The Apple TV app is available on a number of non-Apple platforms, but not on Android. However, there’s still a way for Android users to access it.
Apple TV is one of the three leading streaming services from Apple, and is among the two that are available on non-Apple platforms. It gives users access to a variety of content, including titles from the iTunes Store and Apple TV+ originals. The streaming service is also available on a slew of non-Apple devices and operating systems, including gaming consoles, smart TVs, and streaming sticks.
Apple is notorious for zealously preventing its apps from being available on competing platforms like Windows or Android. However, those restrictions are somewhat different when it comes to subscription services. For example, the Apple Music app is available on Android. It’s not surprising, since Apple wants more subscribers to compete with services like Spotify and YouTube Music, both of which are also cross-platform.
Unfortunately for Android users, there’s no official Apple TV app. However, the service can still be accessed from Android phones and tablets on the web via a browser. To do that, users need to open the Apple TV website on their browser (works only on Chrome or Firefox), and sign in with their Apple ID. In case users don’t have an Apple ID, they can tap on Create New Apple ID on the sign-in page. Of course, users would also require an Apple TV subscription, which costs $4.99 per month. Apple offers a 7-day trial for users to evaluate the service before they are billed. Users might be asked to add or verify a credit card to authorize access to Apple TV on the web.
Set Up Parental Controls For Apple TV On Android
The Apple TV experience on Android does come with a few limitations, such as the inability to download shows and watch them later. There’s also the problem of streaming on a mobile browser, which can result in issues with buffering and frame rate. While Apple hasn’t shown any inclination toward fixing these issues by releasing an app, it does offer parental controls for Apple TV+ on the web. This ensures that kids who have access to an Apple TV account will be shown only age-appropriate content.
To set this up, open the Apple TV website on an Android phone, and sign in to the account that needs restrictions. Tap on the account icon in the top-right corner, and select Settings. Scroll down to Parental Controls, and turn on the toggle next to Content Restrictions. Users will now need to enter a 4-digit passcode, as well as a recovery email in case they forget the passcode. Now choose the preferred age rating under TV Shows and Movies. Apple says that Apple TV+ remembers parental controls across all browsers an account has been signed into. However, these controls are not carried forward to the Apple TV app on Apple and non-Apple devices.
Apple TV Is Available On Roku, PS5, Xbox, And More
Even though it’s technically not available on Android, the Apple TV app can still be accessed on several non-Apple devices and operating systems, including Android TV, Google TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, and select Samsung, LG, Sony, Panasonic, Vizio, and HiSense smart TVs. The app is also available on PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. This is in addition to Apple’s own devices, like the iPhone, iPad, and even the iPod Touch. Macs running macOS 10.15 Catalina or later support the app, as does Apple TV hardware with tvOS 10.1 or later.
The Apple TV app was originally released in December 2016, which means it has been more than five years since its launch. Given that it is still unavailable on Android devices, it remains to be seen whether the company will ever release an Android app in the future. Apple Music eventually came to Android, so it’s difficult to predict what the company has in store for Android users in terms of Apple TV. That said, Apple TV is still perfectly serviceable on Android devices, so users wanting to catch The Morning Show or Ted Lasso can still do it right from their phone or tablet.
