Only two Apple TVs can run tvOS 27
Apple has released tvOS 27, which is compatible only with the 2021 and 2022 Apple TV 4K models. The update introduces performance improvements, a redesigned Podcasts app, and support for Hi-Res Lossless audio.
Why it matters
This update marks the first time Apple has discontinued support for older hardware on a tvOS release, impacting the longevity of older streaming devices.
Apple released tvOS 27 on Monday, 14 September 2026, as build 24J361. It is free, and it installs on exactly two devices: the Apple TV 4K from 2021 and the Apple TV 4K from 2022.
tvOS is the software that runs Apple's streaming box, the way iOS runs an iPhone. The Apple TV 4K is that box, a small black square that plugs into a television over HDMI and runs Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, Apple's own apps and whatever else you install from the App Store.
Two boxes get dropped
The Apple TV HD from 2015 and the first Apple TV 4K from 2017 do not get tvOS 27. They stay on tvOS 26 and stop getting new features. This is the first time Apple has left an Apple TV behind on a tvOS release, which is worth knowing before you buy a cheap secondhand unit.
https://www.tiktok.com/@techishkenya/video/7198462721275251974
Speed
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in