5 Apple TV Features Every Family Should Use

The Apple TV is one of Apple’s most exciting hardware devices for bringing the family together. After all, it enhances any smart TV with Apple’s tvOS by combining a great selection of apps, Apple services and upgradeable hardware, with the company offering several years of software updates and a processor as good as that of many powerful computers. That said, if you own an Apple TV and everyone in your family uses the set-top box, you should use multiple profiles, parental controls, and even Apple Music Sing, among several other features.

While Apple still supports the second- and third-generation Apple TV 4K (both devices will get Siri AI later this year), the company also recently announced a fourth-generation Apple TV 4K, with a more capable processor, built-in microphones for better “Hey Siri” requests, and improved specs for a scalable experience — like the ability to pair four HomePod models to create fuller surround sound.

That said, whether you own one of the previous models or are considering upgrading to the new Apple TV, there are several features your family should use to spend more quality time together, keep your recommendations truly yours, and much more.

The main feature that every family should use on an Apple TV is multiple profiles. After all, with a specific profile, Apple TV can personalize content based on what you watch on Apple TV (the streaming service), other streams connected through the Apple TV app, your photos, your Apple Music library, and your favorite workouts in Apple Fitness+. With that in mind, if your partner, kids, or someone else in your iCloud+/AppleOne family wants to use Apple TV, they can also get personalized recommendations.

Although Apple TV already suggests the Apple accounts you have associated with your family, you can easily add, remove, or remove profiles on Apple TV 4K. On your Apple TV, go to Settings > Profiles & Accounts > Add New Profile. Another option is to hold the small TV symbol on the remote to open Control Center > Profile > Add Profile. Once signed in with an Apple account, it will remain signed in.

If you have a management profile, you can set recommended or custom content restrictions for those profiles, or create a Kids profile that doesn’t need to be synced with an Apple account, providing age-appropriate content and search results. Once the child is old enough to have an Apple account, you can upgrade that profile to an Apple account. When you start a session on your Apple TV, open Control Center to select who’s using it so it shows the right recommendations on your Home screen.

With tvOS 17, Apple introduced FaceTime to the Apple TV. Although it doesn’t allow users to start a call directly on the set-top box, Apple has made proximity easier by using the iPhone as the main camera. For example, if a relative living abroad calls you and you want the whole family to be together, this is the best way to enjoy the experience. After all, with iPhone and Continuity Camera, everyone can join the call while the caller stays on the big screen.

With iPhone’s main and Center Stage cameras, everyone in the house can fit into the frame, move around, and even use gestures to react to what’s being said, like a thumbs up, a heart shape with two hands, and more. Better yet, users can use Split View to watch TV shows or movies with other people during a SharePlay session (when the streaming service allows it) while still seeing everyone during the FaceTime call.

To enjoy this experience, go to Settings on your iPhone > FaceTime and make sure it’s turned on. Otherwise, sign in to FaceTime with your Apple account. On Apple TV, with an iPhone or iPad connected as the continuity camera, select a recipient or contact from your list (or multiple for a group call), then select FaceTime Video or Audio.

If everyone in your family uses Apple TV, including children under 18, you can set up parental controls. With tvOS 27, Apple added new restrictions and better ways to prevent certain audiences from accessing inappropriate content. To enable restrictions, press and hold the TV icon on the remote to open Control Center, then select the Parental Controls icon. Another possibility is Settings > General > Restrictions. Turn it on and enter a 4-digit password.

Next, you can select the activity you want to restrict, such as purchasing or renting TV shows, movies and/or apps; access apps, TV shows, movies, music, and podcasts based on ratings or explicit language; play multiplayer games, add people, or change Game Center privacy settings; change AirPlay, TV provider, or location settings. If you use Family Sharing, you can prevent your family members from buying gifts online and enable features like Ask to Buy, so you’ll receive a notification every time your kids want to buy something.

That said, Apple notes that the restrictions may not apply to App Store downloads, such as Netflix and other apps not integrated into the Apple TV app. In these cases, you may need to access each app individually to apply restrictions to specific content.

Starting with tvOS 27.2, Apple will enable Siri AI on Apple TV 4K (2nd generation) and newer set-top boxes. To work, the new Siri requires an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone, such as an iPhone 15 Pro, nearby – although it might work better on an iPhone 18. With this, you can use the all-new Siri with a more natural voice, preview TV shows, and even ask the personal assistant for insights about the world. Users can take advantage of the new Siri by activating it on an iPhone. With the latest tvOS software, they can then call Siri by voice or with the remote control for a new experience.

Among the suggestions for families, Apple says users can ask questions like “Which Apple TV shows won Emmys this year?” “, which will bring posters from the Apple TV app with relevant suggestions, or even more in-depth knowledge for questions like “Is this appropriate for a 15 year old?” Apple says these responses appear in “a compact, subtle overlay, providing useful information when viewers ask for it while keeping them immersed in the action.”

With the new Apple TV 4K, users can also use the three new far-field microphones to ask Siri even during audio playback. This is the first time Apple has added microphones to the Apple TV, although previous rumors suggested the company could eventually add a camera to the set-top box.

The fifth feature that families can enjoy with an Apple TV is Apple Music Sing. Requiring a third-generation Apple TV 4K or newer, users can sing along to their favorite songs with lyrics in real time and really turn down the lead vocals. With this, family members can all sing, perform duets and much more. Although users can also enjoy this feature on iPhone and iPad, the best way to enjoy it is on the big screen, as you can use the Continuity Camera (the same feature of FaceTime on Apple TV) to see you and your family members on screen while applying camera filters to make the experience even more immersive.

To start enjoying Apple Music Sing, open the Apple Music app, select Play a Song, then select Lyrics at the bottom of the screen. Next, on the Apple TV Remote, press Return, then select Microphone. Then you can adjust the voices by sliding the clickpad on the Apple TV remote. Another option is to select the Apple Music Sing icon on the Apple TV 4K, then display the playback controls, then select the microphone. There you can scan a QR code to connect up to 30 iPhones and party the night away. This way, every member of the family with an iPhone can sing their favorite songs, add songs to the queue, react and use the continuity camera to make it even more joyful.