You might think you know what to do with Apple TV but if your idea of the benefits of an Apple TV is basically video streaming and audio, and maybe in small games you are selling a device with a short term. Apple TV is full of amazing, hidden features. Here are the top 15 things you probably didn’t know you could do with an Apple TV.
Tips in this article from Apple to 4th generation Apple TV and Apple TV 4K running iOS 11 and 12 .
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Find Free Streaming Options
If you’re looking for something to watch, don’t search inside apps. If you’re using Apple TV’s universal voice search, it checks every installed app to let you know your options. There may even be a free way to watch a TV show or movie that you didn’t know existed.
To find content this way, hold the button Siri on the remote control and say «Show me [название того, что вы ищете]». Select your item from the results that appear at the bottom of the screen. On the search results screen, look for string » Available» under the description of your options. Click » Open in», to launch the video in the app of your choice.
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Don’t miss to hear the dialogue
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With Apple TV, you’ll never miss slurred or otherwise hard-to-hear dialogue. If you miss what one character says to another, hold the button Siri on the Siri Remote and say «what did he say?» The video will skip a few seconds back, turn on subtitles temporarily, and increase the volume.
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Fast forward or rewind accurately with Siri
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Want to skip forward exactly 102 seconds in a movie or TV show, or go back 8 minutes? You can do this with Siri and Apple TV. Just click and hold the button Siri on the Siri remote and tell the Apple TV what you want: «go back 2 minutes», «skip forward 90 seconds», etc.
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Access to subtitles and audio settings
Much of the content available on Apple TV has optional subtitles. To access them, start watching any video and swipe down on the Siri Remote. Select » Subtitles», and then swipe to the desired language. Click on the remote to turn on subtitles in that language.
Subtitles aren’t the only options you can access this way. If you choose » Audio» you will be able to control the spoken language of the video you are watching. You can also access audio settings such as volume leveling to reduce loud sounds and select the speakers that audio is sent to, including HomePods .
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Control your HDTV with your Apple TV remote
Forget the need for multiple remotes to control different parts of your TV. If you have an Apple TV, you can use its Siri remote to power parts of your TV. With the right settings, Siri Remote can turn on your TV, receiver, and Apple TV at the same time, and control the volume on your TV (or Sonos system with some restrictions).
To do this, go to Settings» > » Main» > » Consoles and devices» . First switch menu » Control of TVs and receivers » on the » On» . Then click volume control and select the desired option.
Select auto, if you are not sure.
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Show your iPhone, iPad or Mac on your TV
With Apple TV, you can project your iPhone, iPad, or Mac onto your HDTV. This feature is great for viewing photos on a big screen, playing videos from your device, or giving presentations. For this you need to use AirPlay Mirroring a feature built into iOS, macOS, and tvOS.
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Use dark mode at night
The Apple TV interface is full of big, bright, eye-catching colors and images. But it’s not necessarily better if you’re watching in the dark. In this case, you may prefer a more subdued look. You can get it with Apple TV dark mode. Turn this on and your home screen design will be darker and more suitable for low light viewing.
To enable Apple TV Dark Mode, select » Settings» > » Appearance» > » Dark» .
Select » Automatically», to have your Apple TV switch to dark mode at night.
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Use Apple TV to control your smart home
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To automate your home with internet-connected smart home devices like thermostats, lights, and cameras, you need a hub smart home . A hub helps devices communicate with each other and allows them to be controlled over the Internet. For smart home devices that use Apple Homekit standard you don’t need a separate device—your Apple TV can play the role for you.
To turn on Apple TV smart home features, go to » Settings» > » Accounts» > » iCloud» > to toggle » My house» on the » Connected» .
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Pairing Bluetooth Headphones, Game Controllers and Keyboards
Apple Inc.
Apple TV supports all kinds accessories Bluetooth including keyboards, wireless headphones, and game controllers. If you have a Bluetooth accessory, you can connect it to your Apple TV. Put your accessory into pairing mode, then go to » Settings» > » Remote Devices and Devices» > » Bluetooth» and select the accessory you need to plug . If your device requires a pairing PIN, enter it.
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Use your iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch as a remote control
If you lose remote control management Siri or just don’t want to use it, you can use your iPhone, iPad, or even Apple Watch as a remote control. For iPad and Apple Watch, you’ll need a free Appendix Apple Remote (For the watch, you need to install Remote on the iPhone that the watch is connected to). If you have an iPhone running iOS 11 and above, Apple TV controls are built right into Control center .
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Use any remote control, not just the Siri remote
Logitech Harmony remotes.
Logitech
If your Apple TV is part of a home theater system, you probably have a universal remote that controls all of your components. You can use it to control Apple TV instead of relying on Siri Remote or an app. You will need to help the Apple TV «learn» the options, features, and buttons of your universal remote.
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Launch screensavers with the remote
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Gorgeous hypnotic Apple TV screensavers appear after a few minutes of inactivity, but you can launch them right away with your Siri remote. To do this, go to the Apple TV home screen and go to the top left corner of the screen. Then click button menu on the remote control.
Pressing the «Menu» button on the main screen will automatically move you to the top left corner.
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Make Apple TV a business tool with a conference room display
Apple Inc.
Apple TV makes a great addition to offices. Because AirPlay lets you project your computer or device onto your TV, Apple TV makes it easy to give presentations on the big screen. When you set your Apple TV to conference room display mode, the TV is available for anyone to connect and use. In this mode, the screen saver and connection instructions are displayed on the TV screen.
To enable this, go to » Settings» > » Air Play» > » Conference room display» and switch » Conference room display» on the » On» .
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Reboot using the remote control
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Just like an iPhone or computer, sometimes you need to restart your Apple TV to fix problems. An option in the Settings app will do this, but you can save yourself a few clicks by rebooting with Siri Remote. To do this, simultaneously press and hold the » Home» and » Menu» on the remote until the light on the front of your Apple TV starts flashing. Then release the buttons and the Apple TV will restart.
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Sync multiple Apple TVs
If you have multiple Apple TVs, you probably want them to have the same set of apps and options. However, you don’t need to organize or sync them manually. With the One Home Screen feature, you don’t have to worry about that. Turn this option on and all Apple TVs using the same account iCloud, are automatically synced for installed applications, their location, folders, etc.
To enable one home screen, go to Settings > Accounts > iCloud and switching one Home screen on the On .