tvOS 15 lets you sign into apps using Face ID or Touch ID on iPhone

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tvOS 15 lets you sign in with iPhone and iPad
No need to struggle with the Siri Remote.
Image: Apple

Signing into Apple TV apps will soon be easier than ever, thanks to the ability to use Face ID or Touch ID on your iPhone or iPad with tvOS 15.

The new “Sign in with Apple Device” feature will negate the need to enter usernames and passwords with Apple TV’s Siri Remote, significantly speeding up the sign in process. But there is a small catch.

Many Apple TV apps require users to sign in the first time they are used. You need an account to access popular third-party streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. And the sign in process is more than a little finicky.

Entering email addresses and passwords with Apple TV’s onscreen keyboard and Siri Remote is never fun. But with tvOS 15, you’ll be able to use your iPhone or iPad for near-instant logins instead.

Sign in with iPhone and iPad in tvOS 15

“We want everyone using Apple TV to be able to get to their content quickly, and with as little friction as possible,” said tvOS engineer Caleb in a new WWDC developer session video.

“That means the process of signing in to your apps should be fluid and painless … In tvOS 15, we have a great new feature that makes it easier than ever to perform password-based sign-ins in your apps.”

tvOS 15 will offer a “Sign in with Apple Device option.” Selecting it will deliver a notification to your iPhone and iPad (if they’ve been updated), where you’ll be able to sign in quickly using Face ID or Touch ID.

That is, of course, if you already have your account saved on iPhone and iPad. If not, you’ll need to enter your details from scratch, though this will still be a lot quicker than logging in on Apple TV itself.

The catch? Developers must implement the Sign in with Apple Device option into their tvOS apps, so it won’t be available everywhere immediately after updating your Apple TV.

tvOS 15 lands this fall

tvOS 15 is scheduled to make its public debut this fall alongside iOS 15, iPadOS 15, macOS Monterey, and watchOS 8. It will be a free update for all compatible devices. Registered developers can get the first beta now.

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