Just got Apple TV+? Here Are the Features You Should Check Out

Congratulations, you’ve got yourself an Apple TV+ subscription (or you’re two clicks away from purchasing)! Before we dive into the waters of the TV shows and movies you’ve been dying to watch, there are some things you might want to check out as a new subscriber.

Apple TV and Apple TV+

It’s easy to confuse Apple TV and Apple TV+ as they are often used interchangeably. To be fair, Apple TV, now called Apple TV 4K, is a media device that allows you to stream live TV from networks, broadcasters, and pay TV providers. Essentially, Roku is the same thing as Fire TV or Google TV.

Apple TV+, on the other hand, is a streaming service where you can find a library of Apple Originals (shows and movies). Of course, you can access Apple TV+ on an Apple TV device, but just like Netflix or Disney+, it can be accessed from a wide range of devices and your preferred web browser.

There is also an Apple TV app that you can install and use to watch TV+ shows and movies if you own an iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple TV 4K. But not this A prerequisite to start streaming Both Android and Apple users can subscribe to Apple TV+.

With a TV+ subscription in hand, here are some features to check out before you start binge-watching.

Broadcast Wherever You Want

One of the best things about AppleTV+ It is because it is not chained to the limits of Apple devices. In addition to Apple TV+, you can use smart TVs such as Google TV, Samsung, LG and Sony, as well as Roku, FireTV, PlayStation and Xbox in the Apple TV app. For an immersive experience, you can access TV+ via Apple Vision Pro, as well as iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV 4K.

The best part is that you can watch TV+ on the web even if you do not have any of the devices or services on this list. This is honestly one of the biggest selling points of Apple TV+ for me. When I came across this service, I went into it expecting it to be available only on my Apple devices, but I was pleasantly surprised that it was just like any other OTT streaming service.

Customize Content Restrictions

Like most streaming services, Apple TV+ lets you control the content ratings of the shows and movies you watch. Apple TV+ goes one step further: Beyond letting you choose from a list of ratings, it also lets you set different content restrictions for the different types of content you consume.

Click on your profile in the upper right corner of your Apple TV+ account. Go to Settings > Parental Restrictions. From here you can turn on content restrictions.

Content restrictions on Apple TV+.

You can also customize content restrictions for movies, shows, music, and podcasts. These content restrictions apply to Apple TV+, Apple Music, and Apple Podcasts in your web browser.

You can choose from a variety of content restrictions, including “C” (kids), “PG” (parental guidance recommended), “18+”, among others. For music and podcasts, you can choose between “Clean” and “Light.”

Take Advantage of Family Sharing

when you Subscribe to Apple TV+You can take advantage of Apple’s Family Sharing feature. This means you can share your Apple TV+ subscription with up to five family members.

Family Sharing is available if you and your family members have Apple IDs. If you set up Family Sharing, you can share all your subscriptions and purchases and set parental controls (like screen time beyond content restrictions) for kids.

To enable Family Sharing for your Apple TV+ subscription, you can create a family group on your iPhone or iPad. Go to Settings > Apple Account > Family. From here, set up Family Sharing and invite others. If you are a parent or guardian, you can also create a child account for children 12 and under.

Use AirPlay

Leveraging Apple TV+’s integration can go beyond streaming across devices. If you are in the Apple ecosystem or have several Apple devices, one feature that can come in handy when streaming your favorite shows and movies on Apple TV+ is the infamous AirPlay.

With AirPlay, you can seamlessly control and stream TV+ between Apple devices, use your iPhone as a remote control, and integrate speakers into your TV+ experience. AirPlay mirroring it also lets you stream TV+ to multiple Apple devices and take control of the audio via Siri (and HomePod, if you have one).

Buy Season Ticket

Apple TV+ has something for sports fans. By purchasing an MLS season pass, you can watch every Major League Soccer (MLS) game in the streaming service’s MLS tab.

No matter what device you use, you can purchase the season pass and even use it when using Apple TV+ on the web.

The MLS season pass gives you access to live matches, schedules, match highlights, league standings and past matches. In the MLS tab you can also find relevant sports content and commentary via club playlists on Apple Podcasts, Apple News and Apple Music.

If you’re using Apple TV+ on the web, go to your profile > Settings > Web Settings > Show Sports Scores and turn it on to access sports scores in the web browser you’re using.

Web settings for Sports on Apple TV+.

Check out Subscription Options

If you’re using the Apple TV+ monthly plan, you’ll pay $9.99 per month (after a 7-day free trial). If you’re looking to cut costs and save some money in the long run when bundling your Apple subscriptions, a viable plan is one possible plan you can look into. Apple One subscription.

This gives you access to four to six Apple subscriptions and services (along with Family Sharing on some plans), reducing the cost of each service in the discounted bundle.

If you’re considering new Apple services, Apple One might be a great plan for you, and an Apple TV+ subscription is included with every available plan. When you subscribe to Apple One, you also get a free one-month Apple TV+ trial.

Another plan you might want to consider if you’re a student is the Apple Music and Apple TV+ combo. When you purchase an Apple Music Student subscription, you can also access Apple TV+ at no extra cost. The only downside to this plan is that you won’t be able to use Family Sharing on Apple TV+ if you’re accessing it through your student plan.

There are many ways you can Get the most out of your Apple TV+ subscription. No matter what device you use to stream to Apple TV+, getting the basics set up and ready to go will only take your viewing experience to new heights.