Aerial screensaver activates during playback in TvOS 18.6

Question

Level 1

16 points

Aerial screensaver activates during playback in TvOS 18.6

Hi,

The Aerial screensaver activates during playback in any streaming app in 18.6.

So, when Aerial is set to kick in after 15 minutes of idle time, when we're watching a movie, and we don't press any key, the screensaver activates after 15 minutes. This happens on both my Apple TV's and with all my streaming apps.

I have turned off Aerial as workaround, but I'm not sure if anyone else is having issues.

Thanks, best regards, Tom

Apple TV 4K, tvOS 18

Posted on Aug 13, 2025 12:34 AM

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Answer 1

Urquhart1244

Level 10

146,112 points

Aug 13, 2025 3:02 AM in response to TechnoRage

I myself haven’t noticed this or anything similar in the Apple TV app, the Computers app, or the HBO Max app, or the YouTube app. Music apps and other audio-centric apps are intended to allow the screen saver to come on, with the matching settings. Other apps get less of my attention these days. Did you watch your movie in a different app perhaps?

Have you done a device restart since this issue began?

Try this for any misbehaving app:

Force-quit the app, then relaunch and try again.
If the issue persists, force-quit the app, restart the device, then relaunch and try again.
If the issue still persists, delete the app, re-download and try again.
If the issue still persists after that, then contact the app developer for further assistance.

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Answer 2

TechnoRage Author

Level 1

16 points

Aug 13, 2025 3:32 AM in response to Urquhart1244

Thanks for the reply Urquhart1244

I am having the issue with Prime Video, Disney+ and some local TV streaming apps. Points 1 & 2 I have done many times since stating the problem. However, your remark about audio-based apps got me thinking:

"Music apps and other audio-centric apps are intended to allow the screen saver to

come on, with the matching settings." - I changed this setting and now the screensaver isn't invoked anymore.

So, all good. For some reason TvOS is classifying my video streaming apps as audio apps...

Thanks for the help!

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