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On an Apple TV 4K running the current tvOS interface, channels and connected streaming apps are managed in the Channels & Apps section of the Apple TV app sidebar. Apple does not offer a traditional drag-and-drop list: pin items to place favorites at the top, hide items to remove them from view temporarily, disconnect apps through settings, cancel subscriptions separately, or delete an installed app from the Apple TV Home Screen.
First, make sure you are in the right place
This guide concerns the Apple TV app on a supported Apple TV 4K, not the device’s Home Screen. The Apple TV app sidebar can include Apple TV Channels and connected apps alongside categories such as Home, Store, Library, Sports, MLS and Formula 1. It does not control antenna or cable channels, individual sports streams, or user profiles.
To open the sidebar, open the Apple TV app and press the remote’s Back or Menu button. You can also swipe up on the clickpad or touch surface. More than one press or swipe may be needed if the sidebar does not appear immediately. Swipe right or select a category to close it. Apple documents these controls in its Apple TV 4K guide.
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Rearrange channels and connected apps
Pin an item to the top
- Open the Apple TV app and its sidebar.
- Highlight a channel or connected app under Channels & Apps.
- Press and hold the center of the clickpad or touch surface.
- Select Pin.
The item moves into the pinned group at the top. A newly pinned item is placed at the bottom of the existing pinned group.
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Change the order of pinned items
Apple’s current guide documents pinning and unpinning, not unrestricted drag-and-drop positioning. To create a different pinned order, unpin the items and pin them again in the sequence you want: pin the item that should be first, then the one that should be second, and so on.
Unpin an item
- Open the Apple TV app sidebar.
- Highlight the pinned channel or app.
- Press and hold the clickpad or touch surface.
- Select Unpin.
Unpinning removes the item from the favorites group; it does not necessarily hide it from the rest of Channels & Apps.
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Add a channel or connect an app
Subscribe to an Apple TV Channel
- Open the Apple TV app and the sidebar.
- Select Store.
- Scroll to Add Channels & Apps.
- Choose an offering to view its details, previews and subscription information.
- Select the subscription button and follow the on-screen instructions.
Availability, pricing and requirements vary by country or region, channel and Apple TV hardware. Some channels require separate subscriptions; an Apple TV subscription does not automatically include every third-party branded service or all rental and purchase content shown in the app. See Apple’s instructions for adding channels and managing subscriptions.
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Connect an installed streaming app
For apps already installed on Apple TV, integration is controlled separately:
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- Open Settings.
- Select Apps, then TV.
- Scroll to Connect to TV.
- Choose the setting for each eligible app.
A connected app can appear in Channels & Apps and may contribute titles to rows such as Continue Watching or recommendations, depending on the app’s integration. Connecting an app does not necessarily subscribe you to its service.
Remove an item from the Apple TV app sidebar
Hide a channel or app
- Open the Apple TV app sidebar.
- Highlight the channel or app under Channels & Apps.
- Press and hold the clickpad or touch surface.
- Select Hide.
Hide is a visibility control, not a permanent deletion. The item can reappear automatically after you play content from that app or channel.
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Disconnect an app instead
If you want an installed app to stop integrating with the Apple TV app, change its option under Settings > Apps > TV > Connect to TV. Disconnecting affects Apple TV app integration; it does not uninstall the app, cancel its subscription, erase its account or guarantee that watch history is deleted.
Cancel a paid channel subscription
Hiding or unpinning a channel does not stop billing. For a subscription billed through Apple:
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- Open Settings.
- Select Profiles and Accounts.
- Choose the relevant profile.
- Select Subscriptions.
- Choose the channel subscription and follow the cancellation instructions.
Cancellation timing and continued access depend on the subscription terms. If the service was purchased directly from a third-party provider, its own billing system may be required instead of Apple’s subscription screen.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Delete an installed app from Apple TV
Deleting an app is a Home Screen task, separate from Apple TV app sidebar management. On the Apple TV Home Screen, highlight the installed app, press and hold the clickpad or touch surface, and choose Delete App (or the equivalent delete command shown). Removing the app from the device does not automatically cancel a subscription, particularly one billed by a third party.
Home Screen app arrangement and Apple TV app sidebar organization are separate interfaces; Apple’s navigation guidance explains the distinction at Apple TV 4K navigation.
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Choose the right action
| Goal | Use this control | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Put a favorite at the top | Pin | Moves the item into the pinned group. |
| Remove it from favorites | Unpin | Removes the top placement but usually leaves it in the list. |
| Reduce sidebar clutter temporarily | Hide | Removes it from view until playback can make it reappear. |
| Stop an app integrating with the Apple TV app | Connect to TV setting | Disconnects the app’s Apple TV integration while leaving the installed app available. |
| Stop recurring charges | Subscriptions | Cancels an Apple-billed subscription according to its terms. |
| Remove the installed app | Delete App on the Home Screen | Uninstalls the app from the Apple TV device. |
When an option is missing
- The sidebar will not open: Confirm that the Apple TV app is open, then press Back or Menu again, or swipe up on the clickpad. The sidebar may need multiple presses or swipes.
- Pin or Hide is absent: Highlight the item itself in Channels & Apps before pressing and holding. Confirm whether it is a connected app rather than an Apple TV Channel.
- An app keeps appearing: Review Settings > Apps > TV > Connect to TV; hiding alone is temporary because playback can restore the item.
- A channel is missing: Check the active Apple Account/profile and switch profiles through Control Center or Settings > Profiles and Accounts > Switch Current Profile. Subscriptions and personalized content can differ by profile. Apple’s profile guidance is available at Switch the current profile.
- You cannot find a channel or menu: Features and content vary by country, region, app, subscription and Apple TV hardware model.
- Cancellation is unavailable: Determine whether the subscription is billed through Apple or directly by the provider; direct-provider billing generally must be cancelled with that provider.
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