Apple’s new single sign-on feature can be a serious timesaver. Just sign in to your cable, satellite or internet TV accounts — like Dish, DirecTV, Sling TV, etc. — via your iPhone or Apple TV. Then you’ll be automatically logged in to any app that’s compatible with your service.
No more fumbling around trying to remember your user name and password when you just want to watch some video!
Find out if your TV provider supports single sign-on
Apple launched single sign-on today, adding four new TV providers to the list of participating services. Here’s how to set up single sign-on for your iOS device or Apple TV so you can take advantage of this super-convenient feature.
First, check Apple’s support site to see if your provider supports single sign-on. Currently, the following providers have signed on to single sign-on: CenturyLink Prism, DirecTV, Dish, GVTC, GTA, Hawaiian Telcom, Hotwire, MetroCast and Sling.
Apple will undoubtedly be adding more to the list in the near future.
Note: Not all apps support single sign-on yet either. (See Apple’s full list of supported apps at the end of this how-to.)
Set up single sign-in on iOS
To set up single sign-in on iPhone or iPad, first check to make sure you’ve upgraded to the latest version of iOS.
Then go to the Settings app and scroll down to the TV Provider entry. Tap TV Provider, then select your provider and sign in.
Set up single sign-in on tvOS
To set up single sign-in on your fourth-generation Apple TV, first make sure your version of tvOS is up-to-date.
Then go to Settings, find Accounts, and locate your TV Provider from the list.
Sign in to your provider.
[contextly_auto_sidebar] That’s it! All your TV provider-enabled apps should be raring to go.
What, you thought this would be hard?
In both cases, if you’ve signed in from an iOS device that’s connected to others via iCloud using the same Apple ID, each will simultaneously be signed in with your TV provider (one provider at a time), and all its associated apps should be ready to go. Keep an eye out for Apple’s new TV app, which should centralize and streamline the process even more.
Until then, happy viewing.
These apps support single sign-on
So far, only a smattering of TV network apps support single sign-on. And, to make things slightly more confusing, some work on iOS but not tvOS (and vice versa).
Here’s Apple’s official launch list of apps that support single sign-on:
A&E (iOS only)
Bravo Now (tvOS only)
E! Now (tvOS only)
Hallmark Channel Everywhere (iOS and tvOS)
History (iOS only)
Lifetime (iOS only)
NBC (tvOS only)
Syfy Now (tvOS only)
Telemundo Now (tvOS only)
USA NOW (tvOS only)
Watch HGTV (iOS and tvOS)
Watch Food Network (iOS and tvOS)
Watch Cooking Channel (iOS and tvOS)
Watch DIY (iOS and tvOS)
Watch Travel Channel (iOS and tvOS)
Source: Apple
