Alongside its great content to watch, Apple TV+ is also packed with lots of fantastic features that can improve your streaming experience. To help you out, we’ve rounded up the top Apple TV+ tips and tricks you must try.
1. Download for Offline Viewing
If you use Apple TV+ on your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, or Mac, you can download movies and shows to enjoy when you don’t have an internet connection. This is perfect if your connection is often unreliable or you’re going to be traveling and without data.
All you need to do is select the download button (represented by a down arrow) next to what you want. Then, to view your downloads, go to the Library section and switch to Downloaded.
It’s from this same section that you can remove downloaded content to free up your storage. Otherwise, content lasts 30 days on your device before being removed automatically (content from other channels, which we’ll cover below, may expire quicker).
2. Share Your Subscription With Family
Did you know that you can share your Apple TV+ with up to five other people? The best part is that it doesn’t cost anyone a dime. You’d be forgiven for not realizing this because the process isn’t as straightforward as services like Netflix make it.
To let others use your Apple TV+ subscription, you need to set up Apple Family Sharing. The important point to note is that everyone needs their own Apple ID. It’s a minor inconvenience if they don’t already have one, but it’s far safer than handing out your Apple TV+ credentials. Plus, your fellow members don’t technically need to be relatives.
You can watch Apple TV+ on six simultaneous streams, whether you’re using Apple Family Sharing or not, so you don’t have to worry about reaching a limit.
3. Enable Parental Controls to Protect Kids
Apple TV+ has some great content for kids, but it also has adult-orientated stuff that you probably don’t want them to see. To protect them, you can enable content restriction. Once enabled, only shows and movies up to the maturity certification you specify are viewable; anything else needs a user-defined PIN to unlock.
The way you manage parental controls on Apple TV+ depends on your device. For example, on the web, you’ll find it in account settings; for an iOS or iPadOS device, you’ll find it in the operating system’s screen time settings.
4. Mange Your Up Next List
If you leave a movie or TV series unfinished, it automatically appears in your Up Next list. But what if you want to keep track of something you intend to watch? You can add that to the list too.
To do so, hover the tile and select the three horizontal dots or long press. Then, select Add to Up Next. To remove something, repeat this and select Remove from Up Next instead.
If you ever want to clear the list in bulk, head into your account settings and select Clear Play History.
5. Subscribe to Channels to Watch More
If you’ve exhausted all the original content on Apple TV+, don’t fear. There’s plenty more for you to enjoy via Apple TV channels. If you watch Apple TV+ through the Apple TV app, you can subscribe to channels from other providers. These come with their own monthly fee, which varies by channel, though many offer a free trial.
Channel availability varies per region, but in the US channels include AMC+, Starz, Showtime, and Paramount+. By subscribing to these channels within Apple TV, you don’t need to leave the ecosystem; that means you can download the shows and movies, and those on your Family Sharing plan can watch them too.
To find available channels, go to the Watch Now tab and scroll down to Channels. Select a channel to find out more, including how much it costs. Consider subscribing to one on-demand channel at a time so that you can maximize your viewing time, before canceling and moving to the next.
6. Enable and Customize Subtitles
Apple TV+ offers subtitles in a variety of languages, which is great for accessibility. You can enable or disable these on the fly while you’re watching something. You can also customize the subtitle appearance and change the font, size, text and background color, text outline, and more.
How you achieve this varies quite heavily depending on your device, so be sure to read our guide on how to enable and customize Apple TV+ subtitles.
7. Get Apple TV+ Cheaper or Free
If you’ve yet to sign up for Apple TV+, hold fire. There are various ways to get Apple TV+ free. The first is through the standard seven-day free trial, available to all new Apple TV+ subscribers.
The second is through a purchase of a flagship Apple device, like an iPhone or iPad. This nets you three free months of the streaming service. You might also be able to nab free access when buying a TV or phone contract, though these offers vary.
The third is through purchase of an Apple Music student subscription. As long as you remain eligible and maintain the subscription, you can access Apple TV+ free.
If you’re an existing subscriber, you can still nab a deal. Switch your Apple TV+ subscription to annual from monthly and you essentially get two months free—it costs $49.99/year as opposed to $4.99/month.
Explore Everything Apple TV+ Has to Offer
The next time you launch Apple TV+ to watch the next episode of your current binge, take a moment to try out some of the tricks we’ve explored here. Don’t be afraid to have a play around—Apple continues to improve Apple TV+, so who knows what new and exciting feature you’ll discover.
