Apple releases tvOS 14.4 with bug fixes

Apple on Tuesday released tvOS 14.4 to the public with bug fixes but no known user-facing feature updates.

The company didn't include any release notes on the update's new features. Apple TV software updates are typically minor, focusing on stability, minor user-experience changes, and other under-the-hood tweaks.

Apple had previously released two tvOS 14.4 betas, one in December 2020 and another in early January 2021. The release candidate went out on January 21.

Users can update tvOS on Apple TV by opening the Settings, selecting System, then Software Updates, and then Update Software. Once the update is available, select Download and Install.

The primary tvOS 14 update released in fall of 2020. It added better Picture-in-Picture support, HomeKit Doorbell alerts and camera feeds, Game Center syncing for Apple Arcade, and Audio Syncing. Updates since then have included bug fixes and minor changes to the UI. December's 14.3 update added Apple Fitness+ and AirPods Max support, along with improved navigation.

13 Comments

sidrictheviking 191 comments · 11 Years

About 3 years ago

Just seeing it now.

mcdave 1927 comments · 19 Years

I wish they’d just release tvOS Siri to all regions where Siri is supported, force mandatory content integration (Siri search and AppleTV App playback of 3rd-party content) and hand off purchase authentication to Touch/FaceID devices like parental controls does. Oh, & apply content ratings to profiles for family sharing members.

tvOS needs work.

ihatescreennames 1971 comments · 19 Years

I hope they fixed the bug that didn’t auto update the software when I had chosen to have software update automatically.

I would like to see tvOS get updated to allow me to see HomeKit devices in a second home, like I can in the Home app on my other devices.

mcdave said:

I wish they’d just release tvOS Siri to all regions where Siri is supported, force mandatory content integration (Siri search and AppleTV App playback of 3rd-party content) and hand off purchase authentication to Touch/FaceID devices like parental controls does. Oh, & apply content ratings to profiles for family sharing members.

tvOS needs work.

It really bugs me that Netflix shows don’t show up in Up Next. Also, there’s an issue where programs my daughter watches on Hulu show up in my Up Next and not in hers even though she is the selected user when watching said shows.

Another thing I ask for is around subtitles. There are a couple of issues here. First, when I ask to have subtitles turned on (like I did this weekend when my wife was having difficulty understanding Jeff Bridges in True Grit) they stay on for whatever else I watch until I ask for them to be turned off again. I want the subtitles on only for the program I’m currently watching, not everything. Second, and this isn’t happening as much as it used to so maybe it has been fixed, is when I ask for subtitles to be turned on it then asks what language I want, even though I have English selected as the subtitle language preference in Settings.

mike1 3431 comments · 10 Years

ihatescreennames said:

mcdave said:

I wish they’d just release tvOS Siri to all regions where Siri is supported, force mandatory content integration (Siri search and AppleTV App playback of 3rd-party content) and hand off purchase authentication to Touch/FaceID devices like parental controls does. Oh, & apply content ratings to profiles for family sharing members.

tvOS needs work.

It really bugs me that Netflix shows don’t show up in Up Next. Also, there’s an issue where programs my daughter watches on Hulu show up in my Up Next and not in hers even though she is the selected user when watching said shows.

That's up to Netflix. They have stated they don't want to be. I'd rather have Netflix on my Apple TV than not, even if they won't support Up Next.