tvOS 17: Features, release date, Apple TV compatibility, more

tvOS 17 is Apple's upcoming operating system for the Apple TV and HomePod models. After two years of minor updates, the Cupertino firm finally gave keynote time for this operating system and announced several new features. Here's what we know about the company's next big update for the Apple TV software, tvOS 17.

tvOS 17 focuses on a new FaceTime experience while tweaking the Control Center and improving the general usage of the Apple TV.

For the first time, the Apple TV hardware integrates with the iPhone camera with the Continuity Camera feature on tvOS 17. With that, Apple added the FaceTime app to the set-top box.

With FaceTime on Apple TV 4K, users can initiate calls directly from Apple TV, start them on iPhone or iPad, and hand them off to Apple TV. It uses Continuity Camera support to connect to the user's iPhone or iPad wirelessly and leverages the device's camera and microphone to bring participants together on the TV. It also works with Center Stage, so everyone keeps in the room framed on the screen.

Later this year, video conferencing apps like Webex by Cisco and Zoom will launch on tvOS, bringing their communications capabilities to Apple TV 4K. Developers can use Continuity Camera APIs on Apple TV 4K to integrate the iPhone or iPad camera and microphone into their tvOS app.

In addition, Apple Music Sing will also integrate with Continuity Camera so users can see themselves onscreen and add "entertaining filters" while singing.

While iOS 17 didn't get a revamped Control Center as it was rumored, tvOS 17 did. The new Control Center focuses on making things easier. From there, you can see the system status, the current time, and the active profile. It also makes connecting Bluetooth devices or checking your Home accessories easier.

With fast Profile switching, users just need to wake up the Apple TV with the remote app on the iPhone, and it will automatically switch to that person's profile, ensuring they have access to their recently watched shows and personalized recommendations.

To improve that experience, customized Settings for Profiles are now saved for each user's profile with tvOS 17, including their system language and paired AirPods.

Apple still hasn't added the U1 chip to the Siri Remote, but second-generation models or later can be found through the Find My app. This will work similarly to finding an AirPods. With the iPhone connecting to the remote by Bluetooth, a proximity sensor can help you discover how close you are to the Apple TV accessory.

To work, this feature will need a Siri Remote firmware update, which is not available during the beta testing of tvOS 17.

Enhance Dialogue lets users more clearly hear what is being said over the effects, action, and music in a movie or TV show on Apple TV 4K paired with HomePod (2nd generation) by separating the dialogue from the background noise and bringing it forward to the center channel.

Dolby Vision 8.1 support offers Apple TV 4K users a more cinematic visual experience with dynamic metadata over a broader range of movies and TV shows.

Apple Fitness+ enhancements, including Custom Plans, a new way for Fitness+ users to receive a custom workout or meditation schedule based on day, duration, workout type, and more; Stacks, which allows users to select multiple workouts and meditations to seamlessly do back to back; and Audio Focus, which gives users the ability to prioritize the volume of the music or the trainers’ voices.

Third-party VPN support enables developers to create VPN apps for Apple TV. This can benefit enterprise and education users wanting to access content on their private networks, allowing Apple TV to be a great office and conference room solution in even more places.

After unveiling tvOS 17 at the WWDC 2023 keynote, Apple released the first beta of this operating system to developers. A public beta will be available later this July, with a public release expected to be in September, around iPhone 15 announcement.

Since the company offered a public beta for HomePod owners last year, Apple could also do the same for the upcoming software this year.

A developer's beta is already available for Apple TV. Anyone can enroll in the program. On the Apple TV, follow these steps:

Since Apple introduced tvOS, the company has supported all Apple TV models, starting with the 2015 HD version. The same is worth for tvOS 17.

These are the set-top boxes and smart speakers that will be supported by tvOS 17:

José is a Tech News Reporter at BGR. He has previously covered Apple and iPhone news for 9to5Mac, and was a producer and web editor for Latin America broadcaster TV Globo. He is based out of Brazil.