Apple Seeds Second Beta of tvOS 16.1 to Developers

Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming tvOS 16.1 update to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming one week after the launch of the first beta.

apple tv 4k design blue
tvOS updates are typically minor, focusing on under-the-hood bug fixes and improvements rather than outward-facing changes. No new features were found in the first beta of tvOS 16.1.

Apple shares some information on tvOS releases in its tvOS support document, which is updated after each tvOS launch. tvOS 16 brought enhanced multiuser support, Personalized Spatial Audio when using AirPods, and Accessibility improvements.

Though we don't often know what's new in tvOS during the beta testing process, we let MacRumors readers know when new updates are available so those who are developers can download it upon release.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro 3 4ths Perspective Aluminum Camera Module 1

New iPhone 17 Pro Details: Brighter Display, Best Battery Life, and More

Wednesday September 3, 2025 5:33 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models will feature a number of significant display, thermal, and battery improvements, according to new late-stage rumors. According to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital," the iPhone 17 Pro models will feature displays with higher brightness, making it more suitable for use in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. The iPhone 16 Pro and...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

iPhone 17 Pro: 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade This Year

Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Prices Estimated Ahead of Apple Event Next Week

Tuesday September 2, 2025 1:50 pm PDT by
Just one week before Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series, an analyst has shared new price estimates for the devices. Here are J.P. Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee's price estimates for the iPhone 17 series in the United States, according to 9to5Mac: Model Starting Price Model Starting Price Change iPhone 16 $799 iPhone 17 ...
iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
iOS 18 on iPhone Arrow Down

Apple Preparing iOS 18.7 for iPhones as iOS 26 Release Date Nears

Sunday August 31, 2025 4:35 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 18.7 for compatible iPhone models, according to evidence of the update in the MacRumors visitor logs. We expect iOS 18.7 to be released in September, alongside iOS 26. The update will likely include fixes for security vulnerabilities, but little else. iOS 18.7 will be one of the final updates ever released for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR,...
iPhone 17 Pro on Desk Centered 1

Survey: Nearly 70% of Users Plan to Upgrade to iPhone 17

Monday September 1, 2025 8:24 am PDT by
A new survey has found that nearly seven in ten iPhone owners in the United States plan to upgrade to an iPhone 17 model, signaling strong demand ahead of Apple's expected unveiling of the devices at its September 9 keynote. Smartphone price comparison platform SellCell surveyed over 2,000 U.S.-based iPhone users in August to assess upgrade interest and brand loyalty before Apple's event....

Top Rated Comments

Rhodes187 Avatar
39 months ago
Crazy that Apple does bare minimum for the Photos app on the AppleTV. Here's this conduit on the perfect screen to view all your photos/videos, yet browsing them is painful. Why have they not implemented a search by date/person/location/etc etc to explore your content?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
audiomixer Avatar
39 months ago

Hope they fixed the volume issue.
Did they? I’ll update mine in the morning and see. My current 16.1 volume conrtol is working after much fanfare.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Gator5000e Avatar
39 months ago
OK, guys. Waiting on any reports of what it does, if anything.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
izzle22 Avatar
39 months ago
Hope they fixed the volume issue.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BKDad Avatar
39 months ago
"tvOS updates are typically minor" ?

Since the tvOS 16 update this morning, my volume control doesn't work. The dedicated Apple supplied hardware volume control!

After the upgrade, it asks for additional Apple ID credentials. But, no problem. Just hold your iPad running iPadOS 16 (cruel joke) up to the Apple TV or your iPhone running iOS 16 and some magic will occur. Well, I tried with my new iPhone running iOS 16. I got to the point where it asked me to type in the secret four digit code that was on screen. So, I did. Then, it all stopped and I got a friendly message telling that whatever was going to happen didn't work right then, so try again later. I did. Nothing. Unplugged the Apple TV and tried again. Nothing. Tried a third time and still nothing. Then, I realized that this was just some sadistic joke on Apple's part. Just how could anybody enter the Apple ID information if they didn't own an iOS 16 wielding iPhone? There's no way I found to do any of it manually. I'd be pleased if somebody could show me how I'm wrong about this.

Y'know how holding down both those buttons on the remote for a few seconds used to initiate a restart? No more! (To be fair, I quit after about 8 seconds both times I tried.) This is important because of how often some apps cause the Apple TV to suddenly stutter and turn the sound into something from the original Buck Rogers serials with Buster Crabbe. Restarting is the fix. Since getting through the menus to the Setting that allows a software restart is so difficult once the stuttering begins, that means unplugging the Apple TV. Part of the Apple Health through exercise software, no doubt. Note that I've witnessed this stuttering bug through three different Apple TVs on two different TV sets, even going back to an Apple TV HD model. Even unloading each app - all video streaming apps, no games - doesn't help.

If I could roll back to the last version of tvOS, I'd do it in a second.

Over the last several updates, I haven't found anything that's worked better or provided much of anything new. Except new bugs.

I get the idea that Apple's culture is such that testing and fixing bugs is something that is frowned upon and anybody doing that work is being punished. Only cool new stuff, no matter how flaky it comes out, is worthy of putting effort into. Some friggin culture.

OTOH, we just bought a refurb iMac with an i7 processor in it that was apparently built just before Apple switched to Apple silicon for their new iMac products. Not as fast as Apple silicon, of course, but we bought it to run Windows 10 under Boot Camp. It works great with Monterey installed. Way better experience than this tvOS "upgrade." So, I'm not just being negative toward Apple.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)