you’re using an app or interacting with the tvOS user interface.
Tabs in the Control Center
User profile and General settings tabs are always visible in the tvOS Control Center. But other tabs like Home, AirPods, Now Playing, VPN, and more appear conditionally if that specific option is active. Note that the time is always shown in the Control Center.
You can switch to other tabs by pressing the left and right buttons or swiping horizontally on the Siri Remote after opening the Control Center.
User profile
You can select another user from this tab if you have added them. For instance, when you are watching Apple TV, you can select your profile.
Having different profiles ensures that the Up Next video list, recommendations, video and music collections, and more are customized for each user.
General settings
This can be considered the most important tab, as it has several important options. You will always see this tab when you open the Control Center.
Power Off: Turn off your Apple TV (and the connected television).
Wi-Fi: Displays the name of the network you’re connected to. If you click it, you will go directly to the TV’s network settings.
Audio: Choose an audio output speaker like the television speakers, AirPods, HomePod, or something else for your Apple TV.
Do Not Disturb: Turn on DND to stop all alerts. Unlike iPhone and Mac, Apple TV just has a Do Not Disturb option, and not a full-fledged Focus mode.
Timer: Use it to set your Apple TV to turn off automatically after a chosen time, like an hour or two. If you like falling asleep while watching TV, this feature is a must to ensure your TV does not keep playing for the entire night. To cancel the timer, select this option again, followed by Cancel Timer.
Controller: Use it to quickly connect gaming controllers to your Apple TV.
Accessibility settings: You can triple-press the iPhone side button to quickly access the Accessibility Shortcuts screen. The Accessibility option in the tvOS Control Center has a similar motive. The first time you click it, you can go to the Settings app and then check the Accessibility feature you plan on using often. After that, those Accessibility options can be enabled and disabled easily from the Control Center.
Restrictions: Turn off or on restrictions on your Apple TV.
Search: Trigger the search feature to find movies, TV shows, and songs across apps. I conduct most of the searches on my Apple TV using Siri. But if you prefer to browse your search results (laid out in content groups like Movies, Apps, TV Shows, etc.), you can use the search option instead.
Home
You will see the Home tab if you have created a HomeKit scene in the Home app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac or if you have set up a HomeKit or Matter-compatible security camera. Go to this tab to access and use your HomeKit scenes and see the camera view.
Now Playing
You will see this tab when music is playing on Apple Music, Spotify, or other such apps. It does not appear when you’re watching TV, YouTube, or videos.
AirPods or earphone connection
This tab appears if you have AirPods, Beats, or other wireless Bluetooth headphones connected to your Apple TV. Use this to manage their settings. For instance, if you have connected AirPods Pro, you can adjust the Noise Control. You can also share your TV audio with two AirPods from here.
Continuity Camera controls
You will see this tab when you use your iPhone or iPad as a camera for your Apple TV for FaceTime, Zoom, or other video calls. In addition to showing the live camera feed, it lets you manage Continuity Camera settings like Center Stage, Portrait Mode, and video call reactions.
FaceTime controls
When you are on a FaceTime call, select the FaceTime icon in the Apple TV Control Center to move the call to your other device.
Incoming FaceTime video or audio call
If you get a FaceTime call on your Apple TV, the respective video call or audio call icon appears in Control Center.
Manage SharePlay settings if you are watching videos or listening to songs together with friends over FaceTime.
VPN settings
You will see this when you are using a VPN on your Apple TV.
Close Control Center
Press the back or TV button on the Siri Remote to go out of the Apple TV Control Center.
On a related note: Where is that on Apple TV?