Video formats that are available in the Apple TV app
Icons that appear on a film's product page show the highest quality format that the Apple TV app offers. When you buy or rent a film in the Apple TV app, it automatically plays in the best quality format available for the device that you're using.
4K video plays at a higher resolution. HD videos support a resolution of 1920 x 1080, but the resolution of 4K videos is 3840 x 2160, which offers sharper and more detailed imagery.
HDR videos have a broader range of colours and luminance.
On Apple TV 4K, content automatically plays in the HDR format that is compatible with your television.
With Dolby Atmos, when you use a compatible sound system, you'll experience three-dimensional audio. Find out more about using Dolby Atmos with your home cinema system and Apple TV 4K.
Here's what you need to watch the highest-quality video available
- Video content with a high-quality version that you purchased or rented.
- A device capable of playing high-quality video content:
- See Mac models that support HDR video.
- Refer to the tech specs for your iPhone, iPad or Apple TV, or your smart TV or streaming device to see whether it supports playing 4K, HDR or Dolby Vision videos.
- On tv.apple.com, you need a compatible device and display that can play the highest quality stream available:
- In Safari on a Mac with the latest version of macOS, compatible content may play in up to 4K HDR.
- In the latest version of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Edge on a Mac, Windows PC or Android, compatible content will play in up to 1080p (HD).
- In Safari on a Mac with the latest version of macOS, compatible content may play in up to 4K HDR.
- If you're using a Windows PC, check with your PC manufacturer to make sure you have the right hardware to play high-quality video content. For help with software system requirements, visit support.microsoft.com.
- The latest versions of iOS or iPadOS, macOS or tvOS.
- An Internet connection fast enough to watch high-quality content.
If you buy or rent a film from the Apple TV app, you can stream it on the device that you bought it on and any of your other devices, as long as you're signed in to all of your devices with the same Apple ID. Find out what to do if you can't stream films or TV shows. Your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, PC or Apple TV automatically plays the best quality of video available for the device and your Internet connection.
If you purchase or rent a standard definition (SD) video, you can't play higher-quality versions.
If you see a message that your device might not be able to play 1080p (HD) or 4K videos
When you buy or rent a film or TV show from the Apple TV app, the device that you're using may warn you that it can't play 1080p (HD) or 4K video content. Instead, your device automatically plays the highest-quality version of that video that it can. Your other Apple devices will play the higher-quality version if they're compatible.
Check the quality of your previous purchases
If you previously bought an HD film from the Apple TV app, you may have access to the 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision or Dolby Atmos enhancements on a compatible device. If your purchase doesn't have a high-quality version now, it might be added later.
To check the video quality, tap or click a film in your library. Look at the top of the page for , , or .
Check your internet connection
To stream high-quality video formats, you need a fast internet connection. Apple recommends a minimum speed of 25 Mbps for 4K streaming. If your internet connection isn't fast enough, your Apple devices automatically switch the video quality to a lower-quality version.
You can download a copy of an HD film to your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac or PC, but you can't download a 4K version. You might be able to download Dolby Vision and HDR versions to your iOS, iPadOS and macOS devices.
