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  • Kyle Chua
    • Mar 23, 2022
    • 2 min read

You Can No Longer Rent, Buy Movies Through Apple TV App on Android TV Devices

Apple has removed the ability for you to rent or buy shows and movies through Apple TV on Android TV and Google TV devices.

The app’s latest update replaces the buy and rent buttons with a new “How to Watch” button, which directs you to make your purchases via the Apple TV app on Apple’s own devices. “You can buy, rent or subscribe in the Apple TV app on iPhone, iPad, and other streaming devices,” the message reads. Previous purchases or rentals on the app, however, continue to be available.


You also won’t be able to subscribe to Apple TV Plus, the company’s premium subscription streaming service, on your Android TV and Google TV devices.


The update was first spotted by Reddit users, who took to the online forum site to complain about how they can no longer browse the Apple TV store on their Android TV. Some of the affected devices include Google’s 2020 Chromecast, Nvidia Shield and new releases from brands like Sony and TCL.


We can confirm that the update also affects users in Singapore as we ourselves can no longer buy or rent movies through the Apple TV app on our Android TV and Google TV devices.

The Apple TV app became widely available on Android TV and Google TV devices last year, allowing users to access their existing library, make direct purchases on iTunes and subscribe to Apple TV Plus.


The sudden removal of these options likely has to do with Apple refusing to give Google a 30% cut for in-app purchases. Since last year, according to tech blogger John Gruber, Apple has reportedly been operating on an exemption not to use Google Cloud's Identity-Aware Proxy feature. That exemption has now expired and it seems like Apple doesn’t want to work with Google anymore about this issue.


If you still want to use your Android TV or Google TV device to make purchases on the Apple TV app, the current workaround is to avoid updating to the latest version. Meanwhile, Apple TV users on Roku, Samsung and LG TVs, Xbox and PlayStation aren’t affected by the update.

 

  • Apple has removed the ability for you to rent or buy shows and movies through Apple TV on Android TV and Google TV devices.

  • Some of the affected devices include Google’s 2020 Chromecast, Nvidia Shield and new releases from brands like Sony and TCL.

  • The change likely has to do with Apple refusing to give Google a 30% cut for in-app purchases.


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