Apple today released tvOS 15.5, the fifth major update to the tvOS operating system that first launched in September 2021. tvOS 15.5 comes more than two months after the release of tvOS 15.4, an update that brought support for captive WiFi networks. tvOS 15.5 can be downloaded over the air on the Apple TV through the Settings app by going to System > Software Update. ‌‌‌‌‌‌Apple TV‌‌‌‌‌‌ owners who have automatic software updates enabled will be upgraded to tvOS 15.5 automatically.

Apple's tvOS updates are typically more minor in scale, focusing on under-the-hood bug fixes, performance updates, and small tweaks rather than major outward-facing changes. There were no new features discovered in tvOS 15.5 during the beta testing process, so it's not yet clear what's included in the update.

Apple does not offer detailed release notes for its tvOS updates, but the company does offer some tvOS information through the tvOS support document.

Article Link: Apple Releases tvOS 15.5 for Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K

HomePod software version 15.5 is also available. Weighs in at 467.7 MB

If there isn't anything major, shouldn't it be 15.4.1?

garylapointe said:

If there isn't anything major, shouldn't it be 15.4.1?

Agreed. And why do they share release notes for macOS, iOS, watchOS, homepodOS etc etc but never tvOS?

I'm not sure when it was released, but the Tungnaa Iceland Highlands aereal screensaver is horrible. I did a quick search and it appears that this screensaver was added back in December, but my AppleTV must've just downloaded. For the past week, this is the first aerial that pops up and I HATE IT.

According to Apple, you cannot delete a specific screensaver, you can only disable a theme which in my opinion is not helpful. For this one, I have to disable earth scenery, which also disables the aerials of Hawaii which I really like, but that's the only way to get rid of this hideous one.

garylapointe said:

If there isn't anything major, shouldn't it be 15.4.1?

Probably just keeping all the iOS version naming consistent, but I don’t think any of them have any major features that warrant going to .5

Edit: unless universal control coming out of beta on iPadOS was enough to tip the scale?

snak-atak said:

I'm not sure when it was released, but the Tungnaa Iceland Highlands aereal screensaver is horrible. I did a quick search and it appears that this screensaver was added back in December, but my AppleTV must've just downloaded. For the past week, this is the first aerial that pops up and I HATE IT.

According to Apple, you cannot delete a specific screensaver, you can only disable a theme which in my opinion is not helpful. For this one, I have to disable earth scenery, which also disables the aerials of Hawaii which I really like, but that's the only way to get rid of this hideous one.
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Definitely nothing to do with this software update or article, but personally I like it as a change of pace.

I always get excited for new updates until I remember that TVOS is probably the least developed (Innovative?) thing in Apple's arsenal and I wonder why bother?

snak-atak said:

I'm not sure when it was released, but the Tungnaa Iceland Highlands aereal screensaver is horrible. I did a quick search and it appears that this screensaver was added back in December, but my AppleTV must've just downloaded. For the past week, this is the first aerial that pops up and I HATE IT.

According to Apple, you cannot delete a specific screensaver, you can only disable a theme which in my opinion is not helpful. For this one, I have to disable earth scenery, which also disables the aerials of Hawaii which I really like, but that's the only way to get rid of this hideous one.
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Can't you just swipe to the next one?

garylapointe said:

If there isn't anything major, shouldn't it be 15.4.1?

You mean this one?

"Apple's tvOS updates are typically more minor in scale, focusing on under-the-hood bug fixes, performance updates, and small tweaks rather than major outward-facing changes. There were no new features discovered in tvOS 15.5 during the beta testing process, so it's not yet clear what's included in the update."

This could be said about almost every tvOS update, lol.

jackietreeh0rn said:

"Apple's tvOS updates are typically more minor in scale, focusing on under-the-hood bug fixes, performance updates, and small tweaks rather than major outward-facing changes. There were no new features discovered in tvOS 15.5 during the beta testing process, so it's not yet clear what's included in the update."

This could be said about almost every tvOS update, lol.

The behind the scenes stuff, like resolving HomeKit issues, is some of the most useful stuff even if it’s not exciting.

Gator5000e said:

Can't you just swipe to the next one?

It is easier to come here and complain

tvOS really feels like the forgotten OS at Apple. Seems like the only reason it gets updates is because it shares components with iOS.

Is this a different build than the tvOS 15.5 RC released last week?

Hope it fixes the issue where the AirPods max disconnects from the Apple TV if you don't use them for some minutes and then refuse to connect again.

Will be happy if this fixes that Dolby Atmos cutting out intermittently issue.

I kind of wish Apple TV’s went back to their original way of updating, which was having their own version numbers that are based on an iOS version. Now it just feels like tvOS constantly gets updates that don’t seem to offer much, or at least according to Apple.

I know they are getting security updates that the other iOS devices get, but it still looks misleading.

snak-atak said:

I'm not sure when it was released, but the Tungnaa Iceland Highlands aereal screensaver is horrible. I did a quick search and it appears that this screensaver was added back in December, but my AppleTV must've just downloaded. For the past week, this is the first aerial that pops up and I HATE IT.

According to Apple, you cannot delete a specific screensaver, you can only disable a theme which in my opinion is not helpful. For this one, I have to disable earth scenery, which also disables the aerials of Hawaii which I really like, but that's the only way to get rid of this hideous one.

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Set your settings to update screensavers more often. It'll rotate out.

thatJohann said:

Is this a different build than the tvOS 15.5 RC released last week?

They rarely post build numbers. I wish they posted them on the regular…

Gator5000e said:

Can't you just swipe to the next one?

I could, but it’s so irritating. And I’m not holding onto the remote every single minute like when I’m listening to music. Why can‘t they just provide a way to delete/inactivate specific aerials without having to disable the whole group of them?

snak-atak said:

I could, but it’s so irritating. And I’m not holding onto the remote every single minute like when I’m listening to music. Why can‘t they just provide a way to delete/inactivate specific aerials without having to disable the whole group of them?

Because it’s a development expense in time and money that could go into features more people want.

Does it resolve the laggy Siri Volume Control?

Maybe they just gave up on squashing bugs and gave them pet names. tvOS pets, or pests, we are stuck with. At least it isn’t as buggy as iPadOS 15 or Monterey. I shudder to think what nightmarish OSes we will get next month. Probably more bugs and features we don’t want…

I'm not getting my hopes up that this will fix the subtitles (captions) issue with the BBC app. Due to an obscure interaction between the way Apple defines subtitles and the way the BBC handles subtitles, the BBC app has no subtitles. So BBC is inaccessible to half of my family. Slightly starting to regret buying this Apple TV.