Apple retired the standalone Videos app and moved its main movie-and-TV functions into the Apple TV app. To find films or shows purchased from Apple, open Apple TV → Library and sign in with the Apple Account used to make the purchase.
That answer applies mainly to Apple purchases and rentals. Personal camera videos, manually synced files, and home videos may be stored elsewhere.
Why did Apple remove the Videos app?
Apple announced the TV app on October 27, 2016, and began its initial U.S. iPhone and iPad rollout in December 2016. The change was more than a simple name change: Apple wanted one place for purchased and rented iTunes content, Apple subscription programming, recommendations, and participating streaming services.
Over time, the TV app became Apple’s main video hub. In December 2023, Apple also redirected the iTunes Store’s video experience on iPhone and iPad, along with the iTunes Movies and TV Shows apps on Apple TV, into the TV app. The exact timing and interface varied by country, device, and operating-system version.
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Apple’s original announcement describes the TV app’s unified discovery and viewing role, while its 2023 redesign announcement explains the later consolidation of Apple’s video storefront.
Where are purchased movies and TV shows now?
- Open the Apple TV app.
- Select Library.
- Choose Movies, TV Shows, or the relevant purchased or rented category.
- Select a title and choose Play or Download, when available.
Apple’s current support documentation directs users to Library for purchased movies and television shows. Menu names can differ between iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, smart TVs, streaming devices, and different software versions.
If your library is empty, first verify that you are signed in with the Apple Account that made the purchase. Do not assume that a missing title means it was deleted or that you must buy it again. Also check Library rather than Home: Home is primarily a discovery and recommendation area and may emphasize subscriptions or suggested programs.
You can confirm whether a purchase exists by checking your Apple purchase history and purchase instructions. Availability can still depend on the account, country or region, content rights, restrictions, and the service through which the title was obtained.
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What happened to downloaded videos?
Downloaded Apple purchases are generally managed from the Apple TV app’s Library. On some versions, you may see a dedicated Downloaded section; on others, downloads may appear within Movies or TV Shows. Look for the downloaded-content category exposed by your device rather than relying on one universal menu path.
A title appearing in the TV app does not necessarily mean it is stored locally. Streaming requires an internet connection, and downloads can be limited by the content provider. Even an offline title may occasionally require account verification.
If a download disappeared after restoring or replacing an iPhone or iPad, check Library while signed in to the correct Apple Account and download the title again if it is eligible. Restarting the device and installing available software updates can also help when a rental or streamed video will not play; Apple includes restarting among its troubleshooting steps for video playback.
Apple’s TV app guide explains the current Library layout and supported content categories.
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Do you need an Apple TV subscription?
No—not merely to watch movies or shows you already purchased from Apple.
These are separate things:
- Apple TV app: The application used to browse, buy, rent, stream, and access your library.
- Apple TV subscription: Apple’s subscription service for Apple Originals and selected programming.
- Apple TV 4K: Apple’s physical streaming box.
An Apple TV subscription does not automatically include every rental, purchase, or third-party streaming service. Likewise, finding an old purchase in Library does not require subscribing to Apple’s service. The app itself may be free or included with supported software, but individual content can still require a purchase, rental, subscription, or separate third-party account.
Apple’s official app listing distinguishes Apple Originals, rentals, purchases, and third-party services. Subscription pricing and trial eligibility vary by country and can change; Apple’s U.S. page displayed $12.99 per month as of August 18, 2026.
What if the old Videos app contained synced or personal files?
The TV app is not a universal replacement for every kind of video file that once appeared in Videos.
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Camera videos
Videos recorded with an iPhone or iPad camera normally belong in Photos, not Apple TV. Depending on how they were saved or transferred, personal files may also be in Files or another video-player app.
Manually synced movies and home videos
Older iPhone and iPad workflows could include non-DRM video files synced from a Mac or PC. Those files may appear under Home Videos or another Library category, but the exact treatment is not consistent across devices and software versions.
If a synced file is missing:
- Reconnect the iPhone or iPad to the Mac or PC originally used for syncing.
- Inspect the device’s media-sync settings in Finder or the applicable Windows/iTunes workflow.
- Confirm that the original file still exists on the computer.
- Resync the file if it was stored only on the device or was removed during a restore.
A file that was never copied to the device will not reappear simply because the Videos app was replaced. Unsupported formats or incompatible DRM can also prevent playback.
Apple’s original TV announcement specifically described Library as the home for iTunes movies and television shows purchased or rented through iTunes. It did not guarantee that every old Home Sharing or manually synced-video workflow would remain identical.
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If your library is missing, try this order
- Verify the Apple Account. Purchases belong to the account that made them. A different account can produce an apparently empty library.
- Open Library, not just Home. Search and recommendations do not replace the purchased-content view.
- Check purchase history. Make sure the title was bought from Apple rather than through another app, channel, or streaming provider.
- Check region and restrictions. Store catalogs and content availability can vary by country, account region, and parental controls.
- Check the connection. Streaming, rentals, and some account checks require internet access.
- Restart and update the device. This can resolve temporary playback or app-state problems.
- Resync personal files. If the video was copied from a computer, restore it from that computer rather than looking for an Apple purchase.
Which app is best for personal video files?
If your real goal is playing ordinary personal files—not accessing Apple Store purchases—the Apple TV app may not be the best tool.
- VLC: A free, flexible local-media player for users who simply want to play compatible files. Official VLC site.
- Infuse: An Apple-focused player and library for people who want a more polished personal-media experience across Apple devices and network locations. Official Infuse site.
- Plex: Better suited to a larger home collection accessed through a central media server, but it requires more setup and maintenance. Official Plex site.
These apps are alternatives for personal files. They are not substitutes for Apple’s purchase entitlements, and they should not be expected to play DRM-protected Apple Store movies.
The short answer
Apple replaced the Videos app with Apple TV. For Apple-purchased or rented movies and shows, go to Apple TV → Library and use the Apple Account that made the purchase. You do not generally need an Apple TV subscription to access those purchases.
If you mean camera recordings, synced home videos, or ordinary files, check Photos, Files, the source computer’s sync settings, or a dedicated player such as VLC or Infuse instead.
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