According to 9to5Mac, the tvOS 26.2 beta that launched earlier this week includes two major profile enhancements for Apple TV 4K users. The biggest change removes the requirement that each profile must be tied to a separate Apple Account, meaning you can now create profiles for roommates or guests without needing their Apple ID credentials. Additionally, when a child’s profile is active, the Apple TV app will automatically filter content to only show shows and movies matching the approved ratings like TV-Y and TV-Y7. These updates build on tvOS 26’s earlier profile improvements and represent Apple’s continued effort to make profiles more central to the Apple TV experience. The changes essentially bring Apple’s profile system closer to what streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ have offered for years.
Finally catching up to streaming services
Here’s the thing – Apple was way behind on this. Every major streaming platform has allowed guest profiles or profiles without account requirements for ages. The old system where you needed an Apple Account for every single profile? That was honestly kind of ridiculous if you just wanted to create a temporary profile for a house guest or a dedicated sports-watching profile. Now it works exactly like you’d expect: go into Settings, pick a name, set content ratings, and you’re done. No account dance required.
Better kid controls, but with limits
The child profile filtering is definitely a step in the right direction for parents. But let’s be real – it only works within the Apple TV app itself. What about all the other streaming apps kids might access? That’s still a separate configuration nightmare. Still, it’s progress. At least within Apple’s ecosystem, you can be reasonably confident your eight-year-old won’t stumble into mature content while browsing. The question is whether Apple will eventually extend this filtering to third-party apps, or if we’ll always be stuck managing parental controls app-by-app.
Why this matters now
Apple’s playing catch-up in the living room, and they know it. With streaming devices from Roku, Amazon, and Google all offering robust profile systems, Apple needed to make their platform more flexible. These changes might seem small, but they’re crucial for households where not everyone wants their viewing history and recommendations mixed together. It’s about making the Apple TV feel less like a personal device and more like a shared family entertainment hub. Follow 9to5Mac on Twitter or check out their YouTube channel for more Apple TV updates as tvOS 26.2 develops.
