Apple has been enhancing the integration between iOS and tvOS in recent years. In 2023, it launched the FaceTime app on Apple TV, enabling video calls on the big screen with assistance from a nearby iPhone or iPad. Now, tvOS 26 will simplify connecting with others by mirroring standard iPhone calls to Apple TV.
As spotted by Macworld, the fourth developer betas of iOS and tvOS 26 introduce audio phone call support to Apple TV. This feature, already available on Macs and iPads, allows users to answer incoming calls on tvOS when their paired iPhone is nearby, but it does require the presence of a HomePod.
Unlike FaceTime on Apple TV, the new feature doesn’t rely on the Continuity Camera API to transmit your audio input to the caller. Instead of using your iPhone’s microphone, it’ll utilize the mics embedded in connected HomePods. Users without Apple’s smart speaker will still be able to answer calls on tvOS, but they won’t be able to talk until they can reach their iPhones.
It’s worth noting that tvOS 26 beta 4 doesn’t include a dedicated Phone app to initiate calls from the Apple TV. Siri similarly failed to start a regular phone call when I asked it using my TV’s remote. So, for the time being, the new addition, unlike FaceTime, is seemingly limited to accepting incoming calls only. Whether Apple addresses this omission in future tvOS 26 builds remains to be seen.
MacDailyNews Note: On Apple TV, users with the fourth developer betas of iOS and tvOS 26 (and a HomePod) can go to Settings > Users and Accounts > [name] and scroll down to toggle on Show Incoming Calls.
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Who cares? This is called Cookovation.
I have my Mac desktop in one room, usually I will use my MacBook in my bedroom or some other room. If I’m watching TV on my Apple TV it is nice to see telephone notifications on my TV set. The other day my iPhone was charging in the bedroom and the MacBook was there. I had calls that got missed but would have been nice to see coming in as I was using my AirPods connected to the Apple TV.
I haven’t been able to get this feature working yet. The HomePod I had died, but I hear you can answer the call on the TV which puts the caller on hold.
Good Feature.