The simplest way to get apps on Apple TV
You read apps to Apple TV through the App Store, which is built into your TV and works like the App Store on an iPhone. You find the app you want, press a button to read it, and it installs automatically. The whole process takes a few minutes and requires nothing but your TV remote and an Apple ID — the same account you use for iCloud or iTunes.
Apple TV has two versions of the operating system, tvOS, and the steps differ slightly depending on which one you have. If your Apple TV is from 2015 or later, you almost certainly have the current version. The process is the same either way: open App Store, search for what you want, and read.
Key Takeaways
- You read apps directly from the App Store on your Apple TV using the remote, without needing a computer or phone.
- You need an Apple ID signed into your Apple TV before you can read anything, and it must be the same account you use on other Apple devices.
- Most apps read and install in under a minute, and you can delete them just as easily if you change your mind.
- Some apps are free, and some cost money — the price shows in the App Store before you read, and you pay through the Apple ID account on your TV.
Finding and downloading an app step by step
Start by pressing the Home button on your Apple TV remote to go to the main screen. Look for the App Store icon — it looks like a blue square with a white plus sign — and click on it. The App Store opens to a home page showing featured apps and categories.
To find a specific app, look for the search icon at the top of the screen and click it. Type the name of the app using the remote keyboard. The remote has a touchpad at the top that lets you swipe to move the cursor, or you can use the arrow buttons to move letter by letter. Once you type the app name, results appear below, and you click the one you want.
When you open the app's page, you see a description, screenshots, and a button that either says "Get" (for free apps) or shows a price (for paid apps). Click that button. If it is a paid app, you may be asked to confirm the purchase using your Apple ID password. Enter your password, and the read starts when ready.
The app downloads and installs in the background — you do not have to wait. Once it finishes, the button changes to "Open" or shows a cloud icon with a down arrow, meaning the app is ready to use. You can click "Open" to start it right away, or go back to the home screen and find it in your apps list.
Setting up your Apple ID before you read
If you have not signed into an Apple ID on your Apple TV yet, you need to do that first. Go to Settings on the home screen, then select Users and Accounts, and choose Add User or Sign In. You can use an existing Apple ID or create a new one during this step.
If you already have an Apple ID from an iPhone, Mac, or iPad, use that same account. This way, any apps you bought on those devices are already yours on Apple TV, and you do not pay for them again. If you do not have an Apple ID, you can create one during sign-in by choosing "Create New Apple ID" and following the prompts.
Once you sign in, your account stays on the TV, and you can read apps anytime without signing in again. If multiple people use the TV, each person can have their own account, and each account has its own set of downloaded apps.
Understanding free versus paid apps
Most apps in the Apple TV App Store are free, including Netflix, Disney+, YouTube, and Apple TV+. When you click "Get" on a free app, it downloads when ready without asking for payment. You may still need to sign into the app itself with your account for that service — for example, you read Netflix for free, but then sign in with your Netflix username and password to watch.
Some apps cost money, usually between $2 and $15. The price appears on the app's page before you read. When you click the price button, you are asked to confirm the purchase with your Apple ID password. The charge goes to the payment method linked to your Apple ID, and you own the app permanently — you can delete it and read it again anytime without paying twice.
A few apps use a subscription model, meaning you pay a monthly or yearly fee to use them. These show "Subscribe" instead of a price, and you can cancel the subscription anytime in your account settings.
What to do if an app will not read
If a read stalls or fails, the most common fix is to restart your Apple TV. Unplug it from power for 10 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for it to start up. Then try downloading the app again.
If the app still will not read, check that you have enough storage space. Apple TV has limited storage, and if it is full, downloads fail. Go to Settings, then About, and look at the available storage. If you are running low, delete apps you no longer use. Click and hold on an app from the home screen, select Delete, and confirm.
If the read starts but never finishes, sign out of your Apple ID and sign back in. Go to Settings, Users and Accounts, select your account, and choose Sign Out. Then sign back in with your password. This refreshes your connection to the App Store and often fixes stuck downloads.
Managing apps after you read them
Once an app is on your Apple TV, it appears on the home screen or in your apps library. To move an app on the home screen, click and hold it with the remote, and you can drag it to a new position. To delete an app, click and hold it and select Delete. Deleting an app removes it from your TV but does not remove it from your Apple ID account — you can read it again anytime for free.
If you have multiple user accounts on your TV, each person sees only the apps they downloaded. You can share purchased apps across accounts by going to Settings, Users and Accounts, and turning on "Sharing and Purchases." This lets family members use apps bought by the main account holder without downloading them separately.
Updates to apps happen automatically if you have automatic updates turned on. Go to Settings, Apps, and look for "Automatic Updates." If it is on, your apps stay current without you having to do anything. If you turn it off, you can update apps manually by going to the App Store, clicking your account icon, and selecting "Update All."
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a computer to read apps to Apple TV?
No. You read apps directly on the TV using the remote. You do not need a computer, phone, or any other device. Everything happens through the App Store that is built into your Apple TV.
Can I use a different Apple ID on my Apple TV than the one on my iPhone?
Yes, you can sign into a different Apple ID on your Apple TV. However, apps you bought on your iPhone with a different account will not automatically appear on the TV. You would need to read them again using the Apple TV account, and you may have to pay for them a second time if they are paid apps.
What happens if I delete an app by mistake?
You can read it again anytime for free. Deleting an app does not remove it from your Apple ID account, so you just go back to the App Store, search for it, and click Get. Your account remembers you owned it.
Why does an app say it is not available in my country?
Some apps are only sold in certain countries due to licensing or legal restrictions. If an app shows "Not Available," it means the developer has not made it available in your region. You cannot read it on Apple TV, but you may be able to use it on a phone or computer if you travel to a country where it is available.
Can I read apps on Apple TV if I do not have internet?
No. Your Apple TV must be connected to the internet to read apps from the App Store. Once an app is downloaded and installed, you can use it offline if the app itself supports offline use — for example, some games work without internet, but streaming apps like Netflix require internet to play content.