A bug in tvOS can prevent users from using the full 128GB of the top-range Apple TV 4K, leaving 64GB unusable.
Key to the few but good updates in the latest Apple TV 4K is the option to have a 128GB version, which particularly suits users of Apple Arcade. The greater capacity means more games can be stored on the Apple TV 4K and so be instantly available.
However, according to flatpanelshd, only the first 64GB of space is recognized by tvOS.
It is very definitely a bug rather than some hardware issue, because the error message users get is triggered in very specific circumstances. It appears whenever a user has filled 64GB and then attempts to download a game or an app.
"The app can't be installed because there isn't enough space," it says. "Delete one or more apps or manage your storage in Settings."
However, if the user is on even 63.9GB and then attempts to download an app that would take it well over the 64GB threshold, they can. That doesn't allow access to the remaining space, though.
Check your storage
There have been third-party tvOS apps that would show a simple figure for the amount of space used, and the amount remaining. However, the two best-known ones, Space Left and TV Storage Info, are currently no longer available in the tvOS App Store.
Other than just installing games and apps until the 64GB error is either reached or not, users can only check Apple's own rather poor storage information. Go to Settings, General, and scroll down to Manage Storage.
This lists all installed apps and their sizes. It's arranged with the largest apps at the top, and all have a delete icon next to them.
What you can't do is get a running total for all install apps.
6 Comments
Well, that's unfortunate...
Apple needs to bring people back to the office. Obviously if a product with 128 Gig of memory can only use half of it remote work is not working out for them.
People are far more likely to actually work harder if they are at the office where they can be observed. This one Apple Guy that lives near me spends almost all day out in his yard playing with his dogs.