You can downgrade your Apple TV from tvOS 26 to tvOS 18 for a limited time only. This is applicable to the Apple TV HD model only.
Downgrade Your Apple TV HD from tvOS 26 to tvOS 18, Thanks to its USB-C Port
The luxury of downgrading from tvOS 26 to tvOS 18 is limited to just one Apple TV model, and that is the Apple TV HD. Thanks to its USB-C port, you can restore tvOS firmware or downgrade to an older version that is currently being signed by Apple.
At the time of writing, tvOS 18.6 is currently being signed by Apple, and since tvOS 26 is out as well, you can downgrade your Apple TV HD for a limited period of time.
As usual, the same precautions apply, which means you will lose all your files and settings the moment you go for the downgrade procedure. After all, this is basically a clean installation, but of an older operating system.
Download the Latest tvOS 18 Firmware File
tvOS 18.6 is the firmware you’ll be downgrading to, and you can grab the firmware file for your Apple TV HD from this link. Save it to your desktop so that you can easily access it later.
Restore the tvOS 18 Firmware File to Apple TV
Step 1. Disconnect your Apple TV from your TV.
Step 2. Plug in a USB-C cable to the back of your Apple TV and plug the other end into your Mac.
Step 3. Power on your Apple TV until your Mac detects it.
Step 4. Launch Finder and you will see your Apple TV in the list on the left. Click on it to open.
Step 5. Hold down the left Option key on your keyboard and then click on the Restore Apple TV button. A new pop-up window will suddenly appear.
Step 6. Select the tvOS 18.6 firmware file you saved to your desktop.
Step 7. Finder will start to extract the contents of the tvOS 18.6 firmware, and then restore it to your Apple TV. Once everything is complete, Finder will ask your to disconnect your Apple TV from the Mac and plug it back to your TV.
That’s it, you are now back on tvOS 18.
