How to Add Movies to Apple TV

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Last Updated: February 7, 2024

Using Apple TV is an ideal way to enjoy movies and videos on your television that you may have downloaded or imported into your Apple iTunes application. Since the movies you watch using Apple TV are stored within iTunes, you must first download or move movies to your iTunes application. You can also import movies into iTunes that you have created yourself using iMovie. Continue reading this article to learn more about the different ways you can add movies into iTunes, and ensure they are compatible for use with Apple TV.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Purchase and Download Movies from iTunes

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If the movie you want to purchase and download to iTunes is not displayed, you can search for the movie of your choice using the search box located in the upper-right corner.

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A preview screen will then load, providing you with more details about that particular movie.
Your Internet browser will display a prompt informing you that the iTunes application will open on your computer. After opening, iTunes will then display the purchase options for the movie you have chosen.
Most movies will provide you with the option to purchase, or rent the movie.
The movie you have chosen will be downloaded directly into your iTunes, and is now available for you to sync and use with Apple TV.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Import Movies and Videos into iTunes

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2
Verify that the format of your movie is compatible for use with Apple TV. Video files in formats of .m4v, .mp4, and .mov are compatible with Apple TV; however, videos with the formats of .avi and .wmv will not work with Apple TV.
- Go to the Apple Support link ending with "HT1532#" in the Sources section of this article to access a complete list of video formats that will, and will not work with Apple TV.
You can now access the movie from the "Movies" folder of your iTunes library, and sync it with Apple TV.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Export iMovies to iTunes for Apple TV

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You will have the option to enter a name for the file, and select a file destination.
Your iMovie will then be saved in a format compatible with Apple TV.
You can now sync the movie with Apple TV within iTunes.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Converting Files that are iTunes-Incompatible

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1
Know the types of video files supported by AppleTV. Though AppleTV is a great way to view most movies, it's not a great way to view all movies. Certain video file extensions are incompatible with AppleTV and, thus, can't be played within the program. Knowing which files will and won't work in AppleTV ahead of time can be a big time-saver:
- Generally, mp4, m4v and mov can be easily transferred.
- Conversely, mkv, wmv, webm, and avi are usually difficult to transfer or incompatible entirely.
2
Use a free converter application to convert to mp4. Mp4 files are easy for AppleTV to play, so, if you can convert your incompatible file from its original file type to mp4, you should be able to play it. Luckily, several converter apps are available for free online - simply Google, download, and install the software, then convert your file to mp4 (or another supported format).
- Some converters will even have a special Apple TV profile pre-programmed for easy conversion.
- Below are just a few popular video converters available for download:
  - MPEG Streamclip
  - Handbrake
  - Format Factory (Windows only)
  - Freemake Video Converter (Windows only)
With luck, your new files should work just fine.
4
If necessary, adjust the parameters of problematic files. In some rare cases, it's difficult to get files to play in AppleTV even after converting them to a compatible format like mp4. In some cases, you may also need to adjust the parameters of the video file to make it easier to play. Here are compatible settings for several AppleTV-supported file types.:
- H.264 video up to 1080p, 30 frames per second, High or Main Profile level 4.0 or lower, Baseline profile level 3.0 or lower with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4 and .mov file formats
- MPEG-4 video up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4 and .mov file formats
- Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format

Community Q&A

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Question

Can I burn a movie that I already bought on DVD and add to Apple TV?

Community Answer

Sadly, this isn't possible due to digital rights management policies. Only movies and TV shows purchased through iTunes can be viewed on an Apple TV, along with apps such as Netflix and Hulu. Some DVDs come with "Digital HD" copies that can be exchanged for digital versions.

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Tips

If you encounter difficulty with syncing movies to Apple TV within iTunes, click on the movie from within iTunes, navigate to "Advanced" in the iTunes toolbar, then select "Create Apple TV Version." ITunes will then create a copy of your movie that is compatible with and can be synced with Apple TV.

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