Your Apple TV Just Got a Simple But Helpful New Feature

Apple just released tvOS 26.4, introducing a few new features for your Apple TV 4K.

There’s a “Genius Browse” feature when using the Apple TV app, which gives you TV show and movie recommendations. And there’s a new option that lets you customize subtitles (such as font style and size).

However, the most meaningful upgrade is a feature called Continuous Audio Connection, as it brings a key fix for users who have Apple TVs and a Sonos home theater system.

A new audio setting

Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

To date, there’s been a common issue affecting Apple TV users with AV receivers paired with Sonos speakers and hardware. When they switch to channels or content that are mixed for 5.1-channel PCM audio, they hear crackling, or the volume levels drop unexpectedly.

The good news is that this new feature — or rather, a new setting — fixes just that.

Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

Here’s how Apple describes Continuous Audio Connection:

“Apple TV uses a Dolby MAT connection for seamless transitions across formats. Older receivers might indicate Atmos, but the original audio will play as intended.”

When Continuous Audio Connection is turned on, your Apple TV will use a Dolby MAT connection to ensure “glitch-free playback across formats.” So, when switching between 5.1-channel PCM and Dolby Atmos content, it should fix these long-standing audio issues.

Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear Patrol

Don’t see it?

In tvOS 26.4, you’ll find Continuous Audio Connection in the Settings app on your Apple TV. Go to Settings > Video and Audio > Audio Format. The setting is located at the bottom and is turned on by default.

Don’t see Continuous Audio Connection? There are two likely scenarios.

First, your Apple TV hasn’t been updated to tvOS 26.4. This sometimes happens even when you have Automatic Updates turned to on. To manually update, go to Settings > System > Software Updates.

Second, the Continuous Audio Connection is only compatible with newer Apple TV models. You have to have a 2nd or 3rd-generation Apple TV 4K; these were released in 2021 and 2022, respectively.

If you have a first-generation Apple TV 4K, which was released in 2017, it unfortunately doesn’t support the new feature.

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