How to Watch Twitch on an Apple TV

To watch Twitch on an Apple TV, open the App Store on the Apple TV, search for Twitch, select Get, then open the app and log in or start watching. Twitch has its own Apple TV app, so you no longer need an iPhone to watch. If you have an older Apple TV (3rd generation), which cannot install apps, you can AirPlay Twitch from your iPhone instead.

An older version of this guide said Apple TV had no Twitch channel and only covered AirPlay. That has changed: Twitch’s own Twitch on Apple TV help article recommends the Apple TV app. The steps below follow that article and Apple’s Download apps on your Apple TV guide, checked in October 2026.

Table of Contents show

How to Download Twitch on Apple TV

Steps to download and sign in to the Twitch app on Apple TV — Illustration: getting the Twitch app on Apple TV.

On the Apple TV Home Screen, open the App Store.
Search for Twitch.
Select Get. Apple notes that a Get button (rather than a price) means the app is free. If you see Open, the app is already installed. Result: the Twitch app appears on your Home Screen.
Open Twitch.

How to Log In to Twitch on Apple TV

Twitch says logging in gives you your Following list and lets you take part in chat. To link the TV to your account, choose to log in in the app; it shows a code. On your phone or computer, go to twitch.tv/activate, sign in, and enter the code given by your device. Result: the Apple TV app refreshes with your account.

No account? Twitch says you can watch on Apple TV without one, but you will not have Following or chat.
Need an account? Twitch says you must create it on Twitch.tv from a computer or mobile device, then log in on the Apple TV.

How to AirPlay Twitch From an iPhone

Steps to AirPlay Twitch from an iPhone to an Apple TV with Screen Mirroring — Illustration: mirroring Twitch from an iPhone.

Use this method if you have an Apple TV (3rd generation), which Apple says can only update its built-in apps and cannot download new ones, or if you just want to share what is on your phone.

Turn on the Apple TV and make sure it and your iPhone are on the same Wi-Fi network.
On your iPhone, swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center.
Tap Screen Mirroring and choose your Apple TV. Enter the code shown on the TV if asked.
Open the Twitch app on your iPhone and start a stream. Result: your iPhone screen, including the stream, appears on the TV.
To stop, open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring, and choose Stop Mirroring.

Mirroring sends your whole iPhone screen, so notifications can appear on the TV and the stream ends if you switch apps. The Apple TV app is the better choice when your model supports it.

If Twitch Will Not Play Properly

Report the problem in the app. Twitch says to select the Settings icon on the video overlay, choose Report Playback Issues, pick the issue, describe how to reproduce it, and select Send.
Update the app and tvOS. On Apple TV, see how to update an Apple TV.
Restart the Apple TV. See how to restart an Apple TV.
Check the network. If streams buffer, see how to connect an Apple TV to a wireless network.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Twitch app free on Apple TV?

Yes. It downloads free from the App Store; subscriptions and Bits for channels are optional.

Can I chat on Apple TV?

Twitch says logging in lets you participate in chat. A Bluetooth keyboard makes typing easier; see how to use a Logitech Bluetooth keyboard with Apple TV.

Can I get Twitch on my iPhone first?

Yes. The iPhone app is on the App Store. You need it only for AirPlay; the Apple TV app works on its own.

More Apple TV and Twitch Guides

For your own videos, see how to AirPlay a Plex movie from an iPhone to an Apple TV.

Matthew Burleigh

Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.

After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.

His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.