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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesUpdate (September 30, 2026): The official free Apple TV viewing window ran on Saturday, November 15, and Sunday, November 16, 2025. It has ended. Thanksgiving Day was Thursday, November 27, 2025, so the special was not offered free as part of that day’s schedule. Any future free showing would require a new Apple announcement.
In the United States, Apple TV was the legal free route during that two-day promotion. A paid Apple TV subscription was not required during the announced window, although Apple could request an Apple Account sign-in. Outside the promotion, Apple TV’s regular catalog generally requires a subscription or another applicable entitlement.
Quick facts
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Official free service | Apple TV, through the Apple TV app or tv.apple.com |
| Free dates | Saturday, November 15, and Sunday, November 16, 2025 |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, November 27, 2025; not part of the free window |
| Paid subscription during the promotion | Not required, according to contemporary coverage of Apple’s announcement |
| PBS in 2025 | No dependable PBS route; PBS broadcasts were documented in 2020 and 2021 |
Apple listed the free weekend in its 2025 holiday announcement: Apple’s holiday schedule. Apple also said its exclusive Peanuts streaming arrangement continued through 2030: Apple TV and Peanuts announcement.
How the free stream worked
During November 15–16, viewers could open the official title page in Apple TV, search for A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and play the complete special while Apple marked it free. The offer covered this special, not every program in Apple TV’s catalog. It was an official stream, so there was no need to use torrents, mirrors, or unauthorized uploads.
#1 Best Overall
- Factory sealed DVD
Watch in a web browser
- Open Chrome, Firefox, or another supported browser.
- Go to tv.apple.com.
- Sign in with an Apple Account if prompted.
- Search for A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.
- Open the official full-length title and select the free Play option when the promotion is active.
Apple’s browser guide explains web access and notes that authentication, and in some cases payment-card verification, may be requested: Apple browser instructions.
Watch on an iPhone or iPad
- Open or install the Apple TV app.
- Sign in if requested.
- Choose Search and enter the exact title.
- Select the official special and start playback during the promotional dates.
Apple documents iPhone and iPad access here: Apple mobile instructions.
Rank #2
- DVD
- Multiple Formats, Animated, Color
- English (Subtitled), Chinese (Subtitled), Japanese (Subtitled)
- 1
- 25
Watch on a smart TV or streaming device
- Find Apple TV in the television or device app store.
- Install and open the app.
- Sign in with the Apple Account associated with the device.
- Search for the special and play it from the official title page.
Supported devices and features vary. Apple’s device guide is at Apple’s smart-TV and streaming-device instructions. A supported game console may also run the app, but model support can change. If your television lacks the app, an HDMI connection from a laptop or a supported AirPlay or casting setup may work, depending on your equipment.
Was it on PBS?
Do not assume the older PBS arrangement continued in 2025. PBS and Apple announced broadcasts in 2020, and PBS promoted the special again in 2021. Those announcements are historical: PBS’s 2020 announcement and PBS’s 2021 announcement. The 2025 free-streaming route was Apple TV, not a confirmed PBS broadcast.
Rank #3
- Everyones favorite Peanuts Holiday titles all in one set with the All-new Deluxe Editions! All the content including EC and bonus episodes, from the following new Peanuts Deluxe Edition releases: Its the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving A Charlie Brown Christmas Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: CHILDREN Rating: NR Age: 883929008988 UPC: 8839290
What happened after November 16?
The promotion ended when the November 16 window closed. A subscription prompt afterward means the temporary offer is no longer active (or was unavailable in your region); it does not mean the original announcement was invalid. Apple’s ordinary service generally requires a subscription, and catalog availability can vary by country and device. See Apple’s general guide: How to watch Apple TV.
- Wait for a future promotion: Apple may announce another holiday free window, but the 2025 dates should not be treated as recurring.
- Use a paid subscription: This provides broader Apple TV access, but it is disproportionate if you only want one short special. Trial eligibility, prices, and renewal terms change, so verify them directly before signing up.
- Use authorized physical media: A DVD or other legitimate home-video copy can suit families who want repeat annual viewing. Availability and pricing vary.
- Avoid unofficial uploads: They may be removed, incomplete, region-blocked, low quality, or unsafe.
Troubleshooting the free window
The title is not marked free
- Check that the date is within November 15–16, 2025 and account for your time zone.
- Search the exact title, not a clip, trailer, music video, or another Peanuts program.
- Try tv.apple.com if the app does not refresh.
- Sign out and back in, update the app or device software, and confirm the account’s region.
Apple asks for a subscription
The free offer was temporary. Do not start a paid trial solely because the title page now shows a subscription request.
Rank #4
- Factory sealed DVD
You do not have an Apple Account
Apple’s instructions use an Apple Account for sign-in and provide account-creation guidance. Do not assume that account creation is entirely frictionless or that payment verification will never be requested.
You are outside the United States
This guide’s dates and conclusions are U.S.-focused. Apple states that content and features differ by country or region, so check the local Apple TV listing rather than assuming the U.S. promotion applied.
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Why the dates mattered
The phrase “free in 2025” referred to a two-day promotional window, not permanent free access. The weekend preceded Thanksgiving by 11 days. Apple’s Peanuts rights extension through 2030 explains why Apple remained the streaming home, but it does not guarantee that the same free dates or terms will return in a later year.
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.
