Stream brilliant shows and watch the latest movies on any Apple device
The Apple TV app is one of iTunes’ three children. iTunes was Apple’s long-standing, do-everything entertainment app, but what started off as an iPod companion app turned into something much bigger – and in the end, much more bloated. So Apple took iTunes and split it into three more focused apps: Music, Podcasts and TV. The Apple TV app works much like iTunes did but it’s faster, simpler and easier to navigate, plus it has Apple’s Apple TV+ streaming service built in.
There’s lots to like about the Apple TV app, including good options for subtitling and audio on Apple TV+ and purchased content, the ability to stream via AirPlay to other devices including the Apple TV 4K, and the option to rent as well as buy movies. However, as much as we like the TV app, one thing that disappoints us is the lack of integration with Photos: you can’t just drag your iPhone or iPad home movies from Photos into your TV library even though it has a Home Movies section. Hopefully that’ll be addressed in a future version.
In this in-depth guide, you’ll discover what the Apple TV app can do on your iPad an how to use it to rent and buy movies as well as share them with friends.
Watch TV on iPad
From small screen joy to big screen streaming, courtesy of AirPlay
The Apple TV app in iOS and iPadOS works almost identically to the one on Mac. However, there are some differences, especially under the hood. In Settings > TV you’ll find a range of options that include a choice of high quality or data-saving streaming modes – the latter’s good if you’re using mobile data – as well as options to set the default languages and download quality.
On iPhone and iPad, streaming is usually better than downloading; movies can be over 2GB in size and TV episodes can be big too. The first episode of Invasion, for example, needs 1.18GB of storage space.
Another limitation is, of course, display size; even the 12.9-inch iPad Pro’s screen will pale in comparison with an iMac, external monitor or TV. That’s where AirPlay comes in. You can AirPlay movies and shows from your iPhone or iPad to your Mac, to your Apple TV box or to an AirPlay-enabled smart TV. Check your TV’s spec to check compatibility but manufacturers offering AirPlay-enabled TVs include LG, Samsung and Sony.
How to Use the Apple TV app on iPad
The Apple TV app on an iPad has a sidebar containing TV, Store and Library sections on the left; and the current selection – in this case the Search screen – taking up the most space on the right.
The Movies section takes you to that part of the Store, where you can find out more about films, watch their trailers and then either bu
