# tvOS

> operating system of the Apple TV

**Wikidata**: [Q20965967](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q20965967)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TvOS)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/tvos

## Summary

tvOS was established on October 30, 2015 . It is a television operating system developed by Apple for the Apple TV device. The system supports apps, games, and media streaming services tailored for the television interface.

## Summary
tvOS is the operating system developed by Apple Inc. for its Apple TV digital media player. Based on Apple's iOS mobile operating system, tvOS is designed to run on a smart TV and provides the platform for applications and games on the Apple TV. Its first major release was tvOS 9 in 2015.

## Key Facts
- **Developer:** Apple Inc.
- **Initial Release Date:** October 30, 2015
- **Primary Platform:** Apple TV
- **Classification:** Television operating system, computing platform
- **Based On:** iOS
- **First Major Release:** tvOS 9
- **License:** Apple Public Source License
- **Copyright Holder:** Apple Inc.

## FAQs
### Q: What is tvOS?
A: tvOS is the operating system that runs on the Apple TV, a digital media player made by Apple Inc. It is a version of Apple's iOS that has been adapted for a television interface, allowing users to run apps and games.

### Q: Who makes tvOS?
A: tvOS is developed and copyrighted by Apple Inc., the American multinational technology company based in Cupertino, California.

### Q: What devices use tvOS?
A: tvOS is the operating system used exclusively by the Apple TV. The source material specifies that tvOS 13 was developed for the 4th generation and later Apple TV models.

## Why It Matters
tvOS is Apple's dedicated operating system for the living room, transforming the Apple TV from a simple media receiver into a comprehensive entertainment hub. By being a subclass of iOS, it leverages a massive existing ecosystem of developers and technologies, making it easier to create rich applications and games for the television. This extends Apple's influence beyond personal devices like the iPhone and Mac into the shared space of the home.

The platform's support for a wide range of video games, from `Grindstone` to `Alba: A Wildlife Adventure`, establishes the Apple TV as a casual gaming console, competing for user attention against traditional consoles and other smart TV platforms. Its consistent annual release cycle, with versions from tvOS 9 through tvOS 17 documented, demonstrates Apple's ongoing commitment to the platform, ensuring it remains a relevant and evolving player in the competitive smart TV operating system market.

## Notable For
- **iOS Foundation:** tvOS is a subclass of Apple's iOS, which allows it to benefit from the maturity, security, and developer familiarity of the mobile operating system.
- **Exclusive to Apple TV:** The operating system is designed for and runs exclusively on Apple's own Apple TV hardware, a key part of Apple's vertically integrated product strategy.
- **App and Gaming Platform:** Beyond streaming media, tvOS supports a dedicated App Store and a wide variety of video games, positioning the Apple TV as a versatile entertainment and gaming device.
- **Consistent Release Schedule:** The platform has a history of major annual releases, including tvOS 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17, indicating a sustained development effort from Apple.

## Body
### ### Development and Ownership
tvOS is developed by Apple Inc., which also holds the copyright for the software. It is distributed under the Apple Public Source License. The official developer website is located at `https://developer.apple.com/tvos/`.

### ### Classification and Lineage
tvOS is classified as a television operating system and a computing platform. It is a direct subclass of iOS, Apple's mobile operating system, inheriting much of its underlying architecture and frameworks.

### ### Platform and Hardware
The operating system is built exclusively for the Apple TV, a home media receiver device made by Apple. The source material notes that tvOS 13 was developed for the 4th generation and later Apple TV models.

### ### Version History
The first major release of the operating system was tvOS 9. Since its inception, tvOS has received numerous major updates, including:
- tvOS 10 (second major release)
- tvOS 11 (third major release)
- tvOS 12 (fourth major release)
- tvOS 13
- tvOS 14 (sixth major release)
- tvOS 15 (seventh major release)
- tvOS 16 (eighth major release)
- tvOS 17 (ninth major release)
- tvOS 26 (tenth major release)

The system also receives regular point-release updates. For example, version 11.4.1 for the Apple TV (4th generation) was released on July 9, 2018.

### ### Supported Software
tvOS runs a variety of applications, with a notable emphasis on video games. Games confirmed to run on the platform include:
- `Alba: A Wildlife Adventure`
- `Frogger in Toy Town`
- `Grindstone`
- `Nuts`
- `Oceanhorn: Chronos Dungeon`
- `South of the Circle`
- `SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit`
- `Star Trek: Legends`

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "tvOS",
  "description": "tvOS is the operating system of the Apple TV, developed by Apple Inc.",
  "url": "https://developer.apple.com/tvos/",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TvOS"
  ],
  "additionalType": [
    "http://schema.org/SoftwareApplication",
    "http://schema.org/OperatingSystem"
  ],
  "developer": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Apple Inc."
  },
  "copyrightHolder": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Apple Inc."
  },
  "license": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Public_Source_License",
  "operatingSystem": "Apple TV"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205444)
2. [Source](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208113)
3. [Source](https://support.apple.com/de-de/HT208219)
4. [Source](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208327)
5. [Source](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208359)
6. [Source](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208462)
7. [Source](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208536)
8. [Source](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208850)
9. [Source](https://support.apple.com/de-de/HT208936)
10. [Source](https://support.apple.com/de-de/HT209107)
11. [Source](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209194)
12. [Source](https://support.apple.com/de-de/HT210346)
13. [Source](https://support.apple.com/de-de/HT210604)
14. [Apple-Sicherheitsupdates. 2020](https://support.apple.com/de-de/HT201222)
15. [Apple Releases tvOS 13.3.1 for Fourth and Fifth-Generation Apple TV. 2020](https://www.macrumors.com/2020/01/28/apple-releases-tvos-13-3-1/)
16. [Source](https://www.macrumors.com/2020/03/24/apple-releases-ios-13-4/)
17. [Neueste Softwareupdates von Apple laden](https://support.apple.com/de-de/HT201222)
18. [About the security content of tvOS 13.4.6](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211216)
19. [Apple Releases tvOS 13.4.8 for Fourth and Fifth-Generation Apple TV Models](https://www.macrumors.com/2020/07/15/apple-releases-tvos-13-4-8/)
20. [iOS 14 is available today](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2020/09/ios-14-is-available-today/)
21. [Apple Releases iOS 14.0.1 With Fix for Bug That Resets Default Apps After Rebooting. 2020](https://www.macrumors.com/2020/09/24/apple-releases-ios-14-0-1/)
22. [Apple releases tvOS 14.0.2 with bug fixes for Apple TV users. 2020](https://9to5mac.com/2020/10/05/apple-releases-tvos-14-0-2-with-bug-fixes-for-apple-tv-users/)
23. [Apple releases iOS 14.2 with new emoji and wallpapers, HomePod Intercom support, more. 2020](https://9to5mac.com/2020/11/05/ios-14-2-release-new-features/)
24. [Apple releases iOS 14.3 with ProRAW for iPhone 12 Pro, AirPods Max and Fitness+ support, more. 2020](https://9to5mac.com/2020/12/14/ios-14-3-features-now-available/)
25. [About the security content of tvOS 14.4. 2021](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212149)
26. [tvOS 14.5 with new Color Balance feature and more now available. 2021](https://9to5mac.com/2021/04/26/tvos-14-5-with-new-color-balance-feature-and-more-now-available/)
27. [Apple releases tvOS 14.6 and HomePod 14.6 for all users. 2021](https://9to5mac.com/2021/05/24/tvos-homepod-14-6-available-now/)
28. [Apple releases iOS 14.7 to the public with MagSafe Battery Pack support, ability to combine Apple Card accounts, more. 2021](https://9to5mac.com/2021/07/19/ios-14-7-release-notes-features-changes/)
29. [Apple releases tvOS 15 and HomePod 15 to the public, here’s how to install them. 2021](https://9to5mac.com/2021/09/20/tvos-15-homepod-release-how-to-install/)
30. [Apple releases tvOS 15.1 with SharePlay and HomePod 15.1 with Lossless support. 2021](https://9to5mac.com/2021/10/25/apple-releases-tvos-15-1-with-shareplay-and-homepod-15-1-with-lossless-support/)
31. [Apple releases tvOS 15.1.1 for Apple TV users. 2021](https://9to5mac.com/2021/11/01/apple-releases-tvos-15-1-1-for-apple-tv-users/)
32. [Apple releases iOS 15.2, watchOS 8.3, and tvOS 15.2 to all users. 2021](https://9to5mac.com/2021/12/13/apple-releases-ios-15-2-watchos-8-3-and-tvos-15-2-to-all-users/)
33. [Apple releases tvOS 15.3 and HomePod 15.3 enabling multi-user voice recognition in more countries. 2022](https://9to5mac.com/2022/01/26/apple-releases-tvos-homepod-15-3/)
34. [2022](https://www.macrumors.com/2022/03/14/apple-releases-tvos-15-4/)
35. [Source](https://www.macrumors.com/2022/09/12/apple-releases-tvos-16/)
36. [2022](https://www.macrumors.com/2022/11/16/apple-releases-tvos-16-1-1/)
37. [Source](https://developer.apple.com/news/releases/?id=12132022c)
38. [Source](https://developer.apple.com/news/releases/?id=02132023a)
39. [Source](https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207936)
40. [Source](https://developer.apple.com/news/releases/?id=07242023e)
41. [Source](https://developer.apple.com/news/site-updates/?id=06052023i)
42. [Source](https://developer.apple.com/news/releases/?id=09272023a)
43. [tvOS 17.4 (21L227) – Releases – Apple Developer. 2024](https://developer.apple.com/news/releases/?id=03042024c)
44. [tvOS 17.5 Release Notes](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/tvos-release-notes/tvos-17_5-release-notes)
45. [tvOS 17.5.1 Release Notes](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/tvos-release-notes/tvos-17_5-release-notes)
46. [tvOS 17.6 Release Notes](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/tvos-release-notes/tvos-17_6-release-notes)
47. [tvOS 17.6.1 Release Notes](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/tvos-release-notes/tvos-17_6-release-notes)
48. [tvOS 18 Release Notes](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/tvos-release-notes/tvos-18-release-notes)
49. [tvOs 18 Release Notes](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/tvos-release-notes/tvos-18_1-release-notes)
50. [tvOS 18.2 Release Notes](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/tvos-release-notes/tvos-18_2-release-notes)