Apple Releases tvOS 26.1

by

Apple today released tvOS 26.1, an update to the tvOS 26 operating system that came out in September. tvOS 26.1 is available on the Apple TV 4K and the ‌Apple TV‌ HD models, but Liquid Glass is only available on the second-generation ‌Apple TV‌ 4K or later.

tvOS 26 Feature
tvOS 26 can be downloaded using the Settings app on the ‌‌‌Apple TV‌‌‌. Open up Settings and go to System > Software Update to get the new software. ‌‌‌Apple TV‌‌‌ owners who have automatic software updates activated will be upgraded to tvOS 26.1 automatically.

Apple shares release notes for tvOS in its tvOS support document when new versions are released, but no new features were found during the beta testing process.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: Apple TV and Home Theater

Popular Stories

Apple Wallet ID Illinois

Apple Plans to Expand iPhone Driver's Licenses to These 7 U.S. States

Wednesday December 24, 2025 8:40 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future. To set up the...
Read Full Article • 48 comments
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Next Year With These 12 New Features

Tuesday December 23, 2025 8:36 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another nine months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models. The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras Under-screen Face ID Front camera in...
Read Full Article • 96 comments
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Adds These 8 New Features to Your iPhone

Monday December 22, 2025 8:47 am PST by
Earlier this month, Apple released iOS 26.2, following more than a month of beta testing. It is a big update, with many new features and changes for iPhones. iOS 26.2 adds a Liquid Glass slider for the Lock Screen's clock, offline lyrics in Apple Music, and more. Below, we have highlighted a total of eight new features. Liquid Glass Slider on Lock Screen A new slider in the Lock...
Read Full Article
maxresdefault

Where's the New Apple TV?

Monday December 22, 2025 11:30 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Apple TV 4K since 2022, and 2025 was supposed to be the year that we got a refresh. There were rumors suggesting Apple would release the new Apple TV before the end of 2025, but it looks like that's not going to happen now. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said several times across 2024 and 2025 that Apple would...
Read Full Article • 170 comments
maxresdefault

10 Mac Apps Worth Trying in 2026

Wednesday December 24, 2025 9:27 am PST by
2026 is almost upon us, and a new year is a good time to try out some new apps. We've rounded up 10 excellent Mac apps that are worth checking out. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Alt-Tab (Free) - Alt-Tab brings a Windows-style alt + tab thumbnail preview option to the Mac. You can see a full window preview of open apps and app windows. One Thing (Free) -...
Read Full Article • 93 comments
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Iridescent Search

Samsung Developing 'Wide Fold' With iPhone Fold-Like Design Ahead of Apple's 2026 Launch

Tuesday December 23, 2025 11:55 am PST by
Samsung is working on a new foldable smartphone that's wider and shorter than the models that it's released before, according to Korean news site ETNews. The "Wide Fold" will compete with Apple's iPhone Fold that's set to launch in September 2026. Samsung's existing Galaxy Z Fold7 display is 6.5 inches when closed, and 8 inches when open, with a 21:9 aspect ratio when folded and a 20:18...
Read Full Article • 89 comments
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 Brings AirPods-Like Pairing to Third-Party Devices in EU Under DMA

Monday December 22, 2025 3:20 pm PST by
The European Commission today praised the interoperability changes that Apple is introducing in iOS 26.3, once again crediting the Digital Markets Act (DMA) with bringing "new opportunities" to European users and developers. The Digital Markets Act requires Apple to provide third-party accessories with the same capabilities and access to device features that Apple's own products get. In iOS...
Read Full Article • 100 comments
iphone fold 3d print

Have a 3D Printer? You Can Make Your Own iPhone Fold Dummy

Tuesday December 23, 2025 1:31 pm PST by
Apple is working on a foldable iPhone that's set to come out in September 2026, and rumors suggest that it will have a display that's around 5.4 inches when closed and 7.6 inches when open. Exact measurements vary based on rumors, but one 3D designer has created a mockup based on what we've heard so far. On MakerWorld, a user named Subsy has uploaded a 1:1 iPhone Fold replica (via Macworld), ...
Read Full Article • 125 comments
iPhone Fold Vertical Feature

Why Apple's Foldable iPhone May Be Smaller Than Expected

Tuesday December 23, 2025 5:21 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone, rumored for release next year, may turn out to be smaller than most people imagine, if a recent report is anything to go by. According to The Information, the outer display on the book-style device will measure just 5.3 inches – that's smaller than the 5.4-inch screen on the ‌iPhone‌ mini, a line Apple discontinued in 2022 due to poor sales. The report has led ...
Read Full Article • 203 comments

Top Rated Comments

Radeon85 Avatar
Radeon85
8 weeks ago
iOS 26 and 26.1 are horrible on the Apple TV 4K 2nd gen, the UI is just a laggy stuttery mess. 18 ran very smoothly in comparison. They really should have dropped liquid glass for the 2nd generation because the A12 GPU can't handle it very well whatsoever.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
F23 Avatar
F23
8 weeks ago
give us an Apple TV with M5 chip Tim, turn it into a gaming console Timmy
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Radeon85 Avatar
Radeon85
8 weeks ago
The 3rd gen Apple TV 4K is using the A15, the 2nd gen is using the much older A12, the A12 simply can't render the effects smoothly enough, the A15 shouldn't have any issues as it's significantly faster than the A12. When playing back content, there are no issues at all there, it's just the home screen UI that's stuttery and a little laggy.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
xnsys Avatar
xnsys
8 weeks ago
This Liquid Glass is so cool that you can actually see it being implemented in various menus, like in the AppleTV app, if you go up to Library menu, you can see it being drawn, like it has to work it out...
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Baritone_Guy Avatar
Baritone_Guy
8 weeks ago

iOS 26 and 26.1 are horrible on the Apple TV 4K 2nd gen, the UI is just a laggy stuttery mess. 18 ran very smoothly in comparison. They really should have dropped liquid glass for the 2nd generation because the A12 GPU can't handle it very well whatsoever.

I appreciate your report and am so happy I'd kept my ATV 4K 1st gen units on "manual update mode".

I still have an Apple TV HD so definitely no liquid glass, but it is the oldest device that can still run 26 and 26.1, the UI on that actually runs a lot smoother, a device 10 years old running the A8 CPU which is nuts. I love liquid glass, but I wish we could fully disable it on these older devices. I did try turning on "Reduce Transparency", but it does nothing to increase the performance.

Yes. Visuals should never be taking precedence over acceptable and smooth performance.
I have the current 4k and am not experiencing any of this. All my video consumption is through it including Live TV.

Maybe I am lucky.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
turbineseaplane
8 weeks ago

I have the current 4k
I think I found the key point ?

Which is why @Radeon85 said this ?


I love liquid glass, but I wish we could fully disable it on these older devices.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments