Setting up your subscription on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV — a step-by-step guide

Why setup on Apple needs its own guide

The same app can look different on an iPhone and on an Apple TV, and some options — the video player or the quality, for example — sit in the app’s settings on one device and in the system settings on another. Apple TV also relies on the remote for typing, which is slower than a phone keyboard, so one wrong character means entering everything again. This guide orders the steps so the details go in once, correctly, and makes use of what Apple devices do well instead of treating them as an obstacle.

Before you start

• Update the device’s operating system (iOS, iPadOS or tvOS) to the latest available version — many playback problems disappear after an update.
• Keep the subscription details you received after payment in the Notes app, privately, so you can paste them instead of typing character by character.
• Connect the Apple TV by Ethernet if your model has the port; otherwise use the 5GHz Wi-Fi band.
• If an iPhone or iPad is your main screen, connect to Wi-Fi before installing — the app and the first load of data use more mobile data than you would expect.

AirPlay: from the phone to the TV screen

If you have an Apple TV or a TV that supports AirPlay, you can play a channel on the iPhone and send it to the big screen. It is handy on visits and in homes where no app is installed on the TV, but the steadier long-term option is an app installed on the Apple TV itself, because AirPlay depends on the phone and the network together and any call or notification can interrupt it.

Setup steps on each Apple device

1. iPhone and iPad: install and enter your details

   Open the App Store, search for a compatible player that supports playlists, install it, then enter the subscription details you received after payment by pasting them from Notes. Wait for the channels to finish loading the first time — it can take a minute — then play any channel to confirm.

2. iPhone and iPad: picture-in-picture

   In the system settings, make sure picture-in-picture is on; then, during playback, swipe up to leave the app — the channel keeps playing in a small window you can move and resize. Useful for following a match while replying to messages.

3. Apple TV: install

   From the App Store on the Apple TV, search for the same player or its tvOS version and install it. Some apps show a short code you can enter from your phone on a web page instead of typing with the remote — use it where offered.

4. Apple TV: enter details quickly

   If you have to type with the remote, use the iPhone keyboard: when a text field appears on the Apple TV, a notification appears on your phone that lets you type directly from it, which cuts mistakes a great deal.

5. Set the quality and the player

   Start on automatic quality and raise it once the connection proves steady. If you see stutter or audio out of sync, switch the video player in the app’s settings where the option exists, and try another channel before judging.

Quick setup checklist

• Update iOS, iPadOS or tvOS before installing.
• Paste your subscription details from Notes instead of typing them; on Apple TV, use the iPhone keyboard.
• Play a test channel at peak time on the device itself before relying on it.
• Turn on picture-in-picture on iPhone and iPad if you follow along while using other apps.
• Start on automatic quality, then raise it to 4K once the connection holds.
• Keep your subscription details private; never share them in public groups.

Fixing the common problems on Apple devices

iPhone, iPad and Apple TV — frequently asked questions