Apple Removes iTunes Movies and TV Shows Apps in tvOS 26.4

[MacRumors]

With tvOS 26.4, Apple has removed the dedicated iTunes Movies and iTunes TV Shows apps that listed content available for purchase. Buying movies and TV shows can be done through the Apple TV app instead.

Apple started phasing out the iTunes Movies and iTunes TV Shows apps back in 2023, redirecting users to the Apple TV app for purchases. The apps remained available until now to provide customers with instructions on where to find their content, and to provide access to the iTunes Wish List.

Apple removed the TV Shows and Movies section in the iPhone and iPad TV app with the launch of iOS 17.2 and iPadOS 17.2, and eliminated iTunes wishlists in those updates. tvOS 17.2 also got rid of wish lists. After customer complaints, wishlist options were returned, but Apple again started warning about the end of wishlists last week.

Customers that still have an iTunes Wish List with movies and TV shows have received emails letting them know the feature is being removed. The emails include links to migrate those lists to the Apple TV watchlist feature as an alternative.

Apple has been working to consolidate all movie and TV show viewing and buying to the TV app, so it's all in one place. There is no longer any iTunes-related app on the Apple TV, but the iPhone still has an iTunes Store option for purchasing music.

Apple has also updated the Apple TV Audio Format settings in tvOS 26.4. Dolby Atmos immersive audio has been replaced with Spatial Audio, and there is an option to convert to Dolby Digital 5.1, select Stereo Only, or turn on Auto mode. There's also a Continuous Audio Connection option for HDMI output.

tvOS 26.4 is available to developers and public beta testers at the current time, with a release planned for spring.


Article Link: Apple Removes iTunes Movies and TV Shows Apps in tvOS 26.4

 

[secDJ]

Long overdue. I have been trying to delete them for years.

 

[BeatCrazy]

About freking time. I’ve had family members click on them several times and get confused.

 

[bluecoast]

I wonder when the itms itself will go?

I guess people are still using it - even if its ancient design is a clear hint from Apple that they would really rather you not.

 

[ELman]

It's about time. We should have been given the option to remove these.

 

[DEXTERITY]

the fact they want those of us who have a wish list to individually click on each link is ridiculous. I have an extensive list. I am not clicking on each movie one by one. they could've come up with a better way or just kept the list.

 

[Jamie0003]

Why has this taken so long, and why does the iTunes branding still exist?

Really strange. In addition, why haven’t they done the same with music purchases in the music app? You still have to use the iTunes app

It makes you wonder if their goal is to retire buying songs on iTunes full stop. All new music features are exclusive to Apple Music subs, seems to be the way they are going these days and it sucks.

Even iTunes movies and tv show purchases have been largely forgotten, tv shows are still a mess when viewing your purchased stuff and still no 4K content, no extras either. Why?

Then again, some movies have been upgraded to have support for 3d on Vision Pro, it’s really strange how Apple has seemingly been abandoning the iTunes Store and purchasing for a while now, yet still acknowledges it exists.

 

[Jamie0003]

Long overdue. I have been trying to delete them for years.

You can already hide them in settings, I’m not sure how long this has been a thing though, I noticed it the other day

 

[tennisproha]

The iTunes apps are being removed while their feature still aren't available in the Apple TV app. You still can't see which version of movie or tv show you own in the TV app, it shows 4K even if you only own the HD version.

 

[Jetson]

I like these apps. I think that they work better than what we've got now.

For example, in the Apple TV app, I am very annoyed that they changed what has always worked. If you select a movie icon, the movie automatically plays. The way that it used to work (and still does in every other section of Apple TV) is that when you click the icon it goes to the Movie "splat" screen. Nowadays if you press and hold the first item in the list is "Play Movie" and the second item is "Go to Movie" (which should be the default). "Play Movie" should not be the default and it had never been the default.

Also, I don't get why some people are so angry that the apps remained for a while? Why???

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

To be clear, can you still buy and play your movies and TV shows you purchased?

 

[BeatCrazy]

To be clear, can you still buy and play your movies and TV shows you purchased?

Yes, in the TV app.

 

[Starfia]

Why has this taken so long, and why does the iTunes branding still exist?

Really strange. In addition, why haven’t they done the same with music purchases in the music app? You still have to use the iTunes app

It makes you wonder if their goal is to retire buying songs on iTunes full stop. All new music features are exclusive to Apple Music subs, seems to be the way they are going these days and it sucks.

Even iTunes movies and tv show purchases have been largely forgotten, tv shows are still a mess when viewing your purchased stuff and still no 4K content, no extras either. Why?

What the heck?

The iTunes Store does still exist, and 4K content does exist in it. You don't have to use the iTunes app to play iTunes Store purchases; they're accessible from the Music app. Apple TV+ began over six years ago, and Apple Music was introduced over a decade ago – how much more evidence does one need to conclude the idea there wasn't to retire the iTunes Store? I'd have presumed its continued availability is indeed is why the brand still exists.

 

[ThatGuyInLa]

WAIT.... WAAAAAIT.

This audio stuff. Does this mean, at least for Apple stuff, they could send you full fat Atmos and DTSHD (okay probably not DTS but one can dream) lossless? No longer trapped with Atmos wrapped up in DD5.1 constraints???? Full audio quality???? [Dolby Atmos TrueHD] THIS IS HUGE if so. It's one of the many reasons physical media still kicks streamings ass. For those that have the sound systems that can use it. The Atmos audio from a stream is low bite rate junk. It's an absurdly low bit rate for all the channel data it's tying to push. However due to maintaining compatibility with, "all the things," DD5.1 for streaming has been a MUST for all. Also, the internet pipe needed for full HQ is rather heavy but not so rare nowadays. To just have the option to finally get that level of audio streamed out for movies and TV.... YESSSSSsss.

 

[Jamie0003]

What the heck?

The iTunes Store does still exist, and 4K content does exist in it. You don't have to use the iTunes app to play iTunes Store purchases; they're accessible from the Music app. Apple TV+ began over six years ago, and Apple Music was introduced over a decade ago – how much more evidence does one need to conclude the idea there wasn't to retire the iTunes Store? I'd have presumed its continued availability is indeed is why the brand still exists.

I know? I’m fully aware of this. I’m asking why Apple hasn’t ditched the branding. It’s still the iTunes Store, whether you’re using the tv or iTunes app, same goes for music

Also you’re wrong, you can’t buy songs on the music app, you still have to use the iTunes app for this

 

[Jamie0003]

WAIT.... WAAAAAIT.

This audio stuff. Does this mean, at least for Apple stuff, they could send you full fat Atmos and DTSHD (okay probably not DTS but one can dream) lossless? No longer trapped with Atmos wrapped up in DD5.1 constraints???? Full audio quality???? [Dolby Atmos TrueHD] THIS IS HUGE if so. It's one of the many reasons physical media still kicks streamings ass. For those that have the sound systems that can use it. The Atmos audio from s stream is low bite rate junk. It's an absurdly low bit rate for all the channel data it's tying to push.

Wait where does it say this?

 

[al256]

I like these apps. I think that they work better than what we've got now.

For example, in the Apple TV app, I am very annoyed that they changed what has always worked. If you select a movie icon, the movie automatically plays. The way that it used to work (and still does in every other section of Apple TV) is that when you click the icon it goes to the Movie "splat" screen. Nowadays if you press and hold the first item in the list is "Play Movie" and the second item is "Go to Movie" (which should be the default). "Play Movie" should not be the default and it had never been the default.

Also, I don't get why some people are so angry that the apps remained for a while? Why???

Wait, these apps work for you? All I get is a finger-wagging message telling me to use the Apple TV app instead. I don't want apps that are telling me to not use the app I opened.

 

[MUrhino]

I like these apps. I think that they work better than what we've got now.

For example, in the Apple TV app, I am very annoyed that they changed what has always worked. If you select a movie icon, the movie automatically plays. The way that it used to work (and still does in every other section of Apple TV) is that when you click the icon it goes to the Movie "splat" screen. Nowadays if you press and hold the first item in the list is "Play Movie" and the second item is "Go to Movie" (which should be the default). "Play Movie" should not be the default and it had never been the default.

Also, I don't get why some people are so angry that the apps remained for a while? Why???

Agree. I liked them, as they were faster shortcuts to get to the rental section than the current option, buried in the Apple TV sidebar menu. Just update the hyperlink and remove the pop-up notice that the rental section had moved.

 

[Kar98]

They’re gonna take inspiration from Microsoft and remove the ability to buy or rent movies and shows altogether.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Why are people cheering for things to be removed and taken away?

 

[thelion7]

Long overdue. I have been trying to delete them for years.

Amazing, I’m glad people still have the option to buy or rent but damn those apps were clutter on my home screen.

I banished mine to a Folder years ago and not looked at them since.

Having all video content flow through the Apple TV app is the way forward!

 

[Starfia]

I know? I’m fully aware of this. I’m asking why Apple hasn’t ditched the branding. It’s still the iTunes Store, whether you’re using the tv or iTunes app, same goes for music

Okay – I took "tv shows are still a mess when viewing your purchased stuff and still no 4K content" to mean there was no 4K content in "your purchased stuff." There's 4K content in both the iTunes Store and the Apple TV catalogue; where did you mean there was none?

Also you’re wrong, you can’t buy songs on the music app, you still have to use the iTunes app for this

Are we talking about the same thing? Since there's never been an "iTunes app" on the Apple TV, I took "the iTunes app" to mean the original "iTunes" on the Mac. You don't need that to buy songs – the iTunes Store is available in the Music app.

 

[indychris]

I like these apps. I think that they work better than what we've got now.

For example, in the Apple TV app, I am very annoyed that they changed what has always worked. If you select a movie icon, the movie automatically plays. The way that it used to work (and still does in every other section of Apple TV) is that when you click the icon it goes to the Movie "splat" screen. Nowadays if you press and hold the first item in the list is "Play Movie" and the second item is "Go to Movie" (which should be the default). "Play Movie" should not be the default and it had never been the default.

Also, I don't get why some people are so angry that the apps remained for a while? Why???

Yeah, I'm generally like-minded here. It seems that in combining everything it has just made it feel more jumbled, and when wanting to make a purchase for something like a TV series, in some instances it just gives me too many options to wade through for non-purchase streaming when all I want to do is buy a streaming box set through Apple to watch without commercials and without having to connect to Prime, Paramount, Hulu, Netflix, Peacock, etc.

 

[Farquar]

Why has this taken so long, and why does the iTunes branding still exist?

Really strange. In addition, why haven’t they done the same with music purchases in the music app? You still have to use the iTunes app

It makes you wonder if their goal is to retire buying songs on iTunes full stop. All new music features are exclusive to Apple Music subs, seems to be the way they are going these days and it sucks.

Even iTunes movies and tv show purchases have been largely forgotten, tv shows are still a mess when viewing your purchased stuff and still no 4K content, no extras either. Why?

Then again, some movies have been upgraded to have support for 3d on Vision Pro, it’s really strange how Apple has seemingly been abandoning the iTunes Store and purchasing for a while now, yet still acknowledges it exists.

Have you not seen how people complain when Apple removes things, no matter how irrelevant they are? They have to wait until things are long past dead.

 

[Jamie0003]

Okay – I took "tv shows are still a mess when viewing your purchased stuff and still no 4K content" to mean there was no 4K content in "your purchased stuff." There's 4K content in both the iTunes Store and the Apple TV catalogue; where did you mean there was none?

Are we talking about the same thing? Since there's never been an "iTunes app" on the Apple TV, I took "the iTunes app" to mean the original "iTunes" on the Mac. You don't need that to buy songs – the iTunes Store is available in the Music app.

Tv shows. There are no 4K TV shows, it’s not supported for some reason

There’s an iTunes tv shows and iTunes movies app on Apple TV. This was the original place to buy this content before the tv app became a thing, and it’s still the iTunes Store, even in the TV app. It’s inconsistent

It’s been the iTunes Store ever since it only sold music, it should be renamed to the Apple media store or something