WWDC 2025: What to Expect From tvOS 26

[MacRumors]

tvOS is probably the Apple operating system that gets the fewest updates each year, and that's not going to change in 2025. But thanks to the design overhaul that Apple is introducing across all of its software platforms, tvOS is set to get some interesting new features.

Naming

As we've noted several times this week, Apple is changing the naming for its operating system updates. After tvOS 18, we're getting tvOS 26 instead of tvOS 19. The "26" represents the September 2025 to September 2026 release season for tvOS, with Apple planning to use the same numbering across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and visionOS too.

Updated Design

The visionOS-style design update that's coming to iOS, iPadOS, and macOS will also extend to tvOS. tvOS tends to get little attention comparatively so we don't have specific details on what's changing, but we can extrapolate a bit from the iOS rumors.

iOS 26 will adopt an interface that riffs on visionOS, with a focus on translucency, floating menus and windows, and more rounded design elements. It's been described as using light and shadow to give off a glass-like effect, which we can see in the imagery that Apple is using to promote WWDC.

tvOS 26 could adopt some of the same translucency for menus, app icons, buttons, and other parts of the interface, plus it could get the same floating look and more dramatically rounded edges for buttons and windows that are typical of visionOS.

Apple wants the experience of using its various platforms to feel more cohesive, which is why everything is getting some of the same design changes.

Screensavers

It's typical for Apple to introduce new screensavers with tvOS updates, so we can perhaps expect to see new aerial screensaver options, as well as screensavers that match the updated aesthetic. Last year, Apple came out with Snoopy screensavers, so we could get more of those too, or another partnership.

Games App

Apple plans to debut a new cross-platform Games app that will serve as a one-stop spot for discovering and launching games. On the Apple TV, it will feature a range of games that can run on the device, including third-party games and Apple Arcade games.

The Games app will essentially feature the entire games section of the tvOS App Store. It's also expected to have features like achievements, leaderboards, and recommendations from Apple editors. There might also be new tools for communicating with other players.

Wi-Fi Syncing

If you're in the unusual situation of needing to connect your Apple TV to a captive network at a college or similar location, you'll be glad to hear about a new captive Wi-Fi syncing option that's coming to Apple's platforms.

With this feature, you'll only need to log into a captive network on one of your Apple devices, and the login information will sync to everything else signed into your Apple Account.

Recommendations

There's no rumor about tvOS adopting Apple Intelligence, but Apple is expanding AI across its platforms. tvOS could benefit from AI features that better learn from user preferences to make more tailored content recommendations on what to watch next.

If and when Apple introduces major Apple Intelligence updates to Siri, we could see some of those features available on the Apple TV.

WWDC 2025 Keynote

Apple's WWDC 2025 keynote will begin on Monday, June 9 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. Apple will live stream the event on its website, on YouTube, and in the TV app.

If you're not able to watch live, we'll have a live blog and coverage of the announcements here at MacRumors, plus we'll be live tweeting the event on the MacRumorsLive account.

Article Link: WWDC 2025: What to Expect From tvOS 26

 

[SAIRUS]

I’d love actually…alarm support. The ability to wake your TV with an app.

 

[Unity451]

so we can perhaps expect to see new aerial screensaver options

I'm going to read into that and assume you're implying a re-release of the Flying Toasters screensaver for tvOS.

 

[ipedro]

Prediction: there'll be no tvOS. It'll become homeOS.

Apple has a real problem with the almost indistinguishable branding between Apple TV (the box), Apple TV (the aggregator app) and Apple TV+ (the streaming service).

Their second problem is one Steve Jobs identified:

It's hard to get people to buy a box that others give away for free or cheap. Apple has been assembling a years long strategy to get around this problem by including AirPlay in every new TV for the past several years. The version of AirPlay on modern TVs can stream 4K with virtually zero lag.

The third problem, associated with the second one is that Apple Intelligence needs expensive RAM to run, exacerbating the cost of the box problem.

The HomePad will attempt to solve this. You're not buying a TV box which your cable company gives you for free or a Roku costs a fraction of. You're buying an Apple Intelligence controller for your smart home with a shiny touch screen display. HomePads (wall mounted) and HomePods (the speakers) will run the compute, and will AirPlay not just content but the homeOS UI (what we currently know as tvOS) to any TV in the house.

I still think Apple will sell Apple TV boxes for those who don't have AirPlay on their legacy TVs and who just want a homeOS UI on their TV without buying speakers or HomePad smart home controllers.

 

[Biro]

tvOS could benefit from AI features that better learn from user preferences to make more tailored content recommendations on what to watch next.

That’s a matter of opinion. What if I don’t want any recommendations at all? None of the tech companies can wrap their collective minds around the fact that such “features” aren’t desired by quite a few of their customers. Just like another program or film automatically playing instantly after another.

 

[theredsoxman]

Please give us system wide user accounts!!!

A TV is the most community used device in the house. How this hasn’t happened yet is beyond me

 

[ipedro]

Please give us system wide user accounts!!!

A TV is the most community used device in the house. How this hasn’t happened yet is beyond me

The crazy thing is that it's already built into tvOS which runs on HomePods. They know who's talking and triage personal requests to the correct phone, calendar, reminders, etc. All that's missing is the UI to work on tvOS.

 

[Downundermac]

I’d buy a new Apple TV immediately if they made it more powerful, particularly for casual gaming. Have a PS5 controller ready to go!

 

[DavidLeblond]

Probably niche to me, but I usually play Youtube at night, listening via my AirPods while I'm walking around cleaning and putting stuff up for the night and EVERY TIME I leave the living room, I get an ad. I'd like the ability for squeezing a stem of my AirPods to cause an OK button press on the TV so I can skip the ad.

 

[ipedro]

Probably niche to me, but I usually play Youtube at night, listening via my AirPods while I'm walking around cleaning and putting stuff up for the night and EVERY TIME I leave the living room, I get an ad. I'd like the ability for squeezing a stem of my AirPods to cause an OK button press on the TV so I can skip the ad.

Wishful thinking. The point of YouTube ads is the inconvenience. They want you to pay for YouTube Premium, they're not going to get rid of that inconvenience for free. It's why you can't get PiP with YouTube without Premium. Of course it's technically possible, but they want you to have to pay for it.

 

[4 bit 9d api]

tvOS could benefit from AI features that better learn from user preferences to make more tailored content recommendations on what to watch next.

That’s a matter of opinion. What if I don’t want any recommendations at all? None of the tech companies can wrap their collective minds around the fact that such “features” aren’t desired by quite a few of their customers. Just like another program or film automatically playing instantly after another.

Then turn it off. Just like you can in the example you gave. Stop advocating for the lack of choice just because you personally don’t want to use something.

 

[Cape Dave]

Is the big change that we will call it macOS now as opposed to MacOS? Do I have that right?

 

[SamboSoul]

seasonal screensavers (Christmas, Halloween 👻 ) as well as the option to only play dark screensavers when in dark mode

 

[trip1ex]

Then turn it off. Just like you can in the example you gave. Stop advocating for the lack of choice just because you personally don’t want to use something.

Perfectly fine to 'advocate' Apple not going down wormholes that one doesn't think will pay off.

Because ultimately they only have so much manpower.

 

[Phoneless]

I also want new screensaver options: the ability to choose which individual screensavers to run from those downloaded. Only being able to pick categories is very disappointing.

 

[koelsh]

The things they need to correct are the persistent storage policies and to sell an Apple TV with an appropriate amount of storage.

 

[McWetty]

Some day we’ll get bitstream audio pass through and some kind of actually useful profiling system… some day.

 

[svish]

A design change as all the other softwares are getting a change and probably some new screensavers. Other than this expecting nothing else to change with an update.

 

[bLackjackj]

And I’m assuming still no profile based backup, so that I can buy a new Apple TV and NOT have to go through the rigmarole of a whole setup process.

 

[TigerNike23]

Prediction: there'll be no tvOS. It'll become homeOS.

Apple has a real problem with the almost indistinguishable branding between Apple TV (the box), Apple TV (the aggregator app) and Apple TV+ (the streaming service).

Their second problem is one Steve Jobs identified:

View attachment 2516651

It's hard to get people to buy a box that others give away for free or cheap. Apple has been assembling a years long strategy to get around this problem by including AirPlay in every new TV for the past several years. The version of AirPlay on modern TVs can stream 4K with virtually zero lag.

The third problem, associated with the second one is that Apple Intelligence needs expensive RAM to run, exacerbating the cost of the box problem.

The HomePad will attempt to solve this. You're not buying a TV box which your cable company gives you for free or a Roku costs a fraction of. You're buying an Apple Intelligence controller for your smart home with a shiny touch screen display. HomePads (wall mounted) and HomePods (the speakers) will run the compute, and will AirPlay not just content but the homeOS UI (what we currently know as tvOS) to any TV in the house.

I still think Apple will sell Apple TV boxes for those who don't have AirPlay on their legacy TVs and who just want a homeOS UI on their TV without buying speakers or HomePad smart home controllers.

I don’t like the “homeOS” name. If you say it fast it sounds like a slur.

 

[applefan8254]

Can we get an apple TV stick or an apple TV pod, something smaller/less expensive than the current form factor

 

[sjsharksfan12]

I would like an app multi view option, especially now that sports are getting so fragmented. I have a big TV, why can't I run things like Peacock, Youtube TV, Disney+, and ESPN at once.

This WWDC I'm more interested in TVOS than anything else. I would like to see a massive update, and maybe just a rethink of how it's run. It hasn't changed very much in like 15 years. It can use a refresh.

 

[cookiemonster89]

Maybe Apple finally removes the Movies and TV Shows Apps which are out of use since years?

 

[nlsmusic]

1 thing only.... a DAC supporting hi res audio... no resampling to 48Khz

 

[k27]

Please give us system wide user accounts!!!

A TV is the most community used device in the house. How this hasn’t happened yet is beyond me

Exactly. That's the feature I've wanted most for a long time. Especially if you have children and use the restrictions, it would significantly improve the AppleTV experience. As it is now, it's not good.