Linear TV continues rapidly declining, something that Tim Cook saw coming when he declared that the future of TV is apps. But Apple TV apps have always struggled from one core issue: signing into streaming accounts is a major pain. Here’s how tvOS 26 aims to solve that for Apple TV 4K users moving forward.
tvOS 26 has a fix for the clunky experience of logging into apps
If you’re a linear TV user, switching to an Apple TV 4K with streaming apps can require a huge learning curve. Different accounts, different apps and credentials, and of course entering those credentials on your TV.
Even for the most tech-savvy, it’s a clunky experience entering streaming app credentials using a TV remote.
tvOS has gradually added more features over the years to mitigate this issue.
For example, you can now use a nearby iPhone’s keyboard instead of the tvOS keyboard, or authenticate purchases using another Apple product. The Apple TV app’s Channels initiative sought to make streaming easier than ever, but it’s struggled to get major partners on-board.
Apple’s latest attempt in tvOS 26 just might work.
Automatic Sign-In is a big win for apps and users alike
tvOS 26 introduces a new API that, once your favorite streaming app adopts it, could mean you never have to log into a streaming app on Apple TV again.
Here are the details, as explained for developers:
The Automatic Sign-In feature offers a single sign-on experience for media-streaming apps. The first time a person signs in to your media-streaming service through your app, your app calls the Video Subscriber Account framework to prompt the person to opt in to Automatic Sign-In. If they agree, your app generates a string value token, or sign-in token…When the person runs your app on another device, the operating system supplies the sign-in token from their Apple Account, which your app uses to sign them in automatically.
Once Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, and the like start supporting the new API in tvOS 26 and iOS 26, users will have a much smoother streaming experience across Apple devices.
You’ll be able to log in to Netflix once on your iPhone, then automatically get logged in on iPad, Apple TV 4K, and so on.
Though normally there’s no guarantee third-party apps will adopt a new API, this one clearly brings tremendous benefit to both streaming services and users.
If users can stream content more easily across their devices, engagement is more likely to go up. And every streaming service is chasing increased engagement.
Perhaps with tvOS 26, the days of needing to log into streaming apps on an Apple TV 4K will finally become a problem of the past.
Outside of logging into apps, what are some of your other Apple TV 4K frustrations? Let us know in the comments.
Best Apple TV 4K and Home accessories
- Anti-slip silicone case for Siri Remote, AirTag compatible
- TotalMount for mounting Apple TV
- AirPods Pro 3
- HomeKit Garage Door Opener
- TP-Link Tapo 2K camera with HomeKit Secure Video
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