tvOS 27, released September 14, installs only on the Apple TV 4K (2nd generation) and Apple TV 4K (3rd generation). The Apple TV HD from 2015 and the first Apple TV 4K from 2017 stay on tvOS 26, and Apple’s Apple TV 4K User Guide now says: “Previous models of Apple TV are no longer software-supported.”
If your Apple TV isn’t offering the update, it probably isn’t broken. It is most likely one of those two older boxes, and it will keep working with its apps and settings as they are.
Check which Apple TV you have
On the Apple TV, go to Settings > General > About and look at Model. The number is also printed on the bottom of the box and on the back of its packaging. Match it against Apple’s list:
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| Model | Model number | Introduced | tvOS 27 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) Wi-Fi + Ethernet | A2843 | 2022 | Yes |
| Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) Wi-Fi | A2737 | 2022 | Yes |
| Apple TV 4K (2nd generation) | A2169 | 2021 | Yes |
| Apple TV 4K (1st generation) | A1842 | 2017 | No |
| Apple TV HD (previously Apple TV 4th generation) | A1625 | 2015 | No |
All five are small black boxes, so the model number is the reliable test. If you can see the ports, Apple’s specs help too: the 2017 Apple TV 4K has HDMI 2.0a, the supported 2021 and 2022 models have HDMI 2.1, and the Apple TV HD has HDMI 1.4 with output up to 1080p.
On a supported model, go to Settings > System > Software Updates and select Update Software, or turn on Automatically Update on the same screen. Apple says to keep the Apple TV connected and plugged in until the update finishes.
What older models miss
The version 27 releases bring four changes to Apple TV, according to Apple’s guide: catch-up summaries for shows you follow in the Apple TV app, where available; a redesigned Podcasts app with video podcasts; a Music app with song transitions and high-res lossless audio up to 24-bit/192 kHz; and adjustable text size in apps that support Dynamic Text. Apple notes that not every feature is available on every Apple TV model, so a supported box may not get all four either.
Security matters more than any of those. Apple’s tvOS 27 security page, dated September 14, lists 89 CVE IDs by our count, and every entry is marked “Available for: Apple TV 4K 2nd generation and later”. Apple’s security releases page shows no tvOS 26 update on September 14. The last release that covered “Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K (all models)” is tvOS 26.6 from July 27.
Apple doesn’t say whether those flaws also affect tvOS 26, or whether older models will get further tvOS 26 fixes. An Apple TV stays signed in to your Apple Account and streaming services on your home network, so if you rely on an Apple TV HD or a 2017 Apple TV 4K, that is a reason to plan a replacement rather than keep it in service for years.
If you replace it
The model Apple sells is the Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) with the A15 Bionic chip, in a 64GB Wi-Fi version and a 128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet version, and it runs tvOS 27. The Wi-Fi + Ethernet model adds Gigabit Ethernet and Thread. If you own the 2021 Apple TV 4K, it is supported, and this update gives you no reason to buy anything.
