Apple Releases tvOS 11.4 for 4th and 5th Generation Apple TV Models With AirPlay 2 Support

Apple today released tvOS 11.4, the fourth major update to the tvOS operating system designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models. tvOS 11.4 comes more than a month after the release of tvOS 11.3, an update that focused on bug fixes and small feature improvements.

tvOS 11.4 can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the Apple TV by going to System --> Software Update. Apple TV owners who have automatic software updates turned on will be upgraded to tvOS 11.4 automatically.

tvos114release
The tvOS 11.4 update, paired with iOS 11.4, introduces support for AirPlay 2 functionality. AirPlay 2 is designed to bring multi-room audio to the Apple ecosystem, allowing the same music to be played on multiple devices throughout the home.

tvOS 11.4 turns the Apple TV into an AirPlay 2-compatible device that's listed in the Home app for HomeKit devices. AirPlay 2 playback can be controlled through the Apple TV, through an iOS device, or using Apple's personal assistant, Siri, to play content using voice commands.

AirPlay 2 is limited to the Apple TV and the HomePod at the current time, but it will expand to additional audio devices in the future.

tvOS 11.4 also introduces performance improvements, security enhancements, and bug fixes for issues that have been discovered since the release of tvOS 11.3.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

Popular Stories

AirPods Pro 3 Mock Feature

AirPods Pro 3 Just Months Away – Here's What We Know

Friday April 18, 2025 5:16 am PDT by
Despite being more than two years old, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 still dominate the premium wireless‑earbud space, thanks to a potent mix of top‑tier audio, class‑leading noise cancellation, and Apple's habit of delivering major new features through software updates. With AirPods Pro 3 widely expected to arrive in 2025, prospective buyers now face a familiar dilemma: snap up the proven...
iphone 16 pro models 1

17 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

Thursday April 17, 2025 4:12 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you skipped the iPhone...
Beyond iPhone 13 Better Triad

Apple's 20th Anniversary iPhone May Finally Go All Screen

Tuesday April 15, 2025 6:31 am PDT by
Apple is preparing a "bold" new iPhone Pro model for the iPhone's 20th anniversary in 2027, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. As part of what's being described as a "major shake-up," Apple is said to be developing a design that makes more extensive use of glass – and this could point directly to the display itself. Here's the case for Apple releasing a truly all-screen iPhone with no...
maxresdefault

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Sunday April 13, 2025 7:52 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and ...
CarPlay Hero

Apple Releases Wireless CarPlay Fix

Wednesday April 16, 2025 11:28 am PDT by
If you have been experiencing issues with wireless CarPlay in your vehicle lately, it was likely due to a software bug that has now been fixed. Apple released iOS 18.4.1 today, and the update's release notes say it "addresses a rare issue that prevents wireless CarPlay connection in certain vehicles." If wireless CarPlay was acting up for you, updating your iPhone to iOS 18.4.1 should...
top stories 2025 04 19

Top Stories: iPhone 17 Pro Rumors, CarPlay Bug Fix, and More

Saturday April 19, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
This week saw rumor updates on the iPhone 17 Pro and next-generation Vision Pro, while a minor iOS 18.4.1 update delivered not just security fixes but also a fix for some CarPlay issues. We also looked ahead at what else is in Apple's pipeline for the rest of 2025 and even the 20th-anniversary iPhone coming in 2027, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more! iPhone 17 ...
iOS 18

iOS 18.5 Includes Only a Few Changes So Far

Monday April 21, 2025 11:00 am PDT by
Apple seeded the third beta of iOS 18.5 to developers today, and so far the software update includes only a few minor changes. The changes are in the Mail and Settings apps. In the Mail app, you can now easily turn off contact photos directly within the app, by tapping on the circle with three dots in the top-right corner. In the Settings app, AppleCare+ coverage information is more...

Top Rated Comments

Mufasa804 Avatar
90 months ago
I'm just here patiently waiting for that Dolby audio support.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chrixxa Avatar
90 months ago
Is there actually a source for this? It'd be nice to know if they actually fixed or improved anything useful, because otherwise I'm not updating. And I'm not about to update just to see. I'm sure they included security patches, but we always get this same, canned note at the end of Apple updates with no information as to what "performance improvements" or "bug fixes" (if any) were actually made.
^^so much this
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HobeSoundDarryl Avatar
90 months ago
I know it's probably placebo, but I see the improvements in speed (Apple TV 4K).
If you have a reasonably long list of your own content, could you try to "fast scroll" a list and see if they have fast scroll working again (not starting & stopping, starting & stopping)? That was such a great feature for the little while that it was allowed to work right (on the "4").
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
swrobel Avatar
90 months ago
For the love of god can I please just have 4k airplay from my Mac?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Avenged110 Avatar
90 months ago
tvOS 11.4 also introduces performance improvements, security enhancements, and bug fixes for issues that have been discovered since the release of tvOS 11.3.
Is there actually a source for this? It'd be nice to know if they actually fixed or improved anything useful, because otherwise I'm not updating. And I'm not about to update just to see. I'm sure they included security patches, but we always get this same, canned note at the end of Apple updates with no information as to what "performance improvements" or "bug fixes" (if any) were actually made.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mr. Zarniwoop Avatar
90 months ago
First impression of AirPlay 2 streaming music to a HomePod and three Apple TVs... so close. And yet...

They're just enough out of sync that it's created an "echo" effect in my home that distracting. It doesn't quite work for me for that reason.

It needs to be quiet enough that you can't hear the other speakers for it to be acceptable, which is a bummer.

For what it's worth, playing from a Mac with iTunes to AirPlay destinations (AirPlay 2 not required) has the same problem.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)