How to setup and use multiple users on Apple TV with tvOS 13

While iOS 13, iPadOS, and macOS Catalina stole the show at WWDC ’19, Apple had plenty of love to share. That included watchOS, but more importantly, tvOS 13. The company has started rolling out the Public Beta program for Apple TV owners and there’s a slew of new features.

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One such feature is the addition of Control Center with easy access to various settings on your Apple TV. Another big addition is multi-user support, which provides personalized recommendations for each user. This functionality also means that you will be able to see your own Up Next queue. No more sharing with the family!

How to install tvOS 13 on your Apple TV

Before you can get started with creating multiple users, you will need to get the tvOS 13 beta installed. Apple makes it even easier than one would expect, and for good reason. Since the company decided to remove input ports, other than ethernet, you’ll have to rely on your home connection.

Before getting started, you’ll have to enroll in the program. This is EXTREMELY easy, as you’ll only have a few steps to follow:

1. From your web browser, head over to the Apple Beta Software Program landing page.
2. Tap the “Sign Up” button at the bottom
3. Enter your Apple ID and tap “Sign In”
4. Agree to the Beta Software Program terms if prompted

From there, you are all ready to go with installing the tvOS 13 beta. However, you will need to then start up your Apple TV and follow these steps:

1. Open Settings from your Home Screen
2. Using the touchpad, scroll down and select System
3. Scroll down and tap on Software Updates
4. Toggle Get Beta Updates to On

After you have turned this on, your ATV will prompt you to confirm that you want to download and install the update. This may take some time, and your Apple TV will restart over the course of the installation. Just sit back and relax while the TV works its magic.

How to set up multiple users with tvOS 13

It’s extremely to add new accounts to your various iOS and macOS devices, and the process is just as easy with tvOS. Here are the steps you need to take to add new users to your Apple TV.

1. Open Settings from your Home Screen
2. Select “Users and Accounts”
3. Tap “Add New User…“
4. Select “Enter New…“
5. Enter the Apple ID and password
6. Confirm the information and tap “Continue”

If you want to add more accounts, you will need to make sure that those users have their own Apple ID’s. From there, simply repeat the steps above until everyone in the house has their own profile.

Quickly switch between users with your remote

Now that your additional user accounts have been added, you’ll likely want to know how to switch between them. The first method requires a few steps and is not all that intuitive, but here is how:

1. Open Settings from your Home Screen
2. Select “Users and Accounts”
3. Tap Current User
4. Swipe and select the user you wish to switch to

The second, and way easier method for switching between users requires almost no work. All you have to do is tap and hold on the Home button on your Siri Remote.

The Control Center overlay will appear from the right side of the screen. Below the time, you will be able to view all of the different users that have been added to your Apple TV. Using the touchpad, swipe between the users and select the one that you want to switch to.

How to delete users from your Apple TV

Sometimes there’s a need to consolidate and remove user accounts from the Apple TV. Thankfully, the process for deleting is just as simple as the process for adding users. Here is what you’ll need to do:

1. Open Settings from your Home Screen
2. Tap on Users and Accounts
3. Select Current User
4. Use the touchpad and switch to the user you want to remove
5. Swipe down to “user” Account and tap
6. Scroll down to the bottom under “Manage” and select Remove User from Apple TV

After you make your selections, the Apple TV will show off a prompt confirming that you do want to remove that user. After the confirmation is made, then the account is removed and all of the data from the account will be removed.

Conclusion

We absolutely love to see all of the changes that Apple is making with tvOS 13, especially some of the new features. Here’s a quick breakdown of our favorite additions:

• Multi-user support
• Xbox and PlayStation controller compatibility
• Apple Arcade integration

These are just a few of the features, and when tvOS 13 launches this Fall, it will be the perfect hub for Apple TV+. In the meantime, you can enjoy the refreshed UI and other functionalities. Let us know what you think about tvOS 13 and if you are excited for Apple TV+ when it launches.

Andrew Myrick

Andrew is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US.

He has written for a variety of sites over the years, including iMore, Android Central, Phandroid, and a few others. Now, he spends his days working for an HVAC company, while moonlighting as a freelance writer at night.