Apple’s new venture — Apple TV+ is another example of how Apple is turning its focus onto services while keeping its grip on the hardware.
To start watching Apple TV+, open the Apple TV app on a compatible device. Go to the Watch Now tab or search for AppleTV+, start your trial, and sign in with your Apple ID. Confirm your billing information, agree to the terms, and start watching Apple TV+ content! It’s that easy.
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At the iPhone announcement event, Apple first took to the stage to introduce pricing for the new streaming services. At just $4.99 per month, with some big exclusive shows, TV+ could be taking on Netflix and Hulu in no time.
How to get Apple TV+ free for one year
But Apple didn’t stop at just announcing a new show and the pricing. The company also shared a free one-year promotion that started on November 1st, the Apple TV+’s launch date.
To see the offer appear in your TV App, sign in with your Apple ID on that new device.
Just note that you must claim your free Apple TV+ offer in the Apple TV app within 3 months after first setting up your new device
- For folks that purchased a new device before the launch of Apple TV+ on November 1, you have 3 months starting November 1 to redeem your free offer–so February 1st, 2020 is your hard deadline to sign up!
Which Apple devices are eligible?
This promotion provides a one-year free subscription trial for Apple TV+ for just about any new Apple device purchased after September 10th. And no, you won’t have to just buy the device from Apple, as select authorized resellers are also included in the promotion.
As for what devices are eligible for this promotion? The list is pretty long, so we’ll make it short and sweet.
- Any new iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, or Mac capable of running the latest iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, or macOS.
- It must be purchased after September 10th from Apple or an Apple authorized reseller.
This is a fantastic way to get more users on board with this new streaming service. Including an entire year, which equates to almost $60, is an amazing promotion.
Signed up for your apple tv+ subscription? How to watch it on your TV
To actually watch your Apple TV Plus’ content on your TV, you need:
- Hardware that can access Apple’s TV app (such as an Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Firestick or a compatible smart TV)
- Tap each link to learn which models support Apple’s TV app: Samsung smart TVs, Roku streaming devices, and Amazon Fire TV devices
- Activate your Apple TV+ subscription
How to activate the Apple TV+ Free 1 year subscription
Here are the steps you will need to take to activate your free year of the streaming service:
- Turn on your compatible Apple device, and sign in with your Apple ID.
- Ensure you have the latest update installed.
- Open the Apple TV app.
- The offer should immediately present itself.
- Tap “Enjoy 1 Year Free” and enter your Apple ID password.
You may be asked to confirm your billing information or add a new payment method. Once completed, your Apple TV+ subscription will be available and you can stream away.
In the event that the promotion notification does not appear, open the Apple TV app. Then, scroll down to the Watch Now section and wait until the notification appears.
Are there any catches?
There are no major catches when signing up for Apple TV+. There are a few caveats, however:
- This offer is only good for one Apple ID, and only one offer per family if you are a part of the Family Sharing group.
- Up to 6 family members can share the Apple TV+ subscription through Family Sharing.
- You have three months after November 1st to sign up for Apple TV+ for free, provided you purchased a new device after September 10th.
- If you’ve purchased your new device before the launch of Apple TV+ on November 1, you will have 3 months starting November 1 to redeem.
- After the 1-year free trial has expired, you will be billed at $4.99 per month until you cancel the subscription.
- The offer is only available for a limited time.
We are not sure exactly how long Apple will be running the promotion. But we will be sure to let everyone know once Apple reveals that information.
Conclusion
There is a lot of promise in what Apple TV+ can bring to the streaming service wars. With big names like Steven Spielberg and Oprah on board, along with A-list actors, we are excited to see what’s to come.
Let us know if you plan on signing up for TV+, or if you are going to opt for something like Disney+ when it launches.
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.
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I was excited to get a free subscription to Apple TV+ when I bought a new iphone, but having signed up and check it out, I’m glad I didn’t pay! There are like 40 shows for free in total, most of them for kids, and everything else is just either another service (Disney – so I can’t watch the Mandalorian unless I pay), movies (pay for play) and other services like my local tv stations. 40 shows. Seriously? Apple need to lift their game if they really want to compete with streaming services.
Aloha Andrew: I just purchased a new iPhone 12 and redeemed my Apple TV+ for a year free. I have looked high and low for an answer as to what is exactly is free because each film/tv show/series either has an option to purchase/rent or Add to Up Next + AND there are other apps that are accessible like ABC All Access, etc. which people pay monthly for. What the heck do we get for free, if anything? Thanks for any and all light you can shed on this.
I accepted the AppleTV free 1 year trial, but whenever I try to view something there is a charge associated with the program. I have tried your recommendation by going to a computer, etc. That does not work. How can I fix this?
Hi. I received one year free when I bought my new iPhone a few weeks ago. I see that a lot of the shows have to be purchased. Are those shows included in the free trial, or do I need to pay for them?
Thank you
I just signed up for free service for 1 year, and none of the programs, or movies are free.
I received my iPhone 7 June 2020.
I signed up for the free one year trial and I have Roku on my Sony tv. How do I get Apple TV on my Sony?
Hi William,
Not all TVs or Roku models support the Apple TV app natively. To check if your television or Roku supports Apple TV+ natively, go to the apps section on your TV/Roku and check for the Apple TV app. If it shows up, install it and then sign into the App.
If you don’t find the Apple TV app, you can still watch Apple TV+ by sharing your screen from your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac if your Sony supports AirPlay 2. Otherwise, you can watch Apple TV+ using a supported Roku, Apple TV, or Amazon Fire TV.
Learn more about supported models here.
To access your free one-year subscription, we suggest you first sign in using your iPhone, iPad, iPod, or Mac to begin the free subscription and link it to your Apple ID. Then on your TV or Roku, sign into the Apple TV app using that same Apple ID and your free one-year subscription to Apple TV+ should show up.
I subscribed for my one year Apple TV subscription. I am curious about what all is included in that?
I have kids so whenever I click on a kid’s movie it takes me to Disney+ app, which I’m not signed up for so I’m a little confused.
I also heard that Netflix was included with it, but again I’m not sure what all is included? Thanks
Hi Michael,
The one-year Apple TV+ subscription only includes Apple-owned or produced content at no cost. It does not include Netflix or Disney+.
Honestly, right now there is not a lot of free & included content on Apple TV+, though more are in the pipeline as Apple produces more shows and/or purchases the rights to content produced elsewhere.
My iPad Pro 11″ keeps telling me I have 3 days to claim a free year of Apple TV+, but every time I try, I see “7 day free trial,” not a year free.
I don’t know how to claim the free year.
I followed all the instructions I found on Google, but they always ended in a “7-day free trial.”
I tried to get help from Apple Support.
I followed all their instructions, but they always ended in a “7 day free trial.”
How can I get the free year?
Hi Kay,
First, sign out of the TV app on your iPad, then close the app by swiping up to see the app switcher, and swiping the TV app preview tile off the top of the screen. Then, launch the TV app again and see if you can now get that free 1-year.
If that doesn’t work:
Sign out of the TV app again and close it (following the instruction above) but this time leave it closed.
Try instead to use a computer and Safari (or if you don’t have a computer, use Safari on your iPad) and type in this address for tv.apple.com
Then, tap sign in with the Apple ID you used to purchase that iPad.
See if you can accept the 1-year free trial offer from there.
Once done, on your iPad, launch the TV app and see if AppleTV+ is active.
Take a look at these tips: Can’t get your free year of Apple TV+? Here’s what you should do
When I click on Enjoy 1 year free it takes me to Payment information required. i hit continue and its just my name, address and phone number and no option to add payment info. Then goes back to the payment information required and back round in circles. Please help.
Hi Melanie,
Try adding a payment option first for your Apple ID/iCloud account via Settings > Apple ID > Payment & Shipping. Add a payment method there and then try signing up for Apple TV+ again.
If you cannot add a payment method, you are likely part of a family sharing plan. In that case, ask the designated family organizer to add a payment method and allow you access to make payments.
Hi,
I missed the expiration date.
I purchased my iPad in Dec. or January.
At this time I am home due to coronavirus outbreak.
I subscribed for a one week trial which expires tomorrow.
Could Apple possibly extend my subscription granting the free Apple TV offer. I would like to continue watching Oprah talks.
Thank you.
Hi Mary,
Oh my goodness. We suggest you reach out to Apple Support directly via chat or via the support site for Apple TV.
Have your proof of purchase for your iPad available–the receipt or email that confirmed your order. And see if they will extend the offer.
If I bought a new Iphone and am able to get the one year free TV+ from Apple can I watch the movies, etc on my ipad instead of my phone?
( The Ipad isn’t new but the phone is & of course has a bigger screen).
Also if I update the Ipad to the latest update, I can no longer save pictures from my messages to ipad photos as I happened when I updated my phone.
Hi Holly,
Yes, you can watch Apple TV+ on any device signed in with the Apple ID that you used to cash in your one year free.
The free year is tied to your Apple ID and not 5he device itself.
Just remember that unlike Netflix and some other streaming apps, Apple TV+ only includes some free content like Apple originals and other licensed shows. You still need to rent and pay for other content.
Regarding saving images from the message app using iOS13 or iPadOS, you can do that by pressing and holding on the image within the text and choosing Save. It works like it used to now, with iOS 13.3.1
When you receive your 1 year free subscription for Apple TV does that cover all content or just the monthly subscription charge?
Hi Conor,
The free Apple TV+ subscription includes Apple-owned or licensed content and Apple-created content (like the Morning Show and See) but does not include all content available in the TV app. For shows and programs that are not Apple licensed, owned, or created, you still need to pay rental fees.
Liz
Why is Apple Watch not included in this promotion? It certainly costs more than many of your included products.
Hi Bill,
According to Apple “Any new iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, or Mac capable of running the latest iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, or macOS purchased after September 10, 2019, from Apple or an Apple authorized reseller, is eligible.”
You are correct that an Apple Watch costs more than some iPads, many iPods, and Apple TVs. We think the reasoning behind this is that you cannot directly view AppleTV+ content on an Apple Watch vs. those products
Hello,
I bought a new Apple TV device on Nov 29, but the only option i get is for a 1 Week Free Trial. How can i activate the 1 Year Free offer?
Hi Kevin,
Try signing out of your Apple ID and sign back in again, then make sure it’s running the latest tvOS version via Settings > System > Software Updates and Select Update Software.
If that didn’t work, on a computer go to Apple’s website for Apple TV and log in with your Apple ID. See if you get that 1-year free trial offer from there. Then on your AppleTV, sign out and sign in again.
Same issue here! In early December I bought a new iMac, and now logged in to try to redeem this offer that I was emailed about- the 1 free year. When logging into the Apple TV app and on the apple TV website it shows the only free option being a free 7 day trial.
Hi Joshua and Kevin,
Sorry, this offer isn’t showing up for you.
First, make sure the Apple ID used to purchase the iMac and register Apple Care is the same one you’re using now for the free AppleTV+ subscription. If that’s good to go, update your Mac’s macOS to the latest version–older versions do not include the option. Next, sign out of the TV app, close it, and relaunch it, then sign in with that Apple ID. And if that doesn’t work try using this site instead of the Apple TV app.
If none of these options work or you already tried, contact Apple Support and have your proof of purchase available.
I bought a new ipad last week and signed up for Apple TV+ free for the first year promo. However when I find something in the app, I seem to be able to either rent it or buy it. How do I actually watch it for free?
Hi D,
Do you see this message when accessing the AppleTV+ content (shows like See or The Morning Show)? Apple TV+ allows free access to only Apple’s original content–so it’s quite unlike Netflix and Hulu in that way. It does NOT include free access to any movies, tv shows, and other content from non-Apple companies.
Hello, I just bought a new IPhone from Apple and received their one year free subscription service. It also allows family sharing but I haven’t found how I can share it with my immediate family in KC when I live in Cleveland, Ohio. Any advice or where I can find same would be appreciated.
Best regards,
Vince Vavpot
Hi Vince,
This is a problem we haven’t heard of before with other family sharing services. You must first activate your AppleTV+ subscription, only then will it appear as a shareable service (provided you are currently a part of a family sharing plan.)
To activate it, open the TV app on your new iPhone
Tap watch now
Tap the banner to “enjoy 1 year free”
Next, are you the family organizer or a listed parent? You must be listed as the family organizer or parent for this content to be shared.
And within your family sharing group–are you able to successfully share other kinds of content, like apps, music, and any other purchases?
Go to the Settings app > Your Apple ID > tap Family Sharing
In the Family Sharing section, you should see a list of all possible shareable services
Scroll down and tap TV Channels
You should then see a list of TV subscriptions or be prompted to share channels with your family
Check the box to verify you want to share it
Definitely interested in the Apple TV as it’s using good actors etc I’m a heavy Netflix and amazon user so it’ll be good to see how it compares. Doesn’t seem I’m able to get the 12 months trial though
I have been able to see five or so shows and have had Appletv+ since day one! Usually have to watch multiple times for these as they just shut down midway through Usually either it won’t start or
I get sound but no picture. I cannot find a Support button or anywhere to contact to get help or another free week and refunds for my two months on my credit card. Please help!
Hi Elizabeth,
Well, that’s terrible! We are very sorry your Apple TV+ subscription isn’t working as it should.
Try going to your Audio Settings on the Apple TV and turn off Dolby–see if that makes a difference and if you can now hear your programming with AppleTV+.
We suggest you contact Apple Support directly or use Apple’s website to report a problem.
I purchased new iPad received Apple TV+. I have a samsung tv with the Apple TV app but only offers me 1 week free. How do I get the 1 yr on this app? Can I only stream free offer on my iPad?
Hi Vickey,
Update your Apple TV and your iPad to the latest iOS 13/apple tvOS version and then navigate to the Apple TV app. You should see a notice to redeem your 1 year free in the Apple TV app there.
If you don’t see that notice, try tapping the “Try Apple TV+ free” option–after selecting it, tap the option “Enjoy 1 Year Free”.
This is eligible for devices purchased after September 10, 2019 only.