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Apple Removes iTunes Movies and TV Shows Apps in tvOS 26.4

With tvOS 26.4, Apple has removed the dedicated iTunes Movies and iTunes TV Shows apps that listed content available for purchase. Buying movies and TV shows can be done through the Apple TV app instead.

apple tv itunes tv shows movies
Apple started phasing out the iTunes Movies and iTunes TV Shows apps back in 2023, redirecting users to the ‌Apple TV‌ app for purchases. The apps remained available until now to provide customers with instructions on where to find their content, and to provide access to the iTunes Wish List.

Apple removed the TV Shows and Movies section in the iPhone and iPad TV app with the launch of iOS 17.2 and iPadOS 17.2, and eliminated iTunes wishlists in those updates. tvOS 17.2 also got rid of wish lists. After customer complaints, wishlist options were returned, but Apple again started warning about the end of wishlists last week.

Customers that still have an iTunes Wish List with movies and TV shows have received emails letting them know the feature is being removed. The emails include links to migrate those lists to the ‌Apple TV‌ watchlist feature as an alternative.

apple itunes wishlist removed

Apple has been working to consolidate all movie and TV show viewing and buying to the TV app, so it's all in one place. There is no longer any iTunes-related app on the ‌Apple TV‌, but the iPhone still has an iTunes Store option for purchasing music.

Apple has also updated the ‌Apple TV‌ Audio Format settings in tvOS 26.4. Dolby Atmos immersive audio has been replaced with Spatial Audio, and there is an option to convert to Dolby Digital 5.1, select Stereo Only, or turn on Auto mode. There's also a Continuous Audio Connection option for HDMI output.

tvOS 26.4 is available to developers and public beta testers at the current time, with a release planned for spring.

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Top Rated Comments

10 weeks ago
Long overdue. I have been trying to delete them for years.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jetson Avatar
10 weeks ago
I like these apps. I think that they work better than what we've got now.

For example, in the Apple TV app, I am very annoyed that they changed what has always worked. If you select a movie icon, the movie automatically plays. The way that it used to work (and still does in every other section of Apple TV) is that when you click the icon it goes to the Movie "splat" screen. Nowadays if you press and hold the first item in the list is "Play Movie" and the second item is "Go to Movie" (which should be the default). "Play Movie" should not be the default and it had never been the default.

Also, I don't get why some people are so angry that the apps remained for a while? Why???
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
10 weeks ago
About freking time. I’ve had family members click on them several times and get confused.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DEXTERITY Avatar
10 weeks ago
the fact they want those of us who have a wish list to individually click on each link is ridiculous. I have an extensive list. I am not clicking on each movie one by one. they could've come up with a better way or just kept the list.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
10 weeks ago

Why are people cheering for things to be removed and taken away?
Because irrelevant, redundant, confusing things SHOULD be taken away. Not everyone using these products is an Apple genius. If anyone had asked me for help with buying a movie from Apple in the last 5+ years and said they were in that app, I would have told them they were in the wrong place. The wrong place shouldn't exist.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
10 weeks ago
Why are people cheering for things to be removed and taken away?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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