Turn Off Tracking Secria

Does Apple TV have ACR?

Apple's privacy notice for the Apple TV app doesn't mention ACR. It does say Apple collects what you watch in the app, and you can turn off its use for recommendations.2

Checked 4 November 2026 against the sources. Steps are from Apple's guide for tvOS 27.

Turn off the TV's ACR too

ACR on a smart TV reads the screen, so an Apple TV box doesn't hide what you watch from the TV it's plugged into.

The TV sees every input

Roku, for example, says ACR on its TVs collects what you watch through streaming, an antenna or other connected devices.4

Find your TV in our brand-by-brand steps.

Apple TV sees its own app

Apple says it collects what you buy and watch in the Apple TV app, your searches and the pages you browse there, and, from third-party apps you connect, what you watch in them.2

Use the steps below for the box.

Turn it off on Apple TV

Start each one from Settings on the Apple TV 4K.

What you watch in the TV app

Settings › Apps › TVUse Play History

Checked against Apple's Apple TV app privacy notice.2

  1. Go to Settings › Apps › TV and turn off Use Play History.Apple then stops using what you watch on this device for recommendations on your other devices.2
  2. In the same menu, select Clear Play History.Apple says this empties your Watchlist and unlinks past play history from your account, but it keeps records from Apple TV channels and its subscription service for reporting and royalties.2
  3. Select Connect to TV and turn off each third-party app you don't want sharing what you watch.Apple says it then stops collecting play data from that app.2

App tracking

General › Privacy & Security › TrackingAllow Apps to Ask to Track

Checked against the Apple TV 4K User Guide.1

  1. Go to General › Privacy & Security › Tracking.1
  2. Set Allow Apps to Ask to Track to Off.1
  3. Turn off tracking for any app already in the list.1

Apple says every app must ask before tracking you across other companies' apps for ads, or sharing your information with data brokers.1 iPhone tracking guide

Analytics and location

General › Privacy & SecurityAnalytics and Improvements

Checked against the Apple TV 4K User Guide and Apple Advertising & Privacy.1, 3

  1. In General › Privacy & Security, go down to Analytics and Improvements.1
  2. Turn off Share Apple TV Analytics, Share with App Developers and Improve Siri & Dictation.The last one lets Apple store and review audio of your Siri and dictation requests.1
  3. In the same menu, open Location Services and turn it off, or set the Apple TV app to Never.3, 1

Apple's advertising notice gives a Personalized Ads switch for iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro and Mac, but none for Apple TV.3

Questions people ask

Does Apple share what I watch with other companies?

On non-Apple devices that have the Apple TV app, Apple says you can choose whether to share what you watch, buy or rent with that platform's provider.2

Does Apple use what I watch for ads?

Apple says that if Personalized Ads is on, its ad platform may use the movies and shows you buy from Apple to target ads in the App Store, Apple News and Stocks. Turn it off on your iPhone or Mac.2 Mac guide

Can I see the analytics my Apple TV sends?

Yes. Apple says Analytics Data, in the same Privacy & Security section, lets you view, share or delete each data file.1

Other TV guides

Sources 4
  1. Adjust privacy settings on Apple TV 4K, Apple TV 4K User Guide, Apple, tvOS 27 version, undated. Read 4 November 2026.
  2. Apple TV App & Privacy, Apple, undated. Read 4 November 2026.
  3. Apple Advertising & Privacy, Apple, undated. Read 4 November 2026.
  4. Using 'More Ways to Watch' on your Roku TV, Roku Support, last updated 23 June 2026. Read 4 November 2026.

Every step comes from Apple's own user guide and privacy notices. How we check