Apple TV App Store: How to Download Apps on Apple TV (tvOS 15 Update)

If you're wondering how to add apps to your Apple TV, we have the answer!

By Leanne Hays Updated 01/12/2022

This article will tell you how to access the Apple TV app store and how to download apps on the Apple TV. We'll go over how to add apps to an Apple TV just like on your iPhone or iPad.

Related: Apple TV Plus: Content, Cost, Devices, Pros & Cons

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How to Find the App Store on Your Apple TV & Download Apple TV Apps

To download an app on Apple TV, you navigate to the App Store, find the app you want, and click Download. The catch is, if you want to know how to install apps on Apple TV 3rd generation or older, you're limited to pre-installed apps. If you have the Apple TV 4K or the Apple TV HD (fourth generation), you have access to the App Store and can get apps from a selection of thousands of free or paid apps, just like on your iPhone or iPad.

Let's get started learning how to find and download apps so you can get the most out of your Apple TV. Whether you're looking for fitness, sports, games, recipes, or even shopping apps, there's something in the App Store for you! You'll need your Apple ID for this process, so if you need to change it, consider doing so before you begin.

Where Is the Apple TV App Store?

To navigate to the App Store on your Apple TV:

  1. Click the Back button on your Apple TV remote to go to the Home screen (if you're not already there).

    Apple TV Siri remote back button
    Image from Apple.com
     
  2. Scroll down in your apps until you see the App Store icon; click on it. 

    app store icon
     
  3. Navigate to the app you wish to download (see below).

If you are experiencing issues with your Apple TV remote, check out these troubleshooting tips.

No App Store Icon on Your Apple TV?

If you see no App Store on your Apple TV, you probably have a third-generation Apple TV or earlier. There is no App Store on Apple TV 3rd generation or earlier, so the App Store is absent from the Home screen. We recommend that you try using AirPlay from your iPhone to play content on your Apple TV, bypassing the need to download apps. 

How to Download Apps on an Apple TV

Once you've opened the App Store, you'll have a few different options for finding an app you'd like to download. If you've already downloaded it, you can check out how to see your Apple purchases.

  1. You'll see a menu bar at the top of your screen. If you know exactly which app you want, click on the Search icon on the right.

    apple tv app categories
     
  2. From here, you'll be able to use the trackpad on your Apple TV remote to scroll left and right, tapping letters to spell out the app you're looking for. You can also choose to enter text using your iPhone keyboard or by pressing the microphone icon on your Siri remote and doing a voice search.

    type out apple tv app to download
     
  3. Once the app comes up in the options, click on it. 

    tap the app you searched for
     
  4. Now you'll see an app description and price; if you decide you'd like to download the app, click on Buy. If the app is free, click Get. You may be asked to enter your Apple ID password to complete this process.

    tap get or open to download the app
     
  5. Once the app is downloaded, click Open to open the app.

    Open downloaded apple tv app
     
  6. You'll be able to find your apps, including recent purchases and updates, by clicking the Purchased tab in the top menu of the App Store app. 

    recently purchased apple tv apps

How to Find New Apps on an Apple TV 

If you don't have any specific app in mind and would like to explore your options, then:

  1. Click on the Apps tab in the App Store menu and scroll down to Categories.

    apple tv app categories
     
  2. Look through Kids, News, Food & Drink apps, and much more.
  3. You can also click on the Games or Discover tab to see the current Top Free and Top Paid apps available at the moment.

    top free and top paid apple tv apps

Enjoy your Apple TV apps! If you need to delete an app on Apple TV or close an app on Apple TV, we have articles about that, too.

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Topics

How-To
Apple TV
Apps
App Store
Apple Apps
Third-Party Apps
Entertainment

Author Details

Leanne Hays's picture

Author Details

Leanne Hays

Leanne Hays is a Feature Writer at iPhone Life, and has written hundreds of in-depth how-to and troubleshooting articles. She's a former Associate Editor for iPhone Life magazine, and has written for the Iowa Source, as well as web content for education marketing. Leanne has an associate's degree in education, with a focus on curriculum development, as well as a bachelor's degree in science. She has over nine years of experience with SEO, social media management, and web development and writing. Despite years of web work, Leanne is by no means an early adapter; she's only owned a smartphone for five years, which makes her highly sympathetic to the learning curve of new iPhone owners. She enjoys making reader's lives easier and putting her education experience to work by walking them through the most practical ways to use Apple devices, step-by-step.

In off-work hours, Leanne is a mother of two, homesteader, audiobook fanatic, musician, and learning enthusiast.