tvOS 26 adds Thread 1.4 for better smart home support on your Apple TV

The new tvOS 26 operating system supports the Thread 1.4 protocol on the Apple TV and HomePod for unified mesh networking in your smart home.

Matter Alpha discovered strings indicating Threads 1.4 support in the tvOS 26 developer beta. As tvOS also powers the HomePod speakers, it’s safe to assume that the upcoming HomePod Software 26 will also support Thread 1.4 because the HomePod also doubles as a Thread border router.

Code strings indicate Thread support is coming this fall with tvOS 26. Apple released the first developer betas of tvOS 26 following the June 9 WWDC25 keynote. Versions for public beta testing will ensue in July. Apple will release tvOS 26 to the public either alongside iOS 26 ahead of new iPhones in September or in October.

tvOS 26 brings Thread 1.4 support to the Apple TV

The biggest new feature of Thread 1.4 is the standardization of how Thread border routers from different manufacturers (Apple TV, Eero, Google Nest Hub) join an existing Thread network. Before Thread 1.4, border routers from different vendors would each set up a separate network, resulting in a bunch of mesh networks and fragmentation. With Thread 1.4, all compatible accessories join a single mesh network instead, no matter the brand or platform.

“Another key feature is that Thread 1.4 allows better coverage with Wi-Fi and Ethernet connections,” Matter Alpha explains. “This means your Thread network could be more flexible for home spaces where its signals barely reach.”

Thread 1.4 also allows devices to access the internet directly. This opens up new possibilities, such as smart shades that get weather forecasts from the internet to automatically adjust based on weather conditions. Or, how about smart lighting that changes color with sports scores?

The slow rollout of Thread 1.4

The Apple TV supports the Thread 1.3 protocol as of the tvOS 16.5 update which dropped in May 2023. However, the dream of unifying all your different Thread border routers to work together will need to wait until other players in the smart home space have adopted the new protocol, namely Amazon and Google which are still on Thread 1.3.

Both companies will add Thread 1.4 support to their platforms sometime in 2026. Samsung will add Thread 1.4 support to its SmartThings platform later this year. In addition, border router vendors will also need to adopt Thread 1.4.

You can test the new Thread 1.4 capabilities by following our instructions to install the tvOS 26 developer beta on your second-generation Apple TV 4K or later (older models lack Thread radios).

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