Apple Seeds Second Beta of tvOS 12.1 to Developers [Update: Public Beta Available] - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple Seeds Second Beta of tvOS 12.1 to Developers [Update: Public Beta Available]

Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming tvOS 12.1 update to developers for testing purposes, two weeks after seeding the first update and a little over two weeks after releasing the tvOS 12 update.

Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models, the new tvOS 12.1 developer beta can be downloaded onto the Apple TV via a profile that's installed using Xcode.

appletv4k2
We're not yet sure what fixes and changes the tvOS 12.1 update might bring, but it's likely to focus on bugs that have been discovered since the release of tvOS 12. No new changes were discovered in the first tvOS 12.1 beta.

Apple's tvOS updates have historically been minor in scale, and Apple does not often provide us with detailed notes outlining what's new. We'll update this post should anything be found in the second beta.

Update: Apple has also seeded the second beta of tvOS 12.1 to public beta testers.

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

Popular Stories

tvOS 26 Feature

Apple Releases tvOS 26.5

Monday May 11, 2026 10:02 am PDT by
Apple today released tvOS 26.5, the fifth update to the tvOS operating system that came out last fall. tvOS 26.5 is available for the Apple TV 4K, and it comes over a month after Apple released tvOS 26.4. tvOS 26.5 can be downloaded using the Settings app on the ‌‌Apple TV‌‌. Open up Settings and go to System > Software Update to get the new software. ‌‌Apple TV‌‌ owners who...
General visionOS watchOS and tvOS Betas Feature Redux

Apple Releases First watchOS 26.6, tvOS 26.6 and visionOS 26.6 Betas

Tuesday May 26, 2026 10:03 am PDT by
Apple today provided developers with the first betas of upcoming watchOS 26.6, tvOS 26.6, and visionOS 26.6 betas for testing purposes. The software two weeks after Apple launched the 26.5 versions of each platform. The software updates are available through the Settings app on each device, and because these are developer betas, a free developer account is required. There's no word on...
Where is the New Apple TV Feature

Apple Previews New tvOS 27 Feature

Wednesday May 20, 2026 1:02 pm PDT by
Apple has announced that "Larger Text" support is coming to tvOS, allowing users to increase the on-screen text size to make it easier to read. "Larger Text" lets you adjust the size of text in supported apps, with the option already available on other devices like the iPhone, iPad, and Vision Pro. This was one of the new accessibility features that Apple previewed earlier this week, with ...

Top Rated Comments

busyscott Avatar
100 months ago
The lack of attention given to this platform is truly tragic. The new gen Apple TV is one of the best devices apple has come out with in a long time (along with the AirPods) but there’s so much low hanging fruit ready to be harvested on the platform.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Solver Avatar
100 months ago
I wonder if there will ever be an Apple TV Remote app for the Watch. Either that, or add a Siri button and volume control to "Now Playing". I can't believe this hasn't happened yet. :eek:
Even my series 1 has a “Remote” app that controls both of my Apple TVs.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ipedro Avatar
100 months ago
The lack of attention given to this platform is truly tragic. The new gen Apple TV is one of the best devices apple has come out with in a long time (along with the AirPods) but there’s so much low hanging fruit ready to be harvested on the platform.
Curious as to what that low hanging fruit is in your view.

tvOS has really come into its own in the past few years. While I can see some polishes or smaller features here and there, I can’t really think of any significant improvements.

Perhaps we’ll see a further shift towards the TV app as the new home screen. It functions as an aggregator of content within apps. It works really well.

I see tvOS as following watchOS’s template. You might think they couldn’t be any more different but the underlying model is the same. On AppleWatch, the Watch Face is the main screen where information is present and app content is consumed. On AppleTV, the TV app is the “Watch Face” where information is present and app content is consumed. On both platforms, the app screen is a secondary way of accessing apps.

I can imagine Apple further solidifying that model in an upcoming tvOS.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
100 months ago
Even my series 1 has a “Remote” app that controls both of my Apple TVs.
Nope. Re-read my post. Siri. Volume control. Just like the Apple TV Remote app on iOS.
Not talking about that lame iTunes remote.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
100 months ago
I wonder if there will ever be an Apple TV Remote app for the Watch. Either that, or add a Siri button and volume control to "Now Playing". I can't believe this hasn't happened yet. :eek:
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)