12 Must-Have Apple TV Apps: Best Picks for Your Home Theater Experience
By Dig Om

We already know the Apple TV offers not only live-streaming but also app-based tv and movie viewing. As well, the Apple TV has a wide range of apps for everything from games, to shopping. Here's our 2018 roundup of the best tv, movie, music, gaming, and shopping apps for your Apple TV.
How to Stream the 2018 NHL Playoffs Live on Your Apple TV without Cable
By Leanne Hays
The 2018 National Hockey League Playoffs are underway, and as the Stanley Cup Finals draw closer, fans are wondering how to live stream the NHL games. Let's find out the NHL Playoff game dates, which channels the games are on this year, and how to live stream all the Stanley Cup Finals to our Apple TVs.
Stream the 2018 Kentucky Derby Live on Your Apple TV without Cable
By Leanne Hays
New racing enthusiasts may ask, "when is the Kentucky Derby?" Experienced fans will let you know; the Run for the Roses is always the first Saturday in May. The Kentucky Derby is an American tradition that's been going strong since 1875, and in 2018 we have more options than ever before for catching not only the race itself, which is over in less than three minutes, but all the pageantry and tradition surrounding the event. If you own an Apple TV, you can catch the 2018 Kentucky Derby in 4K high definition resolution, but first, you'll need to find what channel the Derby is on, and a Kentucky Derby live stream. Let's find out the Kentucky Derby race time, what channel the race is on this year, and how to live stream all the derby fun to our Apple TVs.
2018 Masters Golf Tournament: Live Stream All the Coverage on Apple TV
By Leanne Hays

How to Stream the 2018 Masters Live on Your Apple TV without Cable
Broadcast rights for the tournament are split between CBS and ESPN, the Golf Channel and CBS Sports are offering previews and commentary, and DirecTV is offering a live broadcast from Amen Corner, as well as the 15th and 16th holes. With so many broadcasters offering so much Masters content, we have our work cut out for us to figure out which streaming providers and over-the-air antenna will offer the best live coverage for free, or at the lowest price possible. Let's get started learning how to live stream the 2018 Masters Tournament on Apple TV.
Where & How to Watch Black Mirror Online or on Apple TV
By Leanne Hays
Black Mirror Season 4 premiered on Netflix on December 29, 2017, the latest addition to the sci-fi, dystopic anthology that dates back to 2011. Originally produced by the BBC, Black Mirror was bought by Netflix in 2013, which means you need to be subscribed to Netflix to watch it. Netflix has since released twelve episodes of Black Mirror, split between seasons three and four. If you're wondering how a show that has produced 19 episodes total over the course of six years can be so anticipated and critically acclaimed, well, I guess you'll just have to watch to find out! Word of warning, though, Black Mirror is The Twilight Zone of the digital age—if you remember the extreme heeby jeebies you got from some of those old episodes, you might be prepared for the emotional impact of Black Mirror. So, if you're up for a creepy, thought-provoking experience and have a loved one or a pet to snuggle during the scary parts, let's go over how to stream Black Mirror online through your iPhone, iPad, Macbook, or Apple TV.
Where & How to Watch Bright Online or on Apple TV
By Leanne Hays
Bright, an exclusive Netflix offering that is a cop comedy, fantasy film, and comedic thriller all at once, is set in an alternate dimension where fairies, orcs, elves, and magic exist alongside humanity in a modern world that mirrors our own. Netflix invested over 90 million dollars in Bright, and the gamble payed off. 11 million people watched Bright the first three days it was available for streaming, and that's only the number who watched it on TV! The demand for a sequal was nearly immediate, and Netflix has already announced there's one in the works. If you haven't watched Bright yet either, let's go over how to stream Bright online through your iPhone, iPad, Macbook, or Apple TV.
Where & How to Watch The Crown Online or on Apple TV
By Leanne Hays
The Crown, an exclusive Netflix offering, won Best Drama at the Golden Globes this year, and viewers are already excited about news about The Crown Season 3. Will The Crown cast change much? Who will the new Crown actors and characters be? Will Helena Bonham Carter really join The Crown cast? We'll have to wait to find out, but speculation sure is fun! For now, though, if you haven't watched The Crown yet you haven't fallen too far behind. Seasons of The Crown are ten episodes each, and Season Two just premiered on Friday, December 8, 2017. This means that you have nearly all year to watch seasons 1 and 2 of the Crown and can look forward to wrapping your 2018 holiday gifts while watching The Crown Season 3. Here's how to stream The Crown online through your iPhone, iPad, Macbook, or Apple TV.
Where & How to Watch Godless Online or on Apple TV
By Leanne Hays
Godless is Netflix's first attempt at a western series. Originally intended to be a feature-length film, Godless got stretched to seven glorious episodes instead. I love it when that happens! With a cast including Jeff Daniels, Jack O'Connell, Michelle Dockery, and Merritt Wever, plus breathtaking scenery and authentic sets and costumes, this miniseries is sure to please Western afficionados everywhere. All seven episodes of the series have been released, but they're only available on Netflix, which means you need to be subscribed to Netflix. With a Netflix subscription you’ll be able to watch Godless online through your iPhone, iPad, Macbook, or other app-enabled device. You can also stream the show through your Apple TV.
How to Live Stream the 2018 Winter Olympics on Apple TV without Cable
By Leanne Hays
The 2018 Winter Olympics are approaching quickly, and this year promises to be an excellent one for live coverage of both the opening ceremony and athletic events. South Korea bid to host Winter Olympics XXIII all the way back in 2009, and has been planning and building for the event even before receiving news of their winning proposal in 2011. Olympics preparations are doubtless reaching fever pitch at NBC, this year's Olympics broadcaster, as well. After all, the 2018 Winter Olympics will be the largest ever—eighty nations (with the notable exclusion of Russia due to their shameful doping scandal) competing in fifteen different sports at 102 events in twelve different venues! NBC has a lot on their plate with their plans to live stream these winter games, for sure! Winter Olympics fans without cable won't have quite as many plans to make, but we will need to think ahead about how to stream our favorite events and games. Let's get started learning about the NBC Olympics schedule, and how to live stream NBC Olympics coverage to our Apple TVs.
How to Live Stream the 2018 NFL Playoffs on Apple TV
By Leanne Hays
If you're an NFL fan who's cut the cable cord, it can be difficult to watch all the games you'd like via live streaming options. National Football League broadcast rights are a lucrative and sought-after prize, fiercly competed for by national television networks including Fox, ABC, CBS, and NBC. Of course ESPN is in the mix, as well as the NFL Network, and all the local affiliates of national networks who broadcast the earliest games of the season. This is the first NFL season to include live streaming of every game, but which service is able to bring you all these games? It's a dizzying question. Let's narrow the field a little and focus on how to live stream the NFL Playoffs to your Apple TV. We'll check out the NFL Playoff Bracket for 2018 to see which games are broadcast by which networks, then find out how to live stream those networks to your Apple TV. Let's get started on our live stream NFL Playoffs journey!
How to Control Apple TV from Control Center with iOS 11 on iPhone
By Conner Carey
With iOS 11 on iPhone, Control Center is finally customizable. One of the features that you can add to Control Center is your Apple TV Remote. That way, you always have quick and easy access to the Apple Remote app so that you can control Apple TV. To my surprise, you don’t even need the Apple TV Remote app; you just need to add Apple TV Remote to Control Center. Here’s how to control Apple TV from Control Center with iOS 11 on iPhone.
How to Watch Cable on iPhone or iPad
By Tamlin Day
The TV app, which was introduced with iOS 10.3, finally brings all of your TV and movie watching together. Within the TV app, you can see what your viewing options are all in one place, including shows from streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. While a lot of Apple TV users have cut the cable cord, just as many still rely on their regular cable package to watch favorite shows. And most of your favorite networks (ABC, NBC, HGTV, etc) have apps that you can download to your Apple TV, as well as your iPhone and iPad. But when you download those apps, you have to prove you’re a cable subscriber, which is what this tip allows you to do in a couple easy steps (less if you have iCloud Keychain turned on). Here’s how to watch cable on your iPhone or iPad.
How to Connect iPhone or iPad to Your TV: HDMI Cable or AirPlay with Apple TV
By Conner Carey
There are two major different ways you can connect or stream your iPhone or iPad to your TV. The easiest and cheapest way (if you already own an Apple TV) is to use AirPlay, which will allow you to enable iPhone screen mirroring. Alternatively, you can hook up your iPhone or iPad to your TV with an HDMI cable. If your TV doesn’t have an HDMI port, you can use a VGR or AV adapter and cable to connect to your analog TV. But that’s a fairly small pile of people, since the vast majority of TVs have HDMI ports. Which is why I’m going to focus on how to connect your iPhone or iPad to your TV via AirPlay mirroring or with an HDMI cable and adapter. Regardless of what method you choose, it may take a little money to hook your iPhone up to your TV. Which is why, if you already have an Apple TV, I recommend using AirPlay mirroring to watch your iPhone or iPad on your TV. However, I’ll go over both methods and what you need to hook up your iPhone or iPad to your TV below.
How to Use Cellular Data for Playback in the TV App on iPhone
By Conner Carey
The TV app on iPhone or iPad allows you to bring all of your shows and movies together in one app. You can sign in with your cable provider to watch shows from ABC, NBC, and many others. You can also connect your streaming services such as Hulu, Netflix, and HBONow. If you’re concerned about using too much cellular data watching shows, you can turn this feature off. But if you’ve got enough data and want to watch your shows even when you don’t have Wi-Fi, use this tip to turn on Cellular Data for playback.
Apple TV: Your Complete Guide to Setting Up & Streaming On-Demand Content
By Conner Carey
Learning how to use your Apple TV can be a bit of a process—just ask my mom who is still using the old silver Apple TV Remote with our new fourth-generation Apple TV. But our iPhone Life Insider program is all about breaking down the Apple ecosystem into bite-size pieces you can easily digest. From our one-minute video tips to our growing library of in-depth guides, we want to make Insider the best resource you have. And we’re passionate about it. Our latest project is the Complete Apple TV Guide, which covers everything from setting up your Apple TV and using the Siri Remote to finding the best apps for watching free movies and TV shows, plus much more. This is one of our most in-depth guides to date; check out a few of my favorite videos from the guide below and get a sneak peak of the immense value our Insider membership offers.
How to Play Music from iPhone on Apple TV Using Airplay
By Paula Bostrom
You can stream music from your iPhone to your Apple TV using Airplay. This wireless option makes listening to your music collection on your TV easy to do. It’s nice to Airplay your music to your Apple TV when you’re having a party or cleaning the house and you want music to serenade you. A college classmate of mine once told me that he played music constantly day and night. “I feel like I need a soundtrack for my life,” he said. It’s been 20 years since I’ve seen him and music playback has come a long way since that CD player clipped to his belt. If my former classmate now owns an iPhone, my guess would be that he is using AirPlay to keep his tunes playing wherever he goes. Here’s how to play music on Apple TV from iPhone using Airplay.
How to Type on Apple TV Using Your iPhone or iPad
By Conner Carey
Being able to use your iPhone or iPad as a remote for your Apple TV is a fantastic feature, especially since the included remotes are easily lost. Using Siri to type on Apple TV (Gen 4) isn’t perfect, which makes using your iPhone or iPad to type on Apple TV the quickest way to type anything on Apple TV. Forget sliding across or spelling out each letter of a strangely spelled word to Siri, just use the Remote app on iPhone or iPad to make it easy. Here’s how to use your iPhone or iPad to type on Apple TV.
Apple TV Troubleshooting: How to Reboot, Restart, and Reset Your Apple TV
By Conner Carey
As much as we love our Apple TVs, we've all had Apple TV problems now and then. Whether your Apple TV is frozen or your Apple TV is stuck on the Apple Logo or You need to force quit an Apple TV app, we’ll cover multiple solutions to try when your Apple TV is not working. The number one rule of electronics is if it stops working, restart it. So we’ll go over how to reboot the Apple TV and how to hard-restart you Apple TV just in case it’s frozen or stuck on the Apple logo. We’ll also cover how to factory reset and restore your Apple TV in case all else fails or you decide to sell your Apple TV at some point. Here’s how to reset Apple TV and other troubleshooting techniques.
How to Set Up the Remote App for Apple TV on iPhone
By Conner Carey
Using your iPhone as a remote for Apple TV is super easy to set up. Apple has improved upon the Remote app for Apple TV just as it’s improved upon the Apple TV itself. You can set up the remote app for Apple TV in a few quick steps. Why do this? The major benefit of using the Apple TV Remote app is that the remote device need not be in line of sight for the Apple TV to respond. With the app you can change media from any room as long as both the device and Apple TV are connected to the same Wi-Fi. The Remote app also allows you to input text for searches from your iPhone's keyboard. Here’s how to set up the Remote app for Apple TV on iPhone.
15 Best Apple TV Apps for Movies, Music, Gaming & More
By Conner Carey
Apple TV has come a long way in recent years. With the introduction of the 4th-generation Apple TV, we said goodbye to limited Apple TV channels and hello to the Apple TV App Store. But where do you begin when setting up your Apple TV? How do you know what the best Apple TV apps to get are? Consider this an introduction for the newbies and a checklist for those who’ve maybe had their Apple TV a while but never really looked into the full spectrum of what they can download. This is our Apple TV apps list stocked with the best Apple TV apps from your favorite categories: TV and movies, games, fitness, and more. We’ll also cover which of the Apple TV apps are free, free to download but subscription based (i.e. Netflix, Hulu, etc.), free with in-app purchases, or (one-time) paid. Without further ado, here are the best apps for your Apple TV.
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