The tvOS 26 update marks a significant leap forward for Apple TV, blending a sophisticated visual overhaul with powerful new features that make home entertainment more immersive, connected, and personal. Headlined by the introduction of Apple’s Liquid Glass interface, this update enhances the entire Apple TV experience with a sleek, modern aesthetic that reflects Apple’s broader design evolution across its platforms.

But tvOS 26 isn’t just about looks — it’s a functional upgrade that reshapes how users interact with their Apple TV. From smarter profiles and seamless login options to interactive karaoke with iPhone as a microphone, the update bridges entertainment and connectivity in fresh, intuitive ways. With enhancements that touch everything from FaceTime to music and developer tools, tvOS 26 confirms Apple’s commitment to making the living room a central hub for smart entertainment.

Liquid Glass Transforms the Apple TV Experience

The tvOS 26 update introduces Liquid Glass to the largest screen in the home, bringing a striking new design language that enhances the overall entertainment experience without distracting from the content. First introduced in other Apple operating systems, Liquid Glass uses real-time rendering and subtle environmental effects to create a fluid, depth-rich interface that adapts to what’s on screen. This marks the most visually significant redesign of tvOS to date.

On Apple TV, Liquid Glass surrounds menus, overlays, and UI elements with a semi-transparent sheen that reflects and refracts ambient color from the content in view. When adjusting volume, activating a sleep timer, or launching Control Center, users experience a visual language that stays out of the way yet remains elegantly present. It’s a step forward in blending user interface with storytelling, especially during high-action or cinematic scenes where even subtle UI changes can break immersion.

The Apple TV app also adopts the Liquid Glass aesthetic in its redesigned layout coming with the tvOS 26 update. Poster artwork for shows and movies is now framed by this new material, dynamically responding to background content with fluid transitions and real-time highlights. The result is a more immersive browsing experience that brings Apple’s attention to visual detail to the forefront.

For developers, Apple has extended access to this design material through updated SwiftUI APIs in the tvOS 26 SDK. App creators can now integrate Liquid Glass components directly into their tvOS interfaces, ensuring consistent visual behavior across third-party apps and native system elements. This is part of Apple’s broader effort to create a unified design environment across all platforms, tailored to the specific strengths of each device.

Smarter Profiles and a Redesigned Apple TV App

With the tvOS 26 update, a more personalized and intuitive experience comes to Apple TV, starting with an enhanced approach to profiles and a reimagined Apple TV app. These updates aim to reduce friction and make it easier for each user in the household to access their preferred content quickly, without repetitive logins or manual navigation.

One of the most noticeable changes is the option to automatically display profiles when Apple TV wakes. Instead of navigating through menus, users are presented with their personal profile the moment the system powers on. This ensures faster access to personalized recommendations, Watchlist entries, and Apple Music playlists. It also makes multi-user households feel more tailored, allowing each person’s entertainment experience to feel distinct and uninterrupted.

The Apple TV app itself receives a subtle but important redesign. It now showcases larger poster art and an updated interface that highlights more content at a glance. With support for Liquid Glass, the new layout adds a dynamic sense of depth and polish, helping artwork pop off the screen while remaining true to Apple’s minimalist design principles. Navigation is also more fluid, with smoother transitions and contextual content surfacing that make the app feel more like a living catalog than a static library.

Developers also benefit from a new login API introduced in the tvOS 26 update. This enables third-party apps to link authentication to a user’s Apple Account, streamlining the sign-in process across devices. When users upgrade or add a new Apple TV, their credentials for supported streaming apps follow them automatically, eliminating the need to re-enter passwords or codes. This change reflects Apple’s ongoing focus on reducing friction in the media consumption experience while strengthening privacy and account security.

FaceTime Enhancements Bring Greater Personalization and Accessibility

With tvOS 26, FaceTime on Apple TV becomes more intuitive and inclusive, delivering a range of thoughtful upgrades that strengthen its role in the living room. Chief among these is the introduction of Contact Posters, a feature borrowed from iOS that adds personality and context to calls. When a FaceTime session begins on Apple TV, users now see a contact’s custom photo and display name — a simple addition that immediately makes calls feel more personal and connected.

Beyond aesthetics, tvOS 26 also expands Live Captions in FaceTime to support six additional languages: French, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, and Spanish. Whether for accessibility needs or cross-language conversations, these on-device captions help everyone follow the conversation more clearly, especially in group calls or when audio clarity is limited. This enhancement underlines Apple’s commitment to accessibility and intelligent on-device processing.

The tvOS 26 update also brings new features that smooths the way for multi-device integration. For example, FaceTime audio and phone call notifications now appear onscreen for the currently active profile. Users can take a call directly from Apple TV using connected HomePod speakers, or transition the call to their iPhone with minimal interruption — ideal for moments when users prefer privacy or mobility. This continuity across Apple devices makes Apple TV feel like a natural extension of everyday communication rather than a separate experience.

Altogether, these upgrades make FaceTime on Apple TV more than a novelty. With richer visuals, real-time captions in multiple languages, and deeper integration with other Apple hardware, FaceTime evolves into a practical, reliable, and inclusive way to stay in touch — whether you’re on the couch with family or connecting with someone halfway around the world.

Apple Music Sing Turns iPhone Into the Ultimate Karaoke Mic

The tvOS 26 update takes group entertainment to the next level with significant updates to Apple Music Sing, transforming any living room into a spontaneous karaoke stage. Now, users can use their iPhone as a wireless microphone for Apple TV. Once paired, the iPhone not only amplifies the user’s voice through the TV’s audio system but also supports gestures like motion-based cues and on-screen effects, delivering a surprisingly fun and responsive experience.

This update brings a new level of presence to Sing sessions. Lyrics continue to animate in real time on the big screen, but now voices are seamlessly layered into the mix — no extra hardware needed. Friends can join in with their own iPhones, allowing multiple singers to queue up songs, react with emoji, or jump into a duet. The feature is especially appealing for parties or family nights, where simplicity and spontaneity are key.

tvOS 26 also expands Apple Music Sing’s language accessibility with Lyrics Translation and Pronunciation, allowing users to follow along even if the song is in a foreign language. This opens up international hits and deeper discovery across Apple Music’s vast catalog, without making language a barrier.

What sets this apart is how naturally it works across Apple’s ecosystem. From authentication to playback, the iPhone and Apple TV cooperate in real time — there’s no setup lag or awkward syncing. By turning a personal device into a shared entertainment tool, Apple not only makes karaoke easier, but far more engaging.

For developers, this feature reflects a broader trend toward real-time, multi-device experiences powered by Apple’s ecosystem. It hints at what’s possible when tvOS, iOS, and Apple Music operate in harmony — delighting users with entertainment that feels connected, effortless, and alive.

Extra Features That Enrich the Apple TV Experience

While tvOS 26 centers around visual refinement and deeper personalization, Apple has also packed in a thoughtful collection of enhancements that round out the home entertainment experience. These features may not grab headlines, but they quietly improve how Apple TV fits into daily life.

A standout update is the expanded Aerial screen saver collection. New locations filmed across India — including Goa and Kerala — bring breathtaking flyover views to the largest screen in the home. Users can now customize which categories (Cityscape, Earth, Landscape, Underwater) they want to see or hide, adding a layer of control over Apple TV’s ambient visuals.

For audio setup, tvOS 26 introduces the ability to designate any AirPlay-enabled speaker as the permanent audio output for Apple TV. This streamlines multi-room audio environments or setups involving third-party speakers, removing the need to manually reselect preferred output each time the device powers on.

Other quality-of-life improvements include minor but welcome adjustments to settings, Control Center behavior, and faster pairing with accessories — particularly helpful in households where Apple TV is shared among multiple users.

These additions reinforce Apple’s commitment to polish and usability. While they may not be as flashy as Liquid Glass or microphone handoff, they enhance how Apple TV behaves day-to-day — making entertainment not just better looking, but smarter, more intuitive, and ready for however users want to enjoy it.

The tvOS26 Update Brings A Smarter, More Immersive Apple TV

The upcoming tvOS 26 update isn’t a radical overhaul — it’s something better. It’s a confident refinement of the Apple TV experience that brings together visual elegance, practical enhancements, and a deeper sense of personalization. The introduction of Liquid Glass transforms the interface into something fluid and cinematic, while improved profiles and sign-in tools make everyday interactions feel more seamless. From immersive karaoke with friends to meaningful FaceTime moments and refined screen savers, the new tvOS 26 update touches every corner of the Apple TV ecosystem.

This update shows Apple doing what it does best: evolving its platforms with purpose, focusing on the little details that add up to something delightful. Whether you’re unwinding with a movie, sharing a song, or simply navigating the interface, tvOS 26 brings a renewed sense of polish and immersion to the heart of home entertainment.