Apple’s Apple TV+ free weekend ran from Friday, January 3 through Sunday, January 5, 2025. It offered no-subscription access to the Apple TV+ catalog during that limited window, but it was not a permanent free tier or a normal trial. The promotion has ended. In the United States, Apple’s current service is branded Apple TV and costs $12.99 per month after a seven-day trial, checked August 18, 2026.
What Apple announced
Apple opened its Apple TV+ catalog to viewers without an active paid subscription for one promotional weekend. Contemporary coverage described it as Apple’s first broad, all-catalog free-streaming event, rather than a single free episode or a small sampling of programs. The campaign followed several teaser posts and arrived shortly before major early-2025 releases, particularly Severance season 2.
The offer was promotional access, not a new permanent policy. Watching during the event did not itself start a regular paid plan.
The corrected dates
The first social-media wording suggested Saturday, January 4, through Sunday, January 5, 2025. Apple’s subsequent press-release wording, reported by MacRumors, established the corrected window as Friday, January 3, through Sunday, January 5, 2025. That date change explains the “Updated” label attached to the original announcement.
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Who could watch, and what was required?
Contemporary reporting said the event was available worldwide in markets where Apple TV+ operated and on supported devices. “Worldwide” did not guarantee identical access in every country: regional service availability, content rights, device compatibility and account requirements still applied.
- An Apple ID, now generally called an Apple Account, was required.
- An active paid Apple TV+ subscription was not required during the promotional window.
- Viewers used the Apple TV app or Apple’s web service, subject to regional and device support.
An Apple TV 4K set-top box was not necessary. Apple distributes its video service through supported Apple hardware, smart TVs, streaming devices, game consoles, Android devices and the web. “Apple TV” can mean either this service or Apple’s hardware; the free weekend concerned the service.
What viewers could watch
The promotion was reported as covering the full Apple TV+ catalog available in each viewer’s market. The following were examples highlighted in contemporary coverage, not an exhaustive or permanent catalog list:
- Severance
- Bad Sisters
- Before
- Blitz
- Fly Me to the Moon
- Shrinking
- Masters of the Air
- Greyhound
Titles could change, leave the service or vary by territory. A title mentioned in coverage was not a guarantee of present-day availability.
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- Open the Apple TV app or Apple’s web-based TV service.
- Sign in with an Apple ID.
- Browse Apple TV+ originals and play eligible programs.
- Watch between January 3 and January 5, 2025.
- Expect access to end when the promotion ended unless you separately subscribed.
Those steps describe the historical event; they are not a way to claim it now.
Rank #2
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- Cloud gaming, no console required – Stream Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Hogwarts Legacy, Outer Worlds 2, Ninja Gaiden 4, and hundreds of games on your Fire TV Stick 4K Select with Xbox Game Pass and Luna via cloud gaming. Xbox Game Pass subscription and compatible controller required. Each sold separately.
- Smarter picks with Alexa+ – Getting to what you love has never been easier. Press the voice remote button and talk naturally to find what to watch across your apps, manage your smart home, or dive into virtually any topic.
- Wi-Fi 6 support - Enjoy smooth 4K streaming, even when other devices are connected to your router.
Was the free weekend a free trial?
No. It was a fixed promotional access window. Apple’s ordinary trial is a separate offer that can convert to a paid subscription, while the January 2025 event allowed viewing during specified dates without requiring viewers to begin a standard subscription trial. Having a current seven-day trial available does not mean the historical free weekend remains claimable.
What you can use now
Standalone Apple TV
Apple’s current U.S. offer provides seven days free, then renews at $12.99 per month. Check the U.S. offer page for eligibility and renewal terms. Start only if you are comfortable with the post-trial price, and check the renewal date immediately. Cancel through Apple’s subscription controls before renewal if you do not intend to continue.
Apple One
Apple One bundles Apple TV with other services. U.S. prices checked August 18, 2026, are:
| Plan | U.S. price |
|---|---|
| Individual | $19.95/month |
| Family | $27.95/month |
| Premier | $39.95/month |
Apple One is sensible when you also want services such as Apple Music, iCloud+, Apple Arcade or Apple Fitness+. It costs more than standalone Apple TV when video is all you need. Apple says services you do not already hold are free for the first month, after which the plan renews monthly.
Eligible Apple-device purchase
Apple advertises three months of Apple TV with an eligible Apple-device purchase, subject to redemption and eligibility conditions. This is useful for someone already buying qualifying hardware, not a reason to purchase an iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple TV 4K solely for streaming. Details are on Apple’s Apple TV page.
Rank #3
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- TV, simplified: With setup that only takes minutes, a simple-to-navigate Home Screen, and an uncluttered remote control that does all you need—Roku makes it easier to watch the TV you love.
Apple Music Student Plan
Eligible students receive Apple TV access through the Apple Music Student Plan. It is most useful when you also want Apple Music; nonstudents and video-only viewers should compare the standalone offer instead.
Common problems and what they mean
The app asks for payment
The January 2025 event is over. You are seeing the normal subscription flow, not a failed attempt to access the old promotion.
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Trial eligibility can be affected by an earlier Apple TV trial, an existing subscription, Apple One or another promotional redemption. Apple’s offer page determines eligibility for the signed-in account.
A title cannot be found
Catalog rights and availability change by time and region. The program may have left Apple TV, be unavailable in your country, or belong to another Apple TV channel or purchase option.
You think an Apple TV 4K is required
It is not. Use a supported version of the Apple TV app or Apple’s web service; exact support varies by device, operating system and region.
Rank #4
- The Google TV Streamer (4K) delivers your favorite entertainment quickly, easily, and personalized to you[1,2]
- HDMI 2.1 cable required (sold separately)
- See movies and TV shows from all your services right from your home screen[2]; and find new things to watch with tailored recommendations for everyone in your home based on their interests and viewing habits
- Watch live TV and access over 800 free channels from Pluto TV, Tubi, and more[3]; if you find an interesting show or movie on your TV, mobile app, or Google search, you can easily add it to your watchlist, so it’s ready when you are[2]
- Up to 4K HDR with Dolby Vision delivers captivating, true-to-life detail[4]; and you can connect speakers that support Dolby Atmos for more immersive 3D sound
You forget renewal
Record the renewal date as soon as you start a trial or bundle. Cancel through Apple’s subscription-management controls if you do not want the paid plan to continue.
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How to choose a current option
- Choose standalone Apple TV if Apple Originals are your main interest.
- Choose Apple One if the included music, storage, games or fitness services would otherwise be separate purchases.
- Use the device offer only when you already plan to buy eligible Apple hardware.
- Use the Student Plan only if you meet the student requirements and also value Apple Music.
Prior subscriptions, trials and bundles can affect eligibility. U.S. prices and terms do not establish prices or availability in other countries.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why Apple ran the promotion
The timing and emphasis on upcoming programming support a promotional explanation: Apple was giving non-subscribers a chance to sample its originals before high-profile releases such as Severance season 2. That suggests an awareness and customer-acquisition goal, but Apple did not publish a verified subscriber-conversion result for the weekend.
Sources and historical record
The original announcement and date correction are documented by MacRumors; the initial January 4–5 wording was also reported by 9to5Mac. The contemporary MacRumors archive entry is available at MacRumors’ December 2024 archive. Current service availability and offers are listed by Apple, its web service and the U.S. offer page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Apple TV+ free weekend still available?
No. It ended on January 5, 2025. Current viewers must use a separate trial, subscription or eligible bundle.
Best Value
- Dolby Atmos for immersive, room-filling sound - 4K High Frame Rate HDR with Dolby Vision for fluid, crisp video
- A12 Bionic chip gives a big boost to audio, video, and graphics, for even better game and app experiences than ever before
- The new Siri Remote with touch-enabled clickpad - Use AirPlay to share photos, videos, and more from your device on your TV
- Apple Original shows and movies from Apple TV+ - Watch the latest hits from Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, and more
- More ways to enjoy your TV with Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, and Apple Music - Private listening using up to two sets of AirPods
Did the promotion require an Apple TV 4K?
No. It used the Apple TV app or web service on supported devices; the set-top box was optional.
Did it include every Apple Original?
It was reported as full Apple TV+ catalog access during the event, subject to regional rights and availability. The title examples were not a permanent complete catalog.
Was the event available worldwide?
Contemporary reporting described worldwide availability where Apple TV+ was offered, but local service, account, device and rights restrictions still applied.
Can a previous Apple TV+ trial user get another current trial?
Not necessarily. Prior trials, subscriptions, bundles and device promotions can affect eligibility; Apple’s offer page decides for the signed-in account.
What is Apple TV’s current U.S. price?
Apple lists $12.99 per month after a seven-day trial, checked August 18, 2026. Regional prices differ.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
