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Apple Adds 'Genius Browse' Movie and TV Recommendations to Apple TV in tvOS 26.4

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tvOS 26.4 includes a new Genius Browse section in the Apple TV app, which gives recommendations for TV shows and movies across multiple suggested categories.

tvos-26-genius-browse-overview.jpg

Suggestions vary based on your content preferences, and the categories are updated regularly. Some example categories include Upbeat Workplace Comedies, Tense Psychological Thrillers, History Gets Hilarious, Breathtaking Nature Docs, Thrilling Blockbusters, Bittersweet Family Dramas, and Fun for the Whole Family.

Selecting one of the categories provides a list of relevant content suggestions, which can be further explored with For You, TV Shows and Movies, and Genres sections. When browsing through the suggested movies and TV shows, tvOS 26.4 also provides titles related to the one that's highlighted.

Genius Browse suggestions are not static and will continually show new content categories. The content that Apple suggests is not limited to shows and movies on the Apple TV service, though those are included. Apple suggests titles from other streaming services like HBO Max and Amazon Prime. As with other Apple TV app suggestions, Netflix content is not included.

tvos-26-genius-browse-2.jpg

Apple is limiting Genius Browse to tvOS 26.4, and you won't find the option in iOS 26.4, iPadOS 26.4, or macOS 26.4.

tvOS 26.4 also phases out the dedicated iTunes Movies and iTunes TV Show apps, plus it improves Apple TV Audio Format settings and adds more easily accessible customization options for subtitles.

We're expecting tvOS 26.4 to be released as soon as next week.

Article Link: Apple Adds 'Genius Browse' Movie and TV Recommendations to Apple TV in tvOS 26.4
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/03/18/tvos-26-4-genius-browse-mode/
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Great to read that it'll suggest across multiple services. Prime Video's first party interface is getting more user hostile and I'd love to just skip it. Really sad Netflix is still ignoring this, especially after they "accidentally" supported it briefly a while back, so we all know it would be easy to do.
 
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For gods' sakes, the Apple TV app needs one change and one change only and it will be perfect forever:

Continue Watching as a tab. Just give me one clean screen where I can find what the f*ck I've been watching and leave me alone.

If they would just do that I would be fine with them shoving as much crap as they want into the Home screen and everywhere else.

Just stop leading the ******tification charge and let me continue watching.
 
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artifex said:
Great to read that it'll suggest across multiple services. Prime Video's first party interface is getting more user hostile and I'd love to just skip it. Really sad Netflix is still ignoring this, especially after they "accidentally" supported it briefly a while back, so we all know it would be easy to do.
Click to expand...

Netflix is the Apple of the streaming world, which is ironic because Apple is trying to be the Apple of the streaming world and Netflix is out-Appling them at it.

Netflix doesn't cooperate, it dictates terms and only does what benefits them. Of course it's technically easy and what people want. But technical possibilties and user satisfaction have not been a consideration at corporate software companies for decades now.
 
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CarAnalogy said:
Netflix is the Apple of the streaming world, which is ironic because Apple is trying to be the Apple of the streaming world and Netflix is out-Appling them at it.

Netflix doesn't cooperate, it dictates terms and only does what benefits them. Of course it's technically easy and what people want. But technical possibilties and user satisfaction have not been a consideration at corporate software companies for decades now.
Click to expand...

This is so true.
With Apple, we got rope-a-doped by thinking Tim cared about "customer sat"

When what he actually cares about is "Shareholder sat"
 
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turbineseaplane said:
This is so true.
With Apple, we got rope-a-doped by thinking Tim cared about "customer sat"

When what he actually cares about is "Shareholder sat"
Click to expand...

While we're on the subject, let me rant about my favorite Apple TV issue that shows they don't care about the "content."

Watch any well written show that extends the actual content throughout the end credits. Parks and Recreation is the perfect example.

Try to actually watch to the end of the video and enjoy it. Apple won't let you. Shrinks it into that tiny little preview window to show a giant still picture of the next episode. Hope you haven't seen that next episode before because the picture very well may be a spoiler.

Try to maximize that postage stamp window to finish, but oh no, it's still postage stamp resolution. Rewind to try to get full res. Nope just shrinks it to that stupid tiny window again.

There's no way to disable this "feature." This has been a problem since they created it several years ago, I've filed feedbacks both in general and for specific shows. They don't care. They just want to boost engagement.
 
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CarAnalogy said:
While we're on the subject, let me rant about my favorite Apple TV issue that shows they don't care about the "content."

Watch any well written show that extends the actual content throughout the end credits. Parks and Recreation is the perfect example.

Try to actually watch to the end of the video and enjoy it. Apple won't let you. Shrinks it into that tiny little preview window to show a giant still picture of the next episode. Hope you haven't seen that next episode before because the picture very well may be a spoiler.

Try to maximize that postage stamp window to finish, but oh no, it's still postage stamp resolution. Rewind to try to get full res. Nope just shrinks it to that stupid tiny window again.

There's no way to disable this "feature." This has been a problem since they created it several years ago, I've filed feedbacks both in general and for specific shows. They don't care. They just want to boost engagement.
Click to expand...

Awful.
A great example, though.

I'd imagine we could compile quite a list if we tried to.
 
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Just re-read this, and have to add a caveat to my earlier praise. It had better only show suggestions from the services I actually belong to, otherwise it's actually terrible, and exactly what Prime Video already does now in its own interface to keep pressuring people to add more subscriptions.
 
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artifex said:
Just re-read this, and have to add a caveat to my earlier praise. It had better only show suggestions from the services I actually belong to, otherwise it's actually terrible, and exactly what Prime Video already does now in its own interface to keep pressuring people to add more subscriptions.
Click to expand...

Some clarification would be very reassuring, I agree.

This 👇 could be completely awful if there's no control over what's being sourced from and particularly if it pulls from "featured partners" and the like, any number of which a user may not subscribe to or have any interest in whatsoever.

MacRumors said:
The content that Apple suggests is not limited to shows and movies on the Apple TV service, though those are included. Apple suggests titles from other streaming services like HBO Max and Amazon Prime. As with other Apple TV app suggestions, Netflix content is not included.
Click to expand...
 
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maxdefcon said:
Why does every MacRumors post have a flood of negative comments or rants? Are people genuinely this unhappy?
Click to expand...

Because Apple feedback is a complete black hole. So people post here to let others know they aren't the only one with these issues, and in the hope against hope that someone at Apple that can do something about it may somehow see it.

Keep in mind we're enthusiasts. We're here because, personally speaking at least, our homes and businesses are filled with Apple products. And these days we seem to notice the pain points more than Apple does. Makes me personally wonder if they even use their own products.

Also this post is basically announcing a new form of advertising. This is not the area we want to see Apple spending time innovating.
 
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CarAnalogy said:
For gods' sakes, the Apple TV app needs one change and one change only and it will be perfect forever:

Continue Watching as a tab. Just give me one clean screen where I can find what the f*ck I've been watching and leave me alone.
Click to expand...

There’s atill no way to manage your Watchlist. After two decades of Apple TV, imagine what most people’s Watchlist looks like. No way to sort the order, no way to multi select to remove, I’ve just given up using it.
 
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CarAnalogy said:
While we're on the subject, let me rant about my favorite Apple TV issue that shows they don't care about the "content."

Watch any well written show that extends the actual content throughout the end credits. Parks and Recreation is the perfect example.

Try to actually watch to the end of the video and enjoy it. Apple won't let you. Shrinks it into that tiny little preview window to show a giant still picture of the next episode. Hope you haven't seen that next episode before because the picture very well may be a spoiler.

Try to maximize that postage stamp window to finish, but oh no, it's still postage stamp resolution. Rewind to try to get full res. Nope just shrinks it to that stupid tiny window again.

There's no way to disable this "feature." This has been a problem since they created it several years ago, I've filed feedbacks both in general and for specific shows. They don't care. They just want to boost engagement.
Click to expand...
That's one of my beefs too. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't a prior version(s) of tvOS include an option to turn off automatic "up next" prompts?
 
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It’s nice to see some new features for tvOS, it always seems like the forgotten OS. Both the OS and hardware are desperately due for an overhaul. Even with its flaws I’ll till tak Apple TV and tvOS over Roku or Amazon that just wants to show tons of ads.
 
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turbineseaplane said:
This is so true.
With Apple, we got rope-a-doped by thinking Tim cared about "customer sat"

When what he actually cares about is "Shareholder sat"
Click to expand...

Any idea what drives shareholder sat?

Its happy customer sat... the 1+ Billion happy/repeat customers who purchase Apple products and services year after year.

Without them purchasing Apple products and services, Apple revenue and profits will tank causing Apple stock to tank along with it.
 
Why take away the good parts of ATV, bring back the wish list. Apple is making it hard to upgrade my Apple products when they take away features that I use, so when my ATV becomes obsolete, then no more Apple products for me, as they keep taking away the best features.
 
CarAnalogy said:
For gods' sakes, the Apple TV app needs one change and one change only and it will be perfect forever:

Continue Watching as a tab. Just give me one clean screen where I can find what the f*ck I've been watching and leave me alone.

If they would just do that I would be fine with them shoving as much crap as they want into the Home screen and everywhere else.

Just stop leading the ******tification charge and let me continue watching.
Click to expand...
Yes, to those who love the simple ad-free home screen, the Apple TV app itself, and the only part I use, the up-next section keeps being downgraded over time, they keep adding more and more Apple TV+(the service) ads both above and below the list.
At least they fixed that bug where it forgot half of my streaming services...after a year.
 
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