Apple TV 4K may look basic at first, but it has a lot of strong features to make it your own. Fine-tuning the settings on your Apple TV can make a big difference in how much you like watching it, whether you’re a casual viewer or a tech-savvy fan. Here are eight important Apple TV settings that you should pay attention to, including how to make the Siri Remote work better and how to improve audio and video quality.
Table of Contents
Optimize the Siri Remote for Better Control
The Siri Remote is the main means to control Apple TV, so it’s important that it works the way you want it to. To change the sensitivity of the touch surface or turn it off, go to Settings > Remotes and Devices. You may also change the TV button so that it takes you straight to the Home Screen instead of the TV app. If you don’t utilise Apple TV+, this adjustment makes it easier to switch between apps and skip Apple’s content portal.
In addition, turn on “Turn On Your TV with Your Remote” under the Home Theatre Control section to use the Siri Remote to control your TV. It’s an easy modification that gets rid of the requirement for more than one remote.
Connect Your Favorite Streaming Services
The Apple TV app can show more than just Apple content. It works with big third-party services like Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Max, and others. When you link your subscriptions in the TV app, all of your series and films will be queued up in one place. Whether you sign up with Apple or use your existing account, you’ll have a more unified and easy-to-use browsing experience.
Pair Your Apple TV with HomePods for Premium Sound
Pairing your Apple TV with a HomePod or HomePod stereo pair is a game-changer for people who desire an immersive audio experience. To change the setting, go to Settings > Video and Audio > Audio Output. This not only improves the sound quality, but it also lets you utilise the HomePod’s touch controls to play back music. It’s an easy way to add Apple’s ecosystem for high-quality home entertainment.
Calibrate Audio and Video for Accuracy
Different TVs and speakers might cause colours not to match and audio to be delayed. The built-in calibration tools on Apple TV assist in fixing this. Go to Settings > Video and Audio, then scroll down to Calibration. You can run Colour Balance and Wireless Audio Sync on your iPhone. These technologies make sure that your audio and video are in sync, especially when you use Bluetooth or wireless speakers.
Personalize the Home Screen and App Layout
Your Home Screen should show what you like to watch. You can move app icons around on the Siri Remote just like you can on an iPhone. You can also put apps in folders to make it easier to find them.
To make it simpler to find certain programs, go to Settings > Accessibility > Display and turn on High Contrast Focus Style. This option puts a white border around the icon you chose. Also, go to Settings > Users and Accounts > [Your Name] and turn on One Home Screen. This keeps the layout the same on all of your Apple TVs that are connected to your iCloud account.
Manage Photo Syncing for Privacy
Be careful what photos show up in the Photos app if you share your Apple TV with other people. To choose whether the device shows your whole photo library, shared albums, or nothing at all, go to Settings > Users and Accounts > [Your Name] > iCloud > Photos.
Keep in mind that Apple TV won’t reveal hidden photographs, even if they are in your iCloud library. You can quickly control what people can see by hiding sensitive content on your iPhone.
Customize Your Screen Savers
Apple TV has a lot of beautiful screen savers, from aerial panoramas and landscapes of space to slideshows of your own photos. To choose from alternatives like Aerials, Memories & Slideshows, Portraits, or the Snoopy animations, go to Settings > Screen Saver. You can also change when the screen saver starts and how it works when you’re not using the computer.
Restrict Unauthorized AirPlay Access
Change the AirPlay access settings on your Apple TV to stop people from sending unwanted content to it. Go to Settings > AirPlay and HomeKit > Allow Access.
- Everyone can connect to any nearby device, but you can set a password.
- Anyone on the Same Network lets you have more control and still lets you use passwords.
- Only People Sharing This Home is the safest option because it only lets people in your Apple Home app access it.
Final Thoughts
If you take a few minutes to tweak your Apple TV settings, your streaming experience will be much better. These modifications allow you more control and enjoyment of your entertainment system, from better visuals to better sound and privacy settings. These settings are worth the brief setup, whether you’re new to Apple or have been using it for a while.
