Apple TV App Store: How to Download Apps on the Apple TV

If you're wondering, "how do I get apps on my Apple TV?" we have the answer. Here's how to add apps to your Apple TV!

By Leanne Hays Updated 01/12/2021

This article will tell you how to access the Apple TV app store and how to download apps on the Apple TV. Want to learn how to add apps to an Apple TV, like on your iPhone or iPad? To download an app on Apple TV, you navigate to the App Store, find the app you want, and click Download. The trick is, if you have an Apple TV third-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.

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

We've gone over how to connect an Apple TV and how to reboot your Apple TV. Now, 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, recipe, or even shopping apps, there's something in the App Store for you!

Jump To:

How to Find the Apple TV App Store

To navigate to the App Store on your Apple TV:

Master your iPhone in one minute a day:

Sign up to iPhone Life's Tip of the Day Newsletter and we'll send you a tip each day to save time and get the most out of your iPhone or iPad.

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

No App Store Icon on Your Apple TV?

If you see no App Store on your Apple TV, you probably have a 3rd-Generation Apple TV or earlier. Those models cannot download apps, so the App Store is absent from the Home screen. Sorry, buddy! 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.

  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.
  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.
  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
     

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

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
Master your iPhone in one minute a day: Sign up here to get our FREE Tip of the Day delivered right to your inbox.
Topics: 
How-To
App Store
Apple TV

Author Details

Leanne Hays's picture

Author Details

Leanne Hays

Leanne Hays is an SEO Content Strategist and 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.