Apple released the first developer beta of tvOS 27 on June 8, 2026, the same day it was announced at WWDC26. The install process no longer requires a paid Apple Developer Program membership, which historically cost $99 per year. Anyone with a free Apple developer account can now install the developer beta directly on their Apple TV, with no computer or configuration profile required.
Check compatibility first
tvOS 27 is compatible only with the Apple TV 4K (2nd generation, 2021) and the Apple TV 4K (3rd generation, 2022). It does not support the Apple TV HD from 2015 or the Apple TV 4K (1st generation) from 2017, both of which are compatible with tvOS 26. Owners of those older models will not be able to follow the steps below. If an upgrade is on the horizon, Apple is expected to release a new Apple TV 4K with an A17 Pro chip this fall alongside tvOS 27’s public release.
Before you install
This is the first developer beta, build identifier tvOS 27 beta (24J5289o), and it carries real instability risks. Two known bugs are already documented: the Apple TV app sidebar focus highlight can briefly appear flat on the right side at launch, and subtitle toggling during muted playback does not behave as expected. Installing on a primary Apple TV is not recommended. If stability matters more than early access, Apple’s public beta for tvOS 27 is expected in July 2026, which is a safer entry point.
How to install tvOS 27 developer beta
- Create or sign in to a free Apple developer account. Visit developer.apple.com on any browser and sign in with your Apple ID. If you have never registered as a developer, select “Account” and follow the prompts to enroll at no cost. A paid membership is not required.
- Sign in to your Apple TV with the same Apple ID. On your Apple TV, open Settings, select Users and Accounts, and confirm the Apple ID signed in matches the one registered at developer.apple.com. If it does not, add or switch the account here.
- Open the Software Update settings. From the Apple TV home screen, navigate to Settings, then select System, then Software Update. This is where beta update options are managed.
- Enable Beta Updates. Inside Software Update, select Beta Updates. A list of available beta channels will appear. Select tvOS 27 Developer Beta. The Apple TV will confirm your developer account eligibility at this step.
- Check for the update. Return to the main Software Update screen and select Update Software. The Apple TV will contact Apple’s servers and surface the tvOS 27 beta download. The update will show build 24J5289o.
- Download and install. Select Download and Install. The file will download over your network and the Apple TV will restart to complete installation. Leave the device connected to power throughout. Download time will vary depending on connection speed.
- Verify the installation. After the restart, go to Settings, then System, then About. The software version listed should confirm tvOS 27 developer beta.
What to expect after installing
tvOS 27 introduces a redesigned Podcasts app, app launch speeds up to 30% faster, smoother animations, a more responsive Control Center, and faster AirPlay from other Apple devices. Apple Music gains Hi-Res Lossless audio support on Apple TV, a notable addition that surfaced after WWDC. There is also a new Larger Text accessibility setting and Generated Subtitles, which uses on-device speech recognition to caption uncaptioned video content.
The tvOS 27 SDK is available for developers building apps targeting the new release. It ships bundled with Xcode 27, downloadable from the Mac App Store. If you are also testing other WWDC26 betas, the steps to install the watchOS 27 developer beta on Apple Watch follow a similarly straightforward on-device process.
The final public release of tvOS 27 is expected in September. Subsequent developer betas will refine the build in the meantime, and the public beta arriving in July gives non-developers a lower-risk way to try the update before the full launch.
