tvOS 27.2 adds three new features to your Apple TV 4K

Ryan Christoffel | Oct 20 2026 - 6:57 am PT

tvOS 27.2 is coming next week, bringing several new features to Apple TV 4K users—including some screen saver upgrades. Here’s what’s new.

#1: Shuffle option for screen savers

tvOS offers a variety of great screen savers across multiple categories, including Aerials, Memories & Slideshows, Portraits, and Snoopy.

But historically, you’ve had to choose just one of these categories for your Apple TV screen savers, thus missing out on all the others.

In tvOS 27.2, Apple has a new ‘Shuffle’ option which will cycle through all available screen savers—regardless of category—throughout the day.

I’ve always favored Apple’s beautiful selection of Aerials. But I love that now I can continue enjoying Aerials while also benefiting from the other screen saver categories too.

#2: Apple TV app supports sign language

For select movies and shows that support it, the Apple TV app now lets viewers toggle sign language options inside the player controls. Per Sigmund Judge:

Update: tvOS 27.2 Beta 3 confirms upcoming Sign Language options for both American (ASL) and British (BSL) – allowing access to sign language options in player controls on selected movies and shows.
— Sigmund Judge (@sigjudge) October 5, 2026

ASL (American Sign Language) and BSL (British Sign Language) are available, expanding accessibility for content in the Apple TV app.

#3: Custom screen savers from Photos library

If you want to curate Photos screen savers, tvOS 27.2 lets you do that in a new and convenient way.

When setting up screen savers in the Memories & Slideshows or Portraits categories, you’re now able to manually select the content that’s included from your iPhone or iPad.

Top comment by Keith B.

Liked by 1 people

Decided to give new Siri another try. Still can’t play a playlist, like Recently Added. No matter how I phrase it. It’s amazingly terrible! It’s definitely not ready for the HomePod or ATV.

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Thanks to this addition, you can enjoy Apple TV screen savers from Photos without being forced to let them access your full library.

Coming soon: Siri AI and HomePod surround sound

When the new Apple TV 4K (4th gen) arrives on November 13, it will include support for Siri AI and also a new four-speaker HomePod surround sound setup.

Siri AI is coming to Apple TV 4K 2nd and 3rd generation too, but it’s not yet available in tvOS 27.2.

tvOS 27.2 is now available in RC (release candidate) and is expected to ship next week to all users.

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Ryan Christoffel iryantldr

Ryan got his start in journalism as an Editor at MacStories, where he worked for four years covering Apple news, writing app reviews, and more. For two years he co-hosted the Adapt podcast on Relay FM, which focused entirely on the iPad. As a result, it should come as no surprise that his favorite Apple device is the iPad Pro.