If you have an Apple TV 4K and own a HomePod or a stereo pair, you can create a theater experience with Dolby Atmos or surround sound right in your home.

homepodappletv
Note that this feature is reliant on the directional and spatially aware capabilities of the original ‌‌HomePod‌‌, so it is not available on the ‌HomePod mini‌. Here's what you need.

Home Theater Audio: What You'll Need

  • An ‌Apple TV‌ 4K updated to tvOS 16.3 or later
  • One or two ‌HomePod‌ speakers updated to ‌HomePod‌ 16.3 software or later
  • An iPhone or iPad updated to iOS or iPadOS 16.3 or later

How to Set Up Home Theater Audio

  1. Using the Home app on your iOS device, put your ‌Apple TV‌ and ‌HomePod‌ in the same room. If you want to use two ‌HomePod‌ speakers, create a stereo pair, then put the stereo pair in the same room as your ‌Apple TV‌ in the Home app.
  2. Turn on your ‌Apple TV‌.
  3. A screen will appear asking if you want to use ‌HomePod‌ as TV Speakers. Select Use as TV Speakers to turn on home theater audio.

tvos14 use homepod as tv speaker
If you don't see the setup screen on your ‌Apple TV‌, you can manually enable home theater audio on ‌Apple TV‌ or using your iOS device.

On Apple TV:

  1. From the Home screen on ‌Apple TV‌, select Settings -> Video.
  2. Select Audio > Default Audio Output.
  3. Select the room with your ‌HomePod‌ or stereo pair.

On iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch:

  1. In the Home app, press and hold the ‌Apple TV‌ pane.
  2. Scroll down and tap Default Audio Output.
  3. Select the room with your ‌HomePod‌ or stereo pair.
  4. Tap Back, then tap Done.

You should now be able to enjoy a more immersive home theater experience when playing content on your ‌Apple TV‌ 4K. An additional benefit of using HomePods as home theater speakers is that it fixes a relatively common issue where ‌‌Apple TV‌‌ sometimes forgets that HomePods are the preferred speakers for audio output.

Related Roundup: HomePod
Buyer's Guide: HomePod (Neutral)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Roundup Feature 2

iPhone Design to Change 'Significantly' This Year

Monday February 17, 2025 7:09 am PST by
Apple is set to "significantly change" the iPhone's design language later this year, according to a Weibo leaker. In a new post, the user known "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone's design is "starting to change significantly" this year. The "iPhone 17 Air" reportedly features a "horizontal, bar-shaped" design on the rear, likely referring to an elongated camera bump. On the other...
Apple iPhone 16e Feature

Apple Announces iPhone 16e With A18 Chip and Apple Intelligence, Pricing Starts at $599

Wednesday February 19, 2025 8:02 am PST by
Apple today introduced the iPhone 16e, its newest entry-level smartphone. The device succeeds the third-generation iPhone SE, which has now been discontinued. The iPhone 16e features a larger 6.1-inch OLED display, up from a 4.7-inch LCD on the iPhone SE. The display has a notch for Face ID, and this means that Apple no longer sells any iPhones with a Touch ID fingerprint button, marking the ...
iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Coming Next Week With These New Features for Your iPhone

Friday February 14, 2025 6:18 am PST by
The first iOS 18.4 beta for iPhones should be just around the corner, and the update is expected to include many new features and changes. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects the iOS 18.4 beta to be released by next week. Below, we outline what to expect from iOS 18.4 so far. Apple Intelligence for Siri Siri is expected to get several enhancements powered by Apple Intelligence on iOS...
iphone 17 pro asherdipps

iPhone 17 Pro Models Rumored to Feature Aluminum Frame Instead of Titanium Frame

Tuesday February 18, 2025 12:02 pm PST by
Over the years, Apple has switched from an aluminum frame to a stainless steel frame to a titanium frame for its highest-end iPhones. And now, it has been rumored that Apple will go back to using aluminum for three out of four iPhone 17 models. In an investor note with research firm GF Securities, obtained by MacRumors this week, Apple supply chain analyst Jeff Pu said the iPhone 17, iPhone...
apple launch feb 2025

Tim Cook Teases an 'Apple Launch' Next Wednesday

Thursday February 13, 2025 8:07 am PST by
In a social media post today, Apple CEO Tim Cook teased an upcoming "launch" of some kind scheduled for Wednesday, February 19. "Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," he said, with an #AppleLaunch hashtag. The post includes a short video with an animated Apple logo inside a circle. Cook did not provide an exact time for the launch, or share any other specific details, so...
Apple 2025 Thumb 1

Two of Apple's Oldest Products Are Finally Getting Updated This Year

Friday February 14, 2025 6:03 am PST by
Apple released the HomePod mini in November 2020, followed by the AirTag in May 2021, and both still remain first-generation products. Fortunately, rumors suggest that both the HomePod mini and the AirTag will finally be updated at some point this year. Below, we recap rumors about the HomePod mini 2 and AirTag 2. HomePod mini 2 In January 2025, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple is ...
iPhone 17 Air Front Page Tech 2

'iPhone 17 Air' With Ultra-Thin Design Allegedly Revealed in New Video

Monday February 17, 2025 6:53 pm PST by
YouTube channel Front Page Tech today revealed the alleged design of Apple's widely-rumored "iPhone 17 Air" model, set to launch later this year. "iPhone 17 Air" render created by @zellzoi for Front Page Tech In a video uploaded today, Front Page Tech shared renders depicting what it believes is likely the final design of the "iPhone 17 Air." The device is expected to feature an ultra-thin...
macbook air blue

Gurman: M4 MacBook Air Models to Launch by March 'At the Latest'

Monday February 17, 2025 2:30 am PST by
Apple will begin selling new MacBook Air models featuring its latest M4 chip by March "at the latest," mirroring the time frame of the M3 MacBook Air launch last year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple last updated the MacBook Air line in March 2024. Gurman's comments appeared in his latest Power On newsletter, suggesting the reporter is no further forward on learning the exact...