Apple TV 4K Features You Aren't Using (but should)

It's easy to unbox an Apple TV 4K, sign into some streaming services, and start watching. But if you've never surfed the Apple TV 4K's menu, then you're probably missing out on a lot of Apple TV 4K features and customization that can make using the streaming box a lot more fun and enjoyable. We run through a comprehensive list of Apple TV 4K tips and tricks to help you get the most out of one of the best streaming boxes you can buy.

00:00 Intro
01:47 Dark Mode
02:07 Moving/Deleting Apps & Creating Folders
03:10 Adding "Up Next" to Home Screen
04:00 Customizing Remote Features
05:24 Voice Control Features/Siri
06:23 Connecting Bluetooth Devices
07:12 Setting a Security Code for AirPlay
07:53 Video & Audio Settings
10:04 AirPlay
10:36 Screen Mirror
10:56 Picture-In-Picture
11:39 Picture Calibration with iPhone
12:19 SharePlay
13:00 Using iPhone/iPad/Apple Watch as Remote
13:31 Spatial Audio & Head Tracking

SUBSCRIBE FOR THE LATEST VIDEOS

VISIT DIGITAL TRENDS

In our studio:

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our channels.

FOLLOW US!

#appletv4k #tipsandtricks #howto

[jasonnip]

Another helpful tip: If you ask Siri "what did they say?" The Apple TV will rewind 10/15 seconds of the stream and trigger subtitles temporarily.

[benjamindepaz]

Here's a tip to go along with what you were talking about with the Match Dynamic Range. So having it match the dynamic range and frame rate, as you showed are important. But you can add to it by going into the main TV resolution settings and changing the Apple TV to SDR. Even though you change it to SDR, because of the Match Dynamic Range setting, when playing something in HDR it will switch back. The benefit to this is to ensure that SDR is ALWAYS shown as SDR and that it never tries to tone-map the SDR to HDR. But even assuming the Match Dynamic Range setting truly does always keep the content in SDR when it's non-HDR, there's one place where it will NEVER change it: the Home Screen.

The Home Screen will always try to show in HDR if HDR is selected. This has the result of making the Home Screen look a little washed out; not as bright or well defined. This may not be a big deal on TVs where the screen is extremely bright (like a QLED) - but it's really bad on a lower cost TV. Many TVs under $1, 000 have panels that are not capable of truly reaching the minimum brightness needed for HDR (regardless of whether they show the HDR logo on the box and the input allows it). And so for TVs that can't go past 500 Nits of brightness, trying to browse through the Apple TV Home Screen in HDR mode can be very eye straining as it's so dim and washed out. But by changing the resolution setting to SDR, and then enabling Match Dynamic Range, the home screen will have full 4:4:4 color and look much brighter and easier to see.

[Mics]

One feature that goes along video calibration is the sound sync calibration. That is a feature you should use as well

[SkepticCyclist]

Apple updated the match dynamic range feature with their latest software update, tvOS 16.1. It now works when set in HDR mode too, meaning it will now switch to SDR for SDR programs even when set to HDR as default.

[marcuslikespie]

The eArc feature that allows users to AirPlay audio from games consoles to HomePods via Apple TV is never talked about! Such a good feature if, like me, you use stereo HomePods as your primary TV speakers.

[WupperVideo]

I really love, that I can also use the Siri remote to control the loudness of my soundbar via IR.

[benjamindepaz]

Another tip to go along with the voice control you talked about. You can also use the exact same commands hands-free, if you have another nearby Apple device like an iPad or HomePod or Apple Watch. I use this all the time when I want to get up to go to the other room and I just call out to Siri to pause the TV. The HomePod is perfect for this because it's equipped with long range beam-forming microphones; and it works from any HomePod in the house regardless of whether it's paired to the Apple TV for sound output or not. Some of the things you can say is: Hey Siri:

Turn the Apple TV Off (Puts it to sleep)
Pause the TV
Resume playing on the TV
Go back 45 seconds
What did they say?
Skip 5 Minutes

All of that without ever having to touch the remote.

[golfgrouch]

Learn remote (Settings > Remotes and Devices > Learn Remote) is the best feature that wasn't mentioned in this video because it gives you dedicated remote skip buttons (specifically through "Set Up Playback Buttons") that are not available on the Siri remote. I used it to have the Apple TV learn my old cable set top box remote. It works so well that the set top box remote has replaced the Siri Remote as my primary remote because one-button skip is so important for YouTube TV.

[allclear]

I highly recommend making Apple TV picture settings at 4K SDR and choose match content so the HDR doesn't affect the screen life span by maxing brightness

[AliDaniali]

Don’t forget in your next video to talk about using a paired HomePod as a sound output. I think it’s the best home theater audio setup for the money.

[roryalbany]

I have bought LG smart tv recently. Should I get Apple TV 4K too

[j_official]

In YouTube I say to Siri “search YouTube for __” and it searches for the topic!

For YouTube tv when watching a show recorded on Dvr, when commercials come on you can skip them by saying to siri “skip 3 minutes.” For example.

[neilmarshall]

Thanks for some good tips. I’ve been a long term user of the Apple TV, back from the original black box with silver, two button remote and I’ve owned at least one of every release since then. I didn’t know about the match content function. Hopefully this will resolve an occasional issue where content displays with very low contrast.

My tip is actually an app pick. I’ve found the Plex Media Server very powerful. I can stream copies of my own media from a always on media PC, wirelessly to every tv in the house. Highly recommended!

[shivaprakash]

Hi, Will I be able to play videos from other USB storage or Hard disks connected to my normal TV ?

[mullen]

you're the best tech reviewer, specifically anything television related. i learn a ton from your videos. you're excellent at explaining process and design/function details. i learned new things watching this to better use my apple tv. thank you for being awesome at what you do!

[lindamarcus]

Love love love this video- Wanted to mention a super-duper little tip for your next audio specialty video. Many of us who can't or dont want to add soundbars to our TVs Systems can use the Apple TV to do something amazing with our Sonos speakers( that even the Sonos folks don"t seem to know!!). With your I pad or Iphone through the audio / video tab in the settings screen of your Apple TV play the TV through our sonos systems as each amplifire will appear as a wifi option. Additionally these options can be placed into the home app on your IOS device and the volumes etc for each amp/location can be controlled by your IOS device!!! Its an awesome benefit that not many seems to know about!!! Happy holidays!!!

[MrVeeBlog]

Can more than one pair of Airpods connect at the same time to watch a movie?

[timmyfc]

I should second some of the comments made here. Caleb is one of the best communicators I seen having watched a lot of reviews to help inform the purchase of a G2, AppleTV and an Arc. Keep up the good work.

[hbdude]

very helpful! the hdr part especially so. when u put everything in HDR it looks odd and watching youtube is annoying cuz it constantly has to switch to SDR. making SDR default and then matching content much smoother

[zulu-xd]

How to disable airplay msg on screensaver, thanks