How to get to settings on Apple TV for account and app setup
To get to settings on Apple TV, open the gear icon on the home screen and make sure your device is running the latest tvOS before you pick a profile or install anything. Without the current update, many account and profile options simply won’t appear. From the Settings app, choose Profiles and Accounts to sign in with your Apple ID. If you need to add users to Apple TV app, each person can use their own credentials so recommendations and watch lists stay separate. For cellular subscribers, the process is straightforward: you can sign into Apple TV with T-Mobile as your TV provider right inside the same Accounts menu. This unlocks certain channels without extra passwords. Once everyone is signed in, head back to the home screen and open the App Store. If you are working with an older model, it is worth checking the compatibility list before you try to add apps to old Apple TV, because the store interface and supported titles differ from the newer hardware. After you find the streaming services you want, select Get or the cloud icon to install them. Each app will appear on the home screen. You can rearrange them by holding the touch surface on the remote until they jiggle.
Picture and display adjustments
If the picture on your screen looks too dark, washed out, or just off, the first place to check is the Video and Audio settings inside the Settings app. To fix that dim image, you will want to find the slider that lets you turn up brightness on Apple TV. This control may be adjusted on your television or projector, as Apple TV itself does not provide a dedicated brightness slider under Video and Audio. A common frustration occurs when the Apple TV 4K HDR format greyed out or not available. This usually means your TV or HDMI cable does not support the required bandwidth. It can also mean you have not updated to the latest tvOS version that enables HDR switching. Another issue that can drive you crazy is your Apple TV brightness slider resetting to a lower value every time you restart the device. This typically happens when the Match Content settings are forcing a different dynamic range that overrides your manual adjustment. To avoid these problems, first confirm your tvOS is current. Then navigate to Settings > Video and Audio > Format to choose your desired resolution and dynamic range, and enable Match Dynamic Range and Match Frame Rate under Settings > Video and Audio > Match Content. Finally, check that your HDMI cable is certified for 18Gbps or higher. Older cables are the most common cause of missing HDR options and erratic brightness behavior.
