Apple has released tvOS 16.3.3, a software update for the Apple TV that includes a fix for a long-standing problem with the Siri Remote.
For months, owners of the latest Apple TV 4K model have complained that their Siri Remotes keep disconnecting from the device without explanation, often while playing something. This issue persisted through the release of tvOS 16.3, tvOS 16.3.1 and tvOS 16.3.2, but appears to have been addressed by the end of this week’s update.
tvOS 16.3.3, spotted by 9to5Mac, clearly addresses the problem in the release notes:
“This update fixes an issue where Siri Remote may not respond on Apple TV 4K (3rd generation).”
Additionally, the update is only available for the latest Apple TV 4K, which is the model affected by the problem.
Commenters at 9to5Mac initially appeared unimpressed by the release, though most focused their anger on the time it took Apple to address the problem, the lack of communication, the update not yet being applied to their devices, or other unresolved issues; it’s unclear if the fix will work.
Perhaps we should be thankful that this has finally been addressed, even if the saga shows that Apple’s response to bugs is not good. Especially since the 2022 Apple TV is otherwise an excellent device, as we mentioned in our 4.5-star review of the 3rd gen Apple TV 4K.
The update should install automatically, but to check if the update has happened follow these steps to update the software on your Apple TV:
- Go to Settings > System > Software Updates > Update Software.
- Click Download and Install to download the update.
- Click Update Now.