At long last, Apple TV 4K users can finally pass raw audio straight to their receiver or soundbar without Apple’s box decoding it first. With the release of tvOS 26, Apple has introduced audio passthrough, a feature many home theater enthusiasts have been asking for. Whether you’ve got a high-end AVR or the latest soundbar with top-notch decoding, you can now let your external gear handle formats like Dolby Atmos in all their glory.
Why audio passthrough matters
If you’ve invested in a premium audio receiver or a flagship soundbar, you probably want it to process your audio to squeeze out every drop of fidelity. Before tvOS 26, the Apple TV 4K would always decode surround formats internally and send a Linear PCM stream—with Dolby MAT 2.0 metadata if available—to your equipment. That’s a fine approach for most setups, but it made no sense if your external gear was natively equipped to decode advanced audio codecs.
By handling audio internally, the Apple TV could introduce unnecessary processing or limit the resolution of the signal. With passthrough, you get bit-for-bit transmission of the original audio track: think unadulterated Dolby Atmos or DTS:X. Your receiver or soundbar will do the heavy lifting, and you’ll hear what the content creator intended—no compromises, no extra conversions.
How tvOS 26 brings passthrough to Apple TV 4K
Apple tucked this new capability into the developer documentation for tvOS 26, adding a fresh API called AVAudioContentSource.passthrough. What that means is third-party apps can check a box—or toggle a switch—to enable passthrough rather than using Apple’s internal decoder. This is the foundation for apps like Apple TV+, Netflix, Disney+ or Plex to send raw Dolby Atmos or other lossless audio formats directly to your audio system.
Of course, an API is just half the battle. App developers will need to update their software to support the passthrough option, so it may take a little while before you see it pop up in your favorite streaming apps. But once it’s there, you’ll likely find a new setting in the audio menu where you can choose between Apple’s internal processing or letting your receiver take control.
Comparison with rivals
In fairness, Apple TV 4K is playing catch-up in this department. Devices like the NVIDIA Shield TV have offered audio passthrough to compatible receivers for years, supporting various lossless formats including Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD MA and even DTS:X. If you’ve been using a Shield to get the best out of your high-end audio rig, you know how nice it is to have complete control over decoding.
That said, Apple’s ecosystem has plenty of advantages: a polished interface, tight integration with iCloud, AirPlay, and seamless access to Apple services. Now with passthrough, the Apple TV 4K will join the ranks of premium streaming devices that respect your dedicated audio hardware. The one question left hanging is whether Apple will open up passthrough for all lossless codecs—or limit it to newer formats like Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital Plus. Time will tell.
Developer and user considerations
Developers need to take note if they want to support this new feature. Integrating the AVAudioContentSource.passthrough API will require testing on tvOS 26 hardware, updating code paths for audio sessions, and ensuring fallbacks for older tvOS versions. If an app switches between internal decoding and passthrough, it must also notify users and potentially adjust UI elements to reflect the change in audio capabilities.
For end users, the transition is straightforward once the feature is live in your apps. You may find a new toggle under Audio Settings labeled something like “Passthrough” or “External Decoding.” Just switch it on, and your soundbar or AVR should immediately detect the raw audio stream. If you ever run into sync issues, most receivers let you adjust audio delay to get lip sync just right.
