March 23, 2023 at 5:28 p.m. PST
- Apple TV+ is a video streaming service similar to Netflix.
- Launching in 2019, Apple TV+ evolved from an inexpensive, fledgling streaming service to an award-winning powerhouse, challenging competitors like Netflix and HBO.
- Apple TV+ currently costs $6.99 per month.
- Popular Apple TV+ shows and movies include Ted Lasso, CODA, Mythic Quest, and Central Park.
- Customers purchasing a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Mac get three free months of Apple TV+.
What is Apple TV+?
Apple TV+ is a video streaming subscription service, like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and many others. Unlike other streaming services, Apple managed to enter the field late, yet succeeded due to massive investments in content production.
Apple TV+ follows a similar trajectory as the Apple Watch. Apple was late delivering a smartwatch, but when it arrived, it was the wearable that everyone wanted.
In many ways, Apple TV+ has quickly usurped its competitors. With multiple Acadamy Awards and Emmys, Apple TV+ quickly went from underdog to top dog within a few years.
Of course, with Apple being a massive corporation, Apple TV+ was never really a fledgling operation. Apple hired top executives with the right background from Sony Pictures and other studios. In effect, Apple simply bought a piece of Hollywood instead of developing its own production capabilities.
For this reason, Apple TV+ shows and movies are just like any other Hollywood production. There’s nothing notably “Apple” about them. The actors and stories are primarily white. There are a few token minorities thrown in for appearances of fairness. The superficial and hackneyed plots, acting, and production share common values with Tinseltown creations.
I have to call out Amazon Prime for being one of the better streaming services regarding quality, truth, and diversity. For some reason, they can produce content that contradicts Hollywood’s regressive and backsliding ethnic preferences and stereotypes, creating original stories. With Apple TV+ and so many others, I feel like I’ve seen all of these shows and movies before, in a different form. If you can only afford to subscribe to one streaming channel, I recommend Amazon Prime.
Even though I get months and months of free Apple TV+ from buying Apple devices, I’ve found it challenging to sit through anything Apple has produced. The industry has been rewarding and awarding itself with the same idiotic and formulaic Hollywood fodder for decades. (Oh boy, another superhero movie!) Apple TV+ is more of the same — hackneyed, stereotypical writing with homogenous and sterile production values. At least they don’t make dozens of shows and movies about dusty old cowboys. Apple TV+ is a bit more edgy, but in a predictable Hollywood way.
For some people, the Hollywood formula is a drug-like experience. The bluster, noise, narcissism, and special effects shoot off dopamine almost as effectively as an illicit street drug. It awakens the inner narcissist, propped up by decades of self-esteem-boosting psychology. Beyond watching the “hero,” many want to be him and live vicariously through him. If this sounds like you, Apple TV+ is a slam dunk.
How to Subscribe to Apple TV+
Now that you’re well aware of Apple TV+ and what it has to offer, let’s look at how to subscribe to the streaming service. Whether you’re in the Apple ecosystem or merely hover outside of it, it’s easy to get started with Apple TV+.
There are as many ways to subscribe to Apple TV+ as there are to watch it. Just about any device can access the Apple TV website and sign up.
First, you need to create an Apple ID. You can create one even if you don’t own an Apple device. It’s exactly like a Google account. You don’t need an Android smartphone or Chromebook to sign up for a Google account either.
Your Apple ID is for authentication, but it also allows you to access Apple TV+ and other services. You can even use Apple’s office productivity software for free in your web browser, but that’s beyond the scope of this tutorial.
Since most people visiting this site own an iPhone, let’s look at how to subscribe to Apple TV using iOS. After that, I’ll show you how to subscribe to Apple TV+ using a web browser, which will work with any device.
Here’s how to subscribe to Apple TV+ on your iPhone:
- Open the Apple TV app on your iPhone. The easiest way to do this is to say, “Hey, Siri, launch Apple TV.” You can also launch Spotlight and search for “TV”. Of course, you can scan rows of icons to find the Apple TV app. Once you’ve launched the app, the Apple TV home screen appears with a “Try It Free” button.
- Tap the “Try It Free” button. An iOS payment confirmation screen appears.
- Double-click the side button to confirm payment and start your Apple TV subscription.
That’s it. You’re good to go. It’s easy on an iPhone because Apple already has your billing details.
What about people who don’t have an iPhone? You can still sign up for Apple TV+ and watch it on your favorite device. Instead of using your iPhone to sign up, use a web browser on your Android, Windows PC, or Chromebook. Here’s how to do it:
- Open a web browser and navigate to https://tv.apple.com. The Apple TV home page loads with a “Try It Free” button at the bottom left of the video marquee.
- Click or tap on the “Try It Free” button. A panel appears asking you to sign in with or create a new Apple ID.
- If you have an Apple ID, click on Sign In. If not, click on Create. The Create Apple ID form appears.
- Fill in the form with the appropriate information and click “Continue”. The Apple TV website will send a code to the email address you used in the form.
- Go to your email inbox and copy the code that the Apple TV website sent.
- Enter or paste the six-digit code Apple sent to your email inbox. The Payment Method form appears.
- Enter your payment information and click the Subscribe button.
That’s it. You can now enjoy Apple TV+ for seven days without payment. If you decide to keep Apple TV+, billing will start after the 7-day trial elapses.
You can cancel the trial and enjoy Apple TV+ without ever being billed. You will simply lose access when the trial is over. If you’re forgetful and just want to try Apple TV+ without paying for it, I recommend cancelling as soon as you sign up. You can always start Apple TV+ again, but you won’t get the free trial.
Now that you’ve signed up for Apple TV+, let’s look at how to watch it on the most popular devices. The good news is that you can watch Apple TV+ on virtually every device.
How to Watch Apple TV+ on an iPhone
Not surprisingly, Apple TV+ is easier to enjoy on Apple’s devices than any other manufacturer’s gadgets. It comes pre-installed on all Apple devices and I’m sure your iPhone has bugged you about subscribing to Apple TV+.
Assuming you’ve subscribed to Apple TV+ using the steps above, all you need to do is open the Apple TV app. Apple TV+ content is immediately visible.
The easiest way to launch the Apple TV app is to say “Hey Siri, launch Apple TV.” There are many other commands that will work, but I know this does the trick.
You can also ask Siri to “play the latest episode of Ted Lasso” or something similar. Siri is fully integrated with the Apple TV app and Apple TV+ service.
How to Watch Apple TV+ on an iPad
Watching Apple TV+ on an iPad is the same as an iPhone. Even with iPadOS, Apple’s tablet is still just a larger iPhone.
As with an iPhone, simply open the Apple TV app on your iPad to enjoy Apple TV+ programming. You can launch it with Siri too. It works exactly like the iOS version, only with a bigger screen.
How to Watch Apple TV+ on an Apple TV
Apple TV, the device, is a small streaming appliance resembling a hockey puck. It’s made for streaming Apple TV+. Again, Apple has everything pre-installed, so you can easily access their streaming service.
After starting up Apple TV, simply click on the Apple TV icon on the top row of the Home Screen. Apple literally made this the first icon on the Home screen. Once Apple TV opens, you can access Apple TV+ programming.
How to Watch Apple TV+ on a Windows PC
Windows’ market share is declining rapidly as more people move away from computers. People prefer to use a smartphone or tablet these days, and Microsoft doesn’t have either. Instead, they’re making much hay over ChatGPT, a deeply flawed, yet massively hyped, AI chatbot.
Nonetheless, many people, including me, still own a Windows PC. I bought one out of frustration with Apple. I purchased two Macs in a row that failed spectacularly, so I vowed never to buy another Apple product. I even bought an Android smartphone. I only switched back to the iPhone to write for this site. For $1200 you can get a much better Android phone.
Buying a Windows PC was a mistake. The old saying “out of the frying pan, into the fire” comes to mind. My LG Gram laptop is well-built, and Windows is better than ever, but it still sucks.
I decided to suck it up and return to Apple products but avoid expensive MacBooks. Instead, I buy cheap Mac Minis, which don’t have many moving parts, like fragile “butterfly” keyboards and power supplies that are permanently damaged by California’s dodgy power grid.
If you still have a Windows PC, you can watch Apple TV+ by visiting the Apple TV website. Sign in with the Apple ID you created in the previous section. Once you sign in, accessing Apple TV+ content is easy.
How to Watch Apple TV+ on an Android Smartphone
Flagship Android smartphones are superior to the iPhone. Unfortunately, there’s a huge stigma attached to owning an Android phone. A lot of people will assume you’re poor. If you’re dating, other than brown or black skin, nothing turns off an American woman more than a green text bubble. It’s a red flag!
At Appledystopia, we believe Android users are completely rational. Unfortunately, we tried writing about Android, without much success. Many Android users don’t visit websites or even speak English, for that matter.
Although there are amazing, high-end smartphones, Android tends to cater to the low-end. I think it’s wonderful that Google made smartphones accessible to all.
Whether you have a high-end Samsung, OnePlus, Pixel, or something you got for free, accessing Apple TV+ is the same. Simply navigate to the Apple TV website and sign in with your Apple ID.
Apple does make an Apple TV Android app, but it seems very poor. Given its poor quality, I recommend the website. But if you’re a glutton for punishment or simply curious, go ahead and try Apple’s Android app. I thought Apple Music was a pretty good Android app, but it’s better on the iPhone.
How to Watch Apple TV+ on a Chromebook
I recently purchased a Chromebook to research and write articles for this website. They’re inexpensive computers capable of running Android and web-based apps.
Chromebooks are taking the steam out of Windows because they’re so cheap and fast. Chrome OS is much more efficient than Windows, so a cheap Chromebook with “poor” specs actually provides a superior user experience to Windows.
One of the most popular features of Chrome OS is its fast boot time. Given that it runs hundreds of thousands of apps, it’s a viable alternative to Windows. Personally, I don’t think I will ever buy another Windows PC, but will stick with Chromebooks (for portability) and the Mac Mini (for serious work sessions).
Watching Apple TV+ on Chrome OS is as easy as any other device. Simply navigate to the Apple TV website, sign in, and enjoy!
Devices Eligible for Three Free Months of Apple TV+
You get three free months of Apple TV+ if you recently purchased an Apple device. Make sure to claim this within three months of setting up your new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Mac. I always forget to do this, mainly because I’m not interested in Apple TV+ shows and movies. The only thing more boring than soccer is a TV show about the sport.
Only brand new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Mac models are eligible for three free months of Apple TV+. This doesn’t mean you must buy the latest iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Mac, as Apple sells brand-new older models years after they debut. For example, in 2023, if you purchase a brand new iPhone 12, which came out in 2021, you’ll still be eligible for three free months of Apple TV+
Apple is generous only because they expect you to forget about the subscription. This is really how subscription services make money. Viewers who watch a lot of TV shows and movies may cost more than Apple earns from the subscription. After all, they have to pay production costs and stream all of that data, often in 4K, into your living room or smartphone.
It’s the people who sign up and forget that pile on the profits for Apple, Netflix, and others. There are even apps and services dedicated to informing you about idle subscriptions that you’re still billed for.
By default, Apple won’t email you with subscription information. You can change this, and I strongly recommend doing so. For more information, please read “How to Cancel Apple TV Channel Subscriptions.”