Michał Stekla
The Apple TV operating system will gain a new shine in 2025. tvOS 26, the new operating system for the Apple TV 4K set-top box, brings long-awaited features: a new look, user profiles, karaoke mode, and more. It is not a revolution, but a solid evolution - primarily in terms of convenience.
New look, or “Liquid Glass” in the salon
Apple has announced tvOS 26, an update for Apple TV 4K devices, which is set to bring the most significant visual changes in years. The new interface, based on the “Liquid Glass” philosophy, emphasises fluidity, transparency, and animations that aim to make using the device even more enjoyable. The modified appearance is not just cosmetic – Apple emphasises that tvOS 26 will introduce a consistent visual language known from the latest versions of iOS and macOS.
New user profiles!
One of the most important new features is the introduction of user profiles. From now on, every household member will be able to have their own account with personalised recommendations, watch lists, and playlists in Apple TV and Apple Music. This is a feature known from Netflix, Disney+, or Prime Video, which was missing on Apple TV. For families or flatmates, this is a significant step forward – no more mess in recommendations!
Better content browsing and add-ons.
Apple has also improved the way films and series are browsed in the Apple TV app. The presentation of graphics has been changed, now they will be larger and more reminiscent of cinema posters. This is intended to help in finding interesting content more quickly and encourage exploring the library.
tvOS 26 will also introduce a karaoke mode in the Apple Music app. With an interesting option to use an iPhone as a microphone, if we do not have dedicated equipment. Additionally, Apple will enhance the FaceTime app on Apple TV and add several new screen backgrounds for those who enjoy personalisation.
AirPlay more convenient
Finally, something for fans of good sound. Apple will allow you to choose the default AirPlay speaker. Until now, if we didn’t have a HomePod, we had to manually select the device each time we turned on ChooseTV. Now, you just need to set, for example, a soundbar or another AirPlay speaker once – and that's it.
The release of tvOS 26 is planned for the second half of 2025. A specific date has not yet been announced, but the new features look really interesting.
