Learn how to download and install the tvOS 26 beta or non-beta on your Apple TV to experience all the latest features and the new Liquid Glass design.
tvOS 26 adopts Apple’s new Liquid Glass design, which brings reflective user interface elements, plus new features such as turning your iPhone into a mic for Apple Music Sing karaoke sessions.
tvOS 26 is compatible with the Apple TV HD (2015) and all Apple TV 4K models (2017 and later). However, the new Liquid Glass design is only available on Apple TV 4K (2nd generation and later). If you don’t know which Apple TV you have, follow these steps to identify it.
Install tvOS 26 on your Apple TV HD or Apple TV 4K
1) Open the Settings app on your Apple TV and navigate to System > Software Update. Wait for a few seconds for this screen to load.
To get tvOS 26:
- Click Update Software and then download and install the new software version.
To get tvOS 26 beta:
- Go inside the Get Beta Updates option.
- Select tvOS 26 Developer Beta or tvOS 26 Public Beta.
- Click Get Beta Updates and then click Download and Install.
2) Your Apple TV will start downloading the tvOS 26 installer. You can continue using the device while the installer downloads in the background, or you can sit on this screen until the download finishes. Your Apple TV will automatically install tvOS 26 when it has finished downloading, which may take some time.
Don’t see the tvOS 26 developer beta installer?
Visit Apple’s developer website in your browser and sign in with your Apple account to enroll in the developer beta program. Wait a few minutes and then restart your Apple TV to register the changes. Next, go to Settings > System > Software Update, and there should be a tvOS beta option. For more information, refer to our guide about installing iOS 26 developer beta for first timers.
If you already use developer or public beta on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you should have no trouble installing it on your Apple TV as well.
Turn off tvOS 26 beta updates
To downgrade your Apple TV to the stable tvOS 26 software, go to Settings > System > Software Updates and turn off Get Beta Updates. When the next stable version of tvOS 26 arrives, your Apple TV will automatically download and install it, provided the Automatically Update option is set to On. You can also install the new update manually.
Also, check out: How to use FaceTime on your Apple TV