How to update the software on your Apple TV

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Apple TV's new app could give us the interface we've dreamed of.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

The fourth-generation Apple TV is ready for a new update to tvOS (9.2), bringing Siri dictation to the whole system, including search, user names and passwords. It’s also got a new Folder system like iOS does, which will let you organize your Home screen to your heart’s content, and it will support Apple wireless keyboards and your iCloud Photo Library on the big screen.

If you want to update your Apple TV right now and get all these great new features, just follow the directions below.

If you’ve got a newer Apple TV that supports the Apple TV App Store, the update will bring folders and dictation along with it. During the update, the status light on the front of your fat hockey puck might flash slowly — don’t disconnect or unplug the Apple TV until the update finishes.

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Click here for the new hotness.
Photo: Apple

With your Siri Remote, navigate to the Settings app on your Apple TV. Click through to System, then click on Software Updates, then click on Update Software. Your Apple TV will tell you if there’s an update, and will ask you to confirm that you want to install it shortly after it downloads. Click on through and you’ll have the latest tvOS.

If you’ve got an older Apple TV, the Software Update is in Settings, General, Update Software. Click through and confirm here, too.

You can also make sure your Apple TV has the latest software by turning on the automatic updates. On a newer Apple TV, go to Settings, System, then Software Updates, then click on Automatically Update.

With an older Apple TV, find this setting in Settings, General, Update Software.

Now you know just exactly how to update the software on your Apple TV. Rock on!

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