In Apple’s upcoming tvOS 26.4 update the dedicated iTunes Movies and iTunes TV Shows apps will be fully removed from Apple TV devices, marking the final chapter in the long phase-out of legacy iTunes branding for video content.
The change, first spotted in the tvOS 26.4 developer beta released on February 16, 2026, consolidates all movie and TV show purchasing, renting, and viewing exclusively within the unified Apple TV app. Apple has been gradually migrating users to this single hub since late 2023, when the apps began redirecting purchases to the Apple TV app on tvOS 17.2, iOS 17.2, and iPadOS 17.2.
“Apple has been working to consolidate all movie and TV show viewing and buying to the TV app, so it’s all in one place,” the company stated in explaining the shift.
No Loss of Access to Purchased Content
Importantly, the removal does not affect users’ ability to access or play previously purchased or rented movies and TV shows. All owned content remains fully available and playable directly in the Apple TV app, with libraries intact and no migration required for existing purchases.
The standalone iTunes apps had lingered on Apple TV devices primarily to guide users during the transition and to provide continued access to iTunes Wish Lists for movies and TV shows. However, Apple recently began winding down wish lists entirely, sending emails to affected users warning that the feature would soon disappear and providing links to migrate individual items to the Apple TV app’s Watchlist feature.
Some users with extensive wish lists have expressed frustration over the need to manually migrate each item one by one via the emailed links.
Additional Changes in tvOS 26.4
Beyond the app removals, tvOS 26.4 introduces enhancements to audio handling:
• The Dolby Atmos immersive audio option in settings has been replaced with Spatial Audio.
• New audio output choices include converting to Dolby Digital 5.1, Stereo Only, or enabling Auto mode.
• A new Continuous Audio Connection option for HDMI output aims to address intermittent audio dropouts reported by some users with external sound systems, such as Sonos or AV receivers.
These audio improvements appear designed to deliver a more reliable and flexible listening experience across home theater setups.
The tvOS 26.4 beta is currently available to developers and public beta testers. Apple has indicated a full public release is planned for spring 2026, likely in March or April, following the typical beta testing cycle.
MacDailyNews Take: This update with the removal of the iTunes Movies and TV apps represents the latest step in Apple’s years-long effort to retire the iTunes brand for video content (following music in 2019), streamlining the experience for Apple TV users while reinforcing the central role of the Apple TV app in the ecosystem.
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