Apple Releases tvOS 12.3 With Updated TV App

Apple today released tvOS 12.3, the seventh update to the tvOS 12 operating system that runs on the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models. tvOS 12.3 comes more than a month after the release of tvOS 12.2.1, a minor bug fix update.

tvOS 12.3 is a free update that can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the ‌Apple TV‌ by going to System -> Software Update. ‌Apple TV‌ owners who have automatic software updates turned on will be upgraded to tvOS 12.3 automatically.

appletvapp
tvOS 12.3 is the biggest tvOS update Apple has released for quite some time because it introduces an overhauled TV app, which Apple first showed off earlier this year at its March 25 event. The new TV app is similar to the old TV app but it has a refreshed, modern look along with new features.

appletvapp3
There are dedicated sections for TV shows, movies, sports, and children's programming, along with access to your iTunes content. There continues to be a "Watch Now" section with an "Up Next" feature for keeping track of the TV shows and movies you're watching, and there's a new machine-learning based "For You" option that surfaces content recommendations based on what you've previously watched.

appletvapp4
Apple has included a "Channels" feature, which is a major part of the company's new services push. With Channels, you can subscribe to paid TV content from services like HBO, Showtime, and Starz, and watch that content right within the TV app without having to swap over to a third-party app.

appletvchannels
When you subscribe to a service through the TV app, Apple gets a cut of the subscription price and it makes it easier to access third-party content. While Channels are available, the TV app will continue to recommend content that's also only available through third-party apps, so it will work the same way that it did before, but with better recommendations.

appletvchannels2
The new ‌Apple TV‌ app is available in more than 100 countries starting today, and with Family Sharing, up to six family members are able to share subscriptions to ‌Apple TV‌ channels. Channels content can be watched both online or offline, including HBO content.

In the future, Apple plans to make its new TV+ subscription service available through the TV app, with TV+ offering up access to Apple's original TV shows and movies. The TV app is available on the ‌Apple TV‌ and iOS devices, and in the future, it will expand to the Mac.

Apple has also released new 7.3 software for the third-generation ‌Apple TV‌ models.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
wwdc sans text feature

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
Finder Siri Feature

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. Upgraded Architecture The next-generation...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
iphone 17 pro dark blue 1

iPhone 18 Pro Max Rumored to Deliver Next-Level Battery Life

Friday February 6, 2026 5:14 am PST by
The iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature a bigger battery for continued best-in-class battery life, according to a known Weibo leaker. Citing supply chain information, the Weibo user known as "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will have a battery capacity of 5,100 to 5,200 mAh. Combined with the efficiency improvements of the A20 Pro chip, made with TSMC's 2nm process, the...

Top Rated Comments

zorinlynx Avatar
88 months ago
('https://www.geekwebguides.com/2019/05/13/apple-releases-tvos-12-3/')
Apple has also released new 7.3 software for the third-generation Apple TV models.
This is actually better than it sounds at first; they fixed security issues with the third-generation Apple TV:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210121

Just last week my boss was talking about removing a few of these from our network due to security audits claiming they were a potential threat vector; thanks to this update we don't have to worry about it and can continue using them. (Primarily we use them as AirPlay targets)
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
EricNau Avatar
88 months ago
Ugh. I absolutely hate the new Apple TV app.

* Purchased TV shows and Movies are combined (why would I want that?)
* If you hover on a movie too long it starts auto-playing a trailer (like Netflix, and I loathe it)
* Movie album art is inconsistent, and now only three movies fit in a row; that’s only 6-9 on the entire screen; total waste of screen real-estate...
* ...meanwhile, the genres menu takes up half the screen (why is there no way to hide the side menu?) Admittedly this was previously the case, but it should have been fixed a long time ago
* You have to start watching a movie before you can read the movie info or quality (or select ‘play from beginning’)
* Movies in a series STILL aren’t displayed in numerical order

The worst part is, I can’t determine what they actually improved. Sure, it does a few things differently than before (like Channels) but that’s not a feature that I didn’t already have (with Prime, Hulu, etc).

EDIT: And for the love of god, why can’t I use Siri on my HomePod to turn the Apple TV on or off (or sleep)? Absurd.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jhall8 Avatar
88 months ago
Not bad for that UI...up next...is it synced with your other devices?
Yes, it is synced.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
benji888 Avatar
88 months ago
The new ATV3 software is 8.4.2.

Edit: I saw the above on a reliable site. But I now see that the Apple support page shows version 7.3.
I think both are correct, the Apple TV software for ATV 3 is officially 7.3, however, versions 7.x are based on iOS 8. ...and I see now the last version (7.2.2) was also based on iOS 8.4.2, so changes are minor.
[doublepost=1557787652][/doublepost]Anyone (in US) have pics of the new Apple TV channel on ATV 3?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tothemoonsands Avatar
88 months ago
Do you mean that Home Sharing content is displayed inside the TV app itself? Or that the Home Sharing app on the Apple TV has improved?
Yes, the former - Home Sharing content is displayed inside the TV app in iOS. This isn't new per se, but from my experience so far, it is much improved now. Loads faster, no errors or authorization issues, no double library listings, episodes are accurately reflecting watched/unwatched status etc.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jhall8 Avatar
88 months ago
I think both are correct, the Apple TV software for ATV 3 is officially 7.3, however, versions 7.x are based on iOS 8. ...and I see now the last version (7.2.2) was also based on iOS 8.4.2, so changes are minor.
[doublepost=1557787652][/doublepost]Anyone (in US) have pics of the new Apple TV channel on ATV 3?
Here you go. And thanks for the clarification about the ATV3 update.

Attachment Image

Attachment Image
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)