How to Use Your Apple TV for Streaming Movies and TV Shows

Now that the Apple TV is fully capable of playing 4K videos, here is how to get the most enjoyment out of what is currently one of the most powerful media streamers available.

Yes you heard that right, the new Apple TV along with the Nvidia SHIELD are two of the fastest media streamers available today.

If you bought one of the new 4K Apple TVs and are wondering how to use it for cutting the cord, then this is for you. Because not only do you own a very capable media streamer, your Apple TV has a seriously powerful processor that can now play any 4K video file with ease.

Do This First With Your New Apple TV

Once you have setup your Apple TV and configured it to work either with your WiFI Network, or your Ethernet cable, you will want to check for software updates.

This is because Apple recently released a very important tvOS 11.2 firmware update that will let your Apple TV automatically switch its video output so that it will show the same video format as what a movie or TV show was created with.

You can check which version of software your Apple TV has by going into the settings menu. To do so, go into your System menu, select Software Updates, and then choose start the update go begin downloading if an update is available.

Once your software is up to date with the latest version, there is still one more step you must do to enable automatic source switching.

On your Apple TV, go to the Video and Audio menu, then select the new Match Content option. Make sure both the "Match Dynamic Range" and "Match Frame Rate" options are both selected.

Top 10 Best Apple TV Apps For Streaming and Watching TV

Here are some of the most popular apps and channels to watch Free and Subscription TV on your Apple TV.

1. Pluto TV

2. SnagFilms

3. Tubi TV

4. Viewster

5. Netflix

6. Hulu

7. Amazon Prime Video

8. Crackle

9. Porn on Apple TV

10. Apple TV Apps From The Darkside

How to Add Apps to Your Apple TV

1. Adding new apps to your Apple TV is easy. You can only add apps if you own either a late 2015 4th Generation or late 2017 4K Apple TV model. Earlier models like the 1st 2nd and 3rd generation can't access the Apple App Store.

2. Just follow these steps to find and add any of the TV Streaming apps listed above or choose from thousands of other apps in the Apple App Store. This works much the same as downloading apps to your iPhone or iPad.

3. Go to your home screen on your Apple TV and launch the App Store. At the top of your screen, are three tabs: [Featured] [Purchased] [Search]. Make sure you are on the Featured tab.

TIP: You can also go to the Search tab and enter the name of an app to find it much quicker.

4. Find any app that you would like to download to your Apple TV. Some apps are free and some require payment.

5. When you find an app you would like to add to your Apple TV click the App Icon. Free apps will show a get button, paid apps will have a buy button and will require that you click confirm. Most of the top ten apps listed above are all free to download. Some of the subscription apps can still be downloaded but they will require a paid subscription and that you first login before they show any content.

You can use your remote touchpad and swipe right, left, up and down to move through your apps. Click the app you want to launch on your Apple TV.

Five Apple TV Touchpad Tips

Use these tips to get even more joy out of your Apple TV remote control touchpad.

Easily Delete Apps

To remove an app on your Apple TV you no longer use, navigate to the app using your touchpad. Once you find the app, click on it but don't release and at the same time press the play button on your remote.

A screen will come up asking if your sure. You can either click on DELETE which will remove the app or choose cancel to leave the app on your touchpad.

Move Your Apps In Any Order You Like

Use your touchpad and swipe over to the app you would like to move. Then click down on the app you wish to move and you will see it squiggle. Then you can swipe anywhere on your screen and the app will follow. When you find it's new home click your touchpad again and the app will drop into place.

Accelerated Swipes

If you want to speed up your swipes, your Apple TV is smart enough to know when you have the need for speed. Just swipe faster and you will be able to navigate through your keyboard much faster.

Quickly Fix Typos

When you use the Apple TV onscreen keyboard, making a typo is aggravating especially when you need to swipe all the way across to the delete key. Instead go to character you want to change or delete and click down on it with your touchpad and hold it down. Alternate characters will come up and also a shortcut to a delete key. This can greatly speed up and make typing on the onscreen keyboard much easier.

Song Shortcuts

If you found a song you like that you want to add to your own custom mix or playlist, just click and hold down on the title and you will get a list of items in a context menu that pops up on the screen to choose from. You can choose play more like this, add the song to your album, or even start a station. To exit this menu without making any choices, just click the menu button on your remote control.

With these tips you should quickly be on your way to getting much more enjoyment from your Apple TV. We will leave you with one more really cool thing you can do with your Apple TV.

Use a Web Browser on Your Apple TV

For some crazy reason, Apple did not include a web browser on their media streamer. You can still watch any number of videos from these Free streaming sites with this next trick.

With AirPlay, everything you can see on your iPhone can be cast and watched on your Apple TV. The only downside is your iPhone can't be used for anything else while it is casting to your Apple TV.

To Watch Your iPhone Screen on Your TV

1. Open Your Control Center by swiping up from the bottom of your iPhone.

2. Tap on the Screen Mirroring icon and select your Apple TV.

3. If an AirPlay code appears on your TV screen of the Apple TV you are connected too go ahead and enter it to link them together.

4. On your iPhone, open Safari and surf to a website you want to cast. Be sure to check out this list for some great streaming TV sites.

5. Rotate our iPhone horizontally to move the picture on your TV to landscape mode. You can also view apps from your phone on your TV screen although not all apps will rotate.

Have fun enjoying and using your new Apple TV.

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