With tvOS 26.4, Apple is making a structural change to Apple TV. The standalone apps "iTunes Movies" and "iTunes TV Shows" have been completely removed. This ends a transition phase that began in 2023. Going forward, purchasing, managing, and playing movies and TV shows will be done exclusively through the Apple TV app. In addition to this change, tvOS 26.4 also includes adjustments to audio settings and is currently in beta.
Apple has been pursuing the goal of consolidating its media offerings for some time now. Instead of running multiple apps in parallel, the Apple TV app is intended to become the central hub for video content. The removal of the iTunes apps is therefore not a surprising step, but rather part of a long-planned unification strategy.
Features were moved or removed in previous system versions. With tvOS 26.4, this process is now complete on Apple TV.
iTunes apps permanently removed
With tvOS 26.4, Apple removed the "iTunes Movies" and "iTunes TV Shows" apps from Apple TV. These applications listed content that could be purchased through iTunes and provided access to the user's personal iTunes wish list.
Movies and TV shows can now only be purchased through the Apple TV app. A separate iTunes app no longer exists on Apple TV. This change was initiated back in 2023 when Apple began redirecting users directly to the TV app during the purchase process.
Wish lists are being abolished for good
A key part of the change concerns the iTunes wish list. With iOS 17.2 and iPadOS 17.2, Apple removed the "TV Shows" and "Movies" sections from the TV app on iPhone and iPad and eliminated the wish list function. tvOS 17.2 also initially removed the wish list option. After complaints, it was temporarily reintroduced, but recently its removal has again been announced.
Customers with existing wish lists received emails from Apple informing them that the feature would be discontinued. These emails contained links to transfer the content to the Apple TV app's Watchlist. This Watchlist will now serve as the central wish list.
No more iTunes app, music remains unaffected
With tvOS 26.4, there are no longer any iTunes-related apps on Apple TV. The entire movie and TV show section is integrated into the Apple TV app.
However, the iTunes Store option for purchasing music will remain available on the iPhone. The changes therefore only affect video content on Apple TV.
New audio settings in tvOS 26.4
In addition to the app restructuring, tvOS 26.4 also updates the audio options. "Dolby Atmos Immersive Audio" has been replaced by "Spatial Audio". New options are also available, such as converting to Dolby Digital 5.1, limiting to stereo only, or using an auto mode. Furthermore, an option for continuous audio over HDMI has been added.
Availability
tvOS 26.4 is currently available to developers and public beta testers. The official release is planned for spring.
Centralization of video content with tvOS 26.4
With tvOS 26.4, Apple completes the integration of iTunes features into the Apple TV app. The standalone iTunes apps have been removed, wishlists have been discontinued and replaced by the Watchlist. At the same time, Apple has modernized the audio settings and consolidated its video offerings in one central location. The best products for you: Our Amazon storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those compatible with HomeKit. (Image: Shutterstock / Pascal Huot)
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