Starting with tvOS 26 (and enhanced in tvOS 26.2, released in December 2025), Apple TV devices display a profile selection screen—commonly known as the “Who’s Watching” screen — every time you turn on or wake the device from sleep. This feature supports multi-user households with personalized recommendations, watch history, and app settings.
If you’re the main or only user, this screen can feel like an unnecessary extra step. Fortunately, you can disable it easily, allowing your Apple TV to boot directly to the Home Screen.
Steps to Turn Off the Profile Selection Screen
- Open the Settings app on your Apple TV.
- Scroll down and select Profiles and Accounts (in some versions, it may appear as Users and Accounts).
- Find the option labeled Choose Profile on Wake.
- Toggle it off.
That’s all! Now, when you wake or power on your Apple TV, it will skip the profile picker and go straight to your default profile’s Home Screen.
What This Change Does (and Doesn’t Do)
- Disabling this option does not delete any profiles, watch histories, recommendations, or associated data.
- You can still switch profiles manually if needed (e.g., for family members or guests) by going to Settings > Profiles and Accounts > Switch Current Profile.
- If multiple profiles exist, the default profile (typically your primary Apple Account) will load automatically.
This setting is particularly handy for single-user setups or households that prefer using per-app profiles (like in Netflix, Amazon Video, etc.) rather than system-wide Apple TV profiles.
To re-enable the profile screen later, simply follow the same steps and toggle Choose Profile on Wake back on.
MacDailyNews Note: For official Apple guidance, refer to their support page: Adjust settings for profiles and accounts on Apple TV.
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Why would you want to? This is one of the best things to happen to Apple TV since it went 4K. Now I don’t get my wife’s and son’s watch history populating into my recently watch because they forgot to change users. Also if you use the remote app on your phone it automatically goes into the user on the Apple TV to match the account on the phone. 👍🏽 👍🏽 from this guy for this feature. Also a shout out for the new sing app making the Apple TV a decent karaoke machine!!
Unfortunately it still falls a bit short in that you can’t customize the list of apps displayed… it should take the separation even further. My son has a bunch of games installed, along with sports apps .. (e.g. ESPN, etc..). My wife has no interest in those polluting her profile and Home Screen. She just wants 3 simple apps when she switches to her profile. (e.g. Netflix, Apple TV, HBO)