Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Daily TipsTV

How to change the sleep settings on an Apple TV set-top box in tvOS 26

Here's how to pair a wireless controller with an Apple TV set-top box with tvOS 26.

The Apple TV set-top box is ready for you to use it anytime you wish. It automatically goes to sleep after a preset period of time, but you can change those settings.

Adjusting Automatic Sleep Timer

° Open the Settings app on your Apple TV.

° Select General.

° Scroll down and select Sleep After.

° Choose a time interval, such as 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, or “Never”. 

Immediate Sleep Mode

To put your Apple TV to sleep immediately: 

° Via Settings: Go to Settings > Sleep Now.

° Via Control Center: Press and hold the TV/Home button on your remote, select the Sleep icon (moon icon), and confirm.

° Via Remote (Older Models): Hold down the Play/Pause button for 5 seconds on the home screen. 

Dennis Sellers
the authorDennis Sellers
Dennis Sellers is the editor/publisher of Apple World Today. He’s been an “Apple journalist” since 1995 (starting with the first big Apple news site, MacCentral). He loves to read, run, play sports, and watch movies.

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