How your old Apple TV 4K is new again with tvOS 27.2 update

Apple recently launched tvOS 27.2 which contains a swath of new features for existing Apple TV 4K users. Here's how your streaming box gets even better.

The new fourth-generation Apple TV 4K carries a hefty price tag, which is why the new tvOS 27.2 update is so welcomed. Existing users get several new features without buying a new box.

Many features are available now, though one big one is just around the corner.

Siri Remote

There's one quick and easy way to upgrade your existing Apple TV 4K, other than through updating its software. That's by picking up one of the newly-upgraded Siri Remotes, which is supported with tvOS 27.2.

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The new Siri Remote has a built-in tone generator, so when you lose your remote, you can have it play back a chime. In my testing of the new Siri Remote at Apple's NYC experience, the chime helped greatly.

Even buried in the couch cushion you could hear the chirping from across the room. If you're too far away or the remote is too deeply buried, the remote supports Precision Finding.

Similar to an AirTag, you can use your iPhone or Apple Watch to get directional guidance to where the remote is located within inches. The latest Siri Remote is available from Apple for $59 and works all the way back to the Apple TV HD.

If you keep your existing Siri Remote, tvOS 27.2 finally brings it into the Find My app. That means you won't have to open the Remote app, go to the top drop-down, and hit find.

Instead, you'll venture to the Find My app where all your other trackable items are housed. That said, they don't get any new abilities, but it makes more sense to have one place to find all of your gadgets.

Screensavers

Apple has been expanding the screensavers for Apple TV 4K outside of its usual Aerial ones. There are no new ones here, but there is a new way to choose between them.

New shuffle option for Apple TV 4K screensavers

If you go into Settings > Screensavers, you can now turn on random. Every time your Apple TV 4K goes into sleep mode it will choose one of the available options including your photos, Aerial, Snoopy, and more.

I love this feature because we're always in debate about what screensaver to use, with the kids demanding Snoopy while I'm partial to the Aerial shots.

On the photo and memories screensavers, you can customize these using your iPhone or iPad. That way you don't have to add your entire library, but can choose specific photos that you want to cycle through.

Apple Music & Apple TV

Profiles for the Apple TV app are supported on iPhone and iPad with iOS 27.2, which is great for parents who may hand their device to a child to watch something. Profiles will make sure they don't see age-restricted content and what they watch won't impact your Watch Next queue.

New animated profile options for Apple TV

Apple also added new customization for profile icons, allowing users to choose animated characters from some of Apple's shows. You can pick characters from Snoopy, Stillwater, and Frog and Toad.

Apple's rebranded Apple Music icon

The Apple Music app on Apple TV 4K has a new icon. It matches the rebrand across Apple's other platforms with a black background and white music note.

Within the Music app, artists can now upload custom logos, feature specific content, and choose their own accent colors.

Audio updates

Lastly, there are new audio improvements coming to Apple TV. Both American Sign Language (ASL) and British Sign Language (BSL) are supported.

If you visit Settings > TV > Sign Language, you can turn on either option. There's no indication which content it will work with, but it will be through the Apple TV streaming service.

Apple TV aficionado and Smart Home Insider guest Sigmund Judge noted that a receiver and HomePods can be used together for audio output. That unlocks the ability to use paired HomePods with a dedicated sub or high speakers.

It's a niche setup, but could be useful for those who want a bit more out of their HomePods. Ceiling-mounted high speakers would enable more precise Dolby Atmos.

More to come

For a mid-cycle update to Apple's set-top box, this is a substantial update. But Apple isn't done.

Siri AI running on Apple TV 4K

The tvOS 27.2 update also lays the groundwork for Siri AI. Apple has confirmed that Siri AI will be coming to the existing 3rd-generation Apple TV 4K soon as a beta.

Users can ask information about what they're watching (where was this scene filmed?), content from their messages or emails, and personalized recommendations. At launch, Siri AI will support English in eight countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

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