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An HDMI cable, a power cable, a few minutes – that's all the Apple TV 4K needs to get working on your TV. It's quickest with your iPhone, but the Siri Remote alone will also guide you through the setup process. After that, there are a few settings worth adjusting, which many only discover weeks later.
Apple's streaming box has been called Apple TV 4K for years and currently runs on tvOS 27. On October 13th, Apple unveiled the fourth generation: It's powered by the A19 chip, features three far-field microphones for the first time, and, according to the announcement in the German Apple Newsroom, costs €349. It will be available in stores starting November 13th. For an overview of the new model's features, see the Apple TV 4K with A19.
The setup process itself remains largely unchanged with the new generation. The steps below follow the German user manual for the Apple TV 4K, version tvOS 27. All articles about the box are compiled on the Apple TV 4K topic page.
Key Facts at a Glance
- You will need a television with an HDMI port, an HDMI cable, internet via Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and an Apple account.
- With an iPhone running iOS 9.1 or later, or an iPad running iPadOS 13 or later, Apple TV automatically takes over Wi-Fi access and account data.
- If the Siri Remote does not respond, it will be re-paired within two seconds using the "Volume Up" and "Back" buttons (older models: "Menu").
- Profiles, password prompts for purchases, and the control of the television and receiver can be set directly after setup.
- The fourth generation responds to "Hey Siri" even without a remote control; according to Apple, German is one of the supported languages.
Requirements for Setting It Up
Apple lists four things that should be ready before the first boot:
- Televisions with HDMI connection: HD or 4K. For 4K, HDR and Dolby Vision to work, the television itself must support these formats; for Dolby Atmos, a suitable sound system is also required.
- HDMI cable: For a 4K TV with HDR, Apple requires an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable, which is sold separately.
- Internet access: Wi-Fi or Ethernet. The Wi-Fi-only version of the Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) does not have an Ethernet port.
- An Apple account is required for your profile, for purchases and rentals, for services like Apple Music, and for apps from the App Store. The Apple account guide explains how to create and manage an account.
Furthermore, the Wi-Fi network name and password should be known. Anyone who owns an iPhone or iPad should place it within easy reach next to the television.
Connect Apple TV
- Plug one end of the HDMI cable into the HDMI port on the Apple TV, and the other end into an HDMI port on the television.
- Connect the power cable to the Apple TV and plug it into the wall socket.
- Turn on the TV and select the HDMI input to which the Apple TV is connected.
The setup screen will then appear. To complete the setup with voice prompts, press the "Back" button three times on the remote control (or the "Menu" button on older models). This will activate VoiceOver.
Setting up Apple TV with iPhone or iPad
The fastest way is via an iPhone with iOS 9.1 or later, or an iPad with iPadOS 13 or later. It transfers the Wi-Fi name, Wi-Fi password, and Apple account information to the Apple TV, almost completely eliminating the need to type on the on-screen keyboard.
- On the Apple TV, select the "Configure with iPhone or iPad" option when it appears.
- Unlock your iPhone or iPad, leave Bluetooth and Wi-Fi turned on, and hold the device close to the Apple TV.
- Follow the instructions on both screens.
Setting up Apple TV using only the Siri Remote
Without an iPhone or iPad, the remote control guides you through the same stations, just manually. It prompts you sequentially for your internet connection, login with your Apple account, and, optionally, full authentication via a cable or satellite provider. Users of unsupported providers can skip this last step.
Long passwords are cumbersome to type using the on-screen keyboard. Apple therefore offers the option to use your iPhone or iPad as a keyboard for the Apple TV 4K as soon as an input field appears.
If the Siri Remote is unresponsive
The remote is paired with the Apple TV by default. If the connection is lost or a replacement remote arrives, Apple's pairing instructions describe how to connect it as follows:
- Turn on the Apple TV.
- Point the remote control at the front of the Apple TV from a distance of approximately 8 to 10 centimeters.
- Press and hold the "Volume Up" and "Back" buttons for two seconds. On older remote controls, the "Menu" button replaces the "Back" button.
If pairing is successful, a message will appear on the TV screen. Only one remote can be paired with an Apple TV at a time; a new pairing automatically unpairs the old one.
If the remote control stops responding altogether, a reset will help. To do this, press and hold the "Volume Down" and "TV" buttons for at least five seconds. This will break the pairing; afterwards, the remote control can be re-paired as described above.
Set profiles, purchases, and home screen
The most important personal settings are located under "Settings" > "Profiles and Accounts". There you can manage profiles for multiple people in your household. With "Select profile when waking from sleep" enabled, the Apple TV will display the profile selection first when it wakes up.
After selecting a profile, further options are available:
- Purchases: Apple TV always asks for the password, only again after 15 minutes, or never. A separate setting applies to free downloads.
- Same Home Screen: Keeps apps and their arrangement consistent across all Apple TV 4K devices using the same Apple account. This option is only available in the Standard profile.
- Photos: Controls whether iCloud photos, Memories, and shared albums appear on the TV, also only in the default profile.
For children or people without their own Apple account, there are managed profiles. A profile can be marked as a child profile; the content restrictions for this are located in the settings of the Apple TV app.
Control TV and volume with the Siri Remote
To keep only one remote control on the table, you can configure Apple TV to control your TV and receiver. Under "Settings" > "Remotes & Devices" > "Home Theater Control," select "Control TVs & Receivers" if you have a receiver, or "Turn on TV with Remote" if you don't. From then on, Apple TV will turn the other devices on and off automatically.
Under "Volume Control" in the same area, there are six options to choose from:
| Option | When it fits |
|---|---|
| Automatically | Apple chooses the appropriate method itself, which, according to Apple, is the right choice in most cases |
| HDMI | Televisions or receivers support HDMI-CEC including volume control |
| Receiver via IR | Receiver with infrared remote control, but without HDMI-CEC |
| TV via infrared (IR) | Television with infrared remote control, but without HDMI-CEC |
| Out of | The volume buttons now only control the Apple TV |
| Registering a new device | None of the other options work; the Siri Remote is learning the buttons of the TV remote |
Those using HomePods as speakers connect them to Apple TV as a HomePod stereo pair. According to Apple, surround sound with four speakers remains exclusive to the fourth generation. This requires four HomePod mini 2 or HomePod (2nd generation) speakers, paired at the front and rear.
Setting up Apple TV as a control center for Apple Home
The Apple TV 4K also acts as a control center for the smart home. It executes automations and allows you to control accessories remotely. For this to work, the box must be assigned to a room in the Home app.
- Open "Settings" on the Apple TV.
- Select "AirPlay and Apple Home".
- Select the appropriate room under "Room" or create a new one using "Add new room".
If the Apple TV is later removed from the Home app using "Remove from Home", it will turn off its Thread wireless network from tvOS 26.5 onwards to save energy.
Use your iPhone or Apple Watch as a remote control
If the Siri Remote isn't within range, the iPhone takes over. In Control Center, the "Apple TV Remote" icon opens a remote control with a touch area, playback buttons, and Siri via the side button. Alternatively, there's the "Apple TV Remote" app in the App Store, which, according to Apple, also runs on iPad and Apple Watch.
To see which devices are allowed to control Apple TV, go to "Settings" > "Remotes and Devices" > "Remote App and Devices". Select a device you no longer want to control and remove it by clicking "Forget This Device".
What changes in operation with the fourth generation
The Apple TV 4K (4th generation) has three built-in far-field microphones, allowing it to respond to "Hey Siri" without needing to hold the remote. According to Apple, this works when tvOS is set to one of the supported languages. German is on the list, as are English, French, and Dutch.
The included Siri Remote has also learned new tricks. It's compatible with Apple TV HD and all Apple TV 4K models, but the new search functions depend on the remote's generation.
| Feature | Siri Remote (2nd and 3rd generation) | Siri Remote (4th Generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Location in "Find My" | Yes | Yes |
| Play sound | – | Yes |
| Precise Finding | – | Yes, with iPhone Duo, iPhone Air or iPhone 17 and newer (excluding iPhone 17e) |
Whether the upgrade from the predecessor is worthwhile is shown by the comparison between Apple TV 4K with A19 and A15.
With the iPhone in hand, it takes minutes
I would always start the setup via the iPhone. The Siri Remote gets the job done, but typing a long Wi-Fi password on the on-screen keyboard is the most tedious part of the whole process, and that's exactly what the iPhone takes care of.
There are two settings I would recommend on the first evening. Setting the home theater control to "Automatic" immediately eliminates the need for a second remote in most living rooms. And in households with children, password prompts for purchases should always be set to "Always"—the option with a 15-minute pause leaves a window of time after a purchase during which others can continue shopping without a password.
Do you still control your Apple TV with the Siri Remote, or has your iPhone long since replaced it? Let us know in the comments which remote you have on your sofa.
Frequently Asked Questions: Setting up Apple TV
Yes. The Siri Remote guides you through all the steps: internet connection, logging in with your Apple account, and, if desired, full authentication with your TV provider. It's simply faster with an iPhone or iPad because Wi-Fi access and account details are transferred automatically.
Apple specifies an iPhone with iOS 9.1 or later, or an iPad with iPadOS 13 or later. The device is unlocked, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi remain enabled, and then it is held close to the Apple TV.
Point the remote at the front of the Apple TV from a distance of 8 to 10 centimeters and press and hold the Volume Up and Back buttons for two seconds. On older models, the Menu button replaces the Back button. If that doesn't work, press and hold Volume Down and TV (for at least five seconds) to reset the remote, then re-pair it.
Apple requires an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable for a 4K TV with HDR. It is sold separately.
Apple states that an Apple account is required for setup. It is needed for your personal profile, for purchases and rentals, for Apple Music, and for apps from the App Store.
Under "Settings" > "Remotes & Devices" > "Home Theater Control," select the option "Turn on TV with remote," and for receivers, select "Control TVs & Receivers." For volume, Apple recommends "Automatic" under "Volume Control" in most cases.
Hands-free operation, meaning without a remote, is only possible with the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K, which has three far-field microphones. According to Apple, German is among the supported languages. On older models, Siri is activated via a button on the remote.
