Apple Seeds Second Beta of tvOS 12.1 to Developers [Update: Public Beta Available] - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Seeds Second Beta of tvOS 12.1 to Developers [Update: Public Beta Available]

Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming tvOS 12.1 update to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after seeding the first update and a little over two weeks after releasing the tvOS 12 update.

Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models, the new tvOS 12.1 developer beta can be downloaded onto the Apple TV via a profile that's installed using Xcode.

appletv4k2
We're not yet sure what fixes and changes the tvOS 12.1 update might bring, but it's likely to focus on bugs that have been discovered since the release of tvOS 12. No new changes were discovered in the first tvOS 12.1 beta.

Apple's tvOS updates have historically been minor in scale, and Apple does not often provide us with detailed notes outlining what's new. We'll update this post should anything be found in the second beta.

Update: Apple has also seeded the second beta of tvOS 12.1 to public beta testers.

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

Popular Stories

General visionOS watchOS and tvOS Betas Feature Redux

Apple Releases Second watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5 and visionOS 26.5 Betas

Monday April 13, 2026 10:06 am PDT by
Apple today provided developers with the second betas of upcoming watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5, and visionOS 26.5 betas for testing purposes. The software comes two weeks after Apple released the first betas for each platform. The software updates are available through the Settings app on each device, and because these are developer betas, a free developer account is required. There's no word ...
General visionOS watchOS and tvOS Betas Feature Redux

Apple Releases Third watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5 and visionOS 26.5 Betas

Monday April 20, 2026 10:03 am PDT by
Apple today provided developers with the third betas of upcoming watchOS 26.5, tvOS 26.5, and visionOS 26.5 betas for testing purposes. The software comes a week after Apple released the second betas for each platform. The software updates are available through the Settings app on each device, and because these are developer betas, a free developer account is required. There's no word on ...
apple tv peacock bundle

Apple TV and Peacock $20 Monthly Bundle Available on Amazon Prime Video, Offering a 30% Discount

Wednesday April 15, 2026 2:14 am PDT by
Apple and Amazon are partnering up for a $19.99/month streaming TV bundle that includes access to Apple TV and Peacock Premium Plus. Available to customers in the U.S. for a limited time, the streaming bundle offers access to both services at a 30% discount, similar to the bundle that launched in October 2025. ‌Apple TV‌ is normally $12.99 per month, while Peacock starts at $16.99 for ...

Top Rated Comments

busyscott Avatar
99 months ago
The lack of attention given to this platform is truly tragic. The new gen Apple TV is one of the best devices apple has come out with in a long time (along with the AirPods) but there’s so much low hanging fruit ready to be harvested on the platform.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Solver Avatar
99 months ago
I wonder if there will ever be an Apple TV Remote app for the Watch. Either that, or add a Siri button and volume control to "Now Playing". I can't believe this hasn't happened yet. :eek:
Even my series 1 has a “Remote” app that controls both of my Apple TVs.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ipedro Avatar
99 months ago
The lack of attention given to this platform is truly tragic. The new gen Apple TV is one of the best devices apple has come out with in a long time (along with the AirPods) but there’s so much low hanging fruit ready to be harvested on the platform.
Curious as to what that low hanging fruit is in your view.

tvOS has really come into its own in the past few years. While I can see some polishes or smaller features here and there, I can’t really think of any significant improvements.

Perhaps we’ll see a further shift towards the TV app as the new home screen. It functions as an aggregator of content within apps. It works really well.

I see tvOS as following watchOS’s template. You might think they couldn’t be any more different but the underlying model is the same. On AppleWatch, the Watch Face is the main screen where information is present and app content is consumed. On AppleTV, the TV app is the “Watch Face” where information is present and app content is consumed. On both platforms, the app screen is a secondary way of accessing apps.

I can imagine Apple further solidifying that model in an upcoming tvOS.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
99 months ago
Even my series 1 has a “Remote” app that controls both of my Apple TVs.
Nope. Re-read my post. Siri. Volume control. Just like the Apple TV Remote app on iOS.
Not talking about that lame iTunes remote.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
99 months ago
I wonder if there will ever be an Apple TV Remote app for the Watch. Either that, or add a Siri button and volume control to "Now Playing". I can't believe this hasn't happened yet. :eek:
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Related Apple News: Sport | Entertainment | Culture | Travel | Technology