If you’ve built up a great collection of movies and TV shows on iTunes over the years, you may be wondering how you can enjoy them on the big screen using your Android TV. While there is no official iTunes app for Android, there are still several ways to stream your iTunes videos to your Android TV. In this article, we’ll walk through the steps to watch your iTunes movies and shows on Android TV.
Why It’s Tricky to Play iTunes on Android
First, it’s important to understand why you can’t simply transfer your iTunes movies to your Android TV and hit play. Movies and TV episodes purchased from the iTunes Store are protected with Apple’s FairPlay DRM (Digital Rights Management). This DRM ties the videos to your Apple ID and only allows them to be played on authorized devices like iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV.
Android devices and TVs are not natively compatible with iTunes DRM. So in order to play your iTunes collection on Android TV, you’ll need to either remove the DRM protection or find a workaround to stream the videos from an authorized device. Luckily, there are a few different methods you can use.
Method 1: Use the Apple TV App
The simplest way to watch iTunes movies and shows on Android TV is to download the Apple TV app from the Google Play Store. The Apple TV app is now available on many smart TVs and streaming devices, including newer Sony and Sharp Android TVs.
Here’s how to get set up:
- On your Android TV, open the Google Play Store and search for Apple TV
- Download and install the Apple TV app
- Open the app and sign in with your Apple ID
- Your iTunes library should now show up in the app under Library
- Select a movie or show and start streaming!
Keep in mind, you won’t be able to make new purchases directly in the Android version of the Apple TV app. But anything you’ve previously bought on iTunes using the same Apple ID will be available to stream.
Method 2: Cast from an Apple Device
If the Apple TV app isn’t available on your Android TV, another easy option is to use AirPlay or screen mirroring to cast from an iPhone, iPad or Mac to your TV.
To mirror your screen:
- Make sure your iOS device or Mac is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Android TV
- Find the movie or show you want to watch in the Apple TV app on your device
- Tap the AirPlay icon and select your Android TV
- The video will start playing on the big screen
You can also use a wired HDMI adapter to connect your iPhone or iPad directly to the TV for better video quality.
Method 3: Remove DRM and Convert
For the most flexibility, you can remove the DRM from your iTunes movies and TV shows and convert them to a format like MP4 that can play on any device. This does require using third-party software, but once converted, you can transfer the videos to your Android TV and watch them in any video player app with no restrictions.
Some popular iTunes DRM removal tools include:
- TunesKit M4V Converter
- Ondesoft iTunes Converter
- Pavtube ChewTune Recorder
The basic steps are:
- Download and install an iTunes DRM removal program on your PC or Mac
- Launch the program and import your iTunes videos
- Select MP4 as the output format
- Start the conversion process (this will take some time)
- Transfer the DRM-free MP4 files to a USB drive
- Plug the USB drive into your Android TV and play the videos in any media player app
Converting does take some extra time and effort compared to streaming, but it gives you the most control over your video files. You can watch them offline, transfer them between devices, and keep them forever without worrying about DRM.
Conclusion
So while there’s no iTunes app for Android TV, by using one of the methods above, you can still enjoy your iTunes movie collection on the big screen. The Apple TV app is the most seamless option if it’s available on your TV. AirPlay and screen mirroring are also easy to use from an iPhone, iPad or Mac. And if you want a permanent, DRM-free solution, converting the videos with a third-party tool is the way to go.
Whichever method you choose, you’ll be able to make the most of your iTunes library and watch your favorite movies and shows on your Android TV. No need to repurchase or subscribe to another service – with a few steps, you can bring your existing collection to the big screen.
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