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Apple Broke Dolby Digital 5.1 Output on Apple TV 4K

Not sure why nobody else is mentioning this, but figured I'd post to help others. One of these last few tvOS updates has completely broken Dolby Digital output (on Apple TV 4K, it seems).


I have a 2nd gen 4K model that had been fine until a recent update. I change the audio output in Settings to force Dolby Digital 5.1 for my speakers (Logitech Z906), but this suddenly no longer works! My speakers do not light the proper "Decode" light to indicate a true 5.1 signal, and the voices clearly come from left and right channels instead of just the center.


This was easy to confirm. I purchased a brand new 3rd gen Apple TV 4K (128GB) and it shipped with tvOS 17.1. I configured the audio output to force DD 5.1 and tested a movie... and everything worked perfectly. The "Decode" light indicated a 5.1 signal and voices, etc, clearly only came through the center channel. Then I upgraded to tvOS 17.4 and immediately tested the same movie, and it's broken! Nothing else changed.


Strangely enough, I have an old 1080p Apple TV running tvOS 17.4 (latest) and it still outputs Dolby Digital just fine.


I have provided this information to AppleCare as well as Apple.com/feedback. Kind of a ridiculous bug to go unpatched still. Hopefully someone will notice while we all sit here with broken audio.

Posted on May 7, 2024 10:30 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 16, 2024 10:59 PM

updated to TvOS 18 and 5.1 is broken. Apple TV connected to TV Samsung KS8000. HDMI ARC to Yamaha receiver. Only detects stereo. Please fix asap.

280 replies

Sep 10, 2024 7:28 PM in response to Payton Garner

Interesting. Using the GoogleTV app, Grimm rerun came on, showing Dolby Digital +. Huh.


GoogleTV - Dolby Digital +

Plex - Dolby Digital + (playing my rips)

Peacock- broken

Paramount- broken

curiosity Stream -broken

Discovery + unknown

ESPN- broken

Prime- broken

Max - broken

Netflix- broken

Disney + -broken

AppleTV + - broken


On my 4k Rotel preamp, while I don’t see DTS or Dolby anymore, multi-channel content is detected, but shows up now as Multichannel PCM. Why the GoogleTV app is working, I leave to Apple (assuming they’re even aware of this). This should never have made it out into the public. Did they even test for function??

Sep 18, 2024 2:15 AM in response to Payton Garner

I have more Apple TV's, a 2015's 4th generation HD model (A1625/32GB) and a 2022's 4k version (A2843/128GB). Both updated to the same tvOS version (18.0/22J357). Both of them configured in the Audio Format setting to Change Format and Dolby Digital 5.1. (I have a third one (a 2017's 4k), but it currently are lended over to one friend, so i can not test it)


Only stereo sound came out from the 2022's version in any of the applications have I tried (Netflix, VLC, Youtube). In the other hand, the 2015's model worked fine, the receiver displays Dolby Digital and all of the speakers was sounded perfectly.


My audio setup is a little bit weird and old :D, I have a Creative Labs DTS/DD5.1 optical decoder from the early 2000's which is connected to a mid 2000's 5.1 analogue wooden speaker system. The Apple TV connects to it via an HDMI-Optical Audio extractor device, which was worked fine in the last decade. I tested both Apple TV's with the exactly same configuration, I mean disconnected all of the cables from the old one, and replaced the Apple TV with the other one.

Sep 22, 2024 9:04 PM in response to Payton Garner

I have Apple TV HD and after the update to TVOS 18 a few days ago, I no longer get Dolby 5.1 except in the YouTube app.

It has been connected to an older Bose Lifestyle system and older Sharp TV and has never had this issue. I tried restarting, unplugging cables, forcing Dolby 5.1 but nothing worked. Is this only affecting folks with older TVs and surround systems?

Sep 22, 2024 10:57 PM in response to Payton Garner

I have one of each: Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD. What I want to try to make clear is that both models have the problem under tvOS 18.0. Neither had the problem under the most recent previous release. The problem I'm referring to is that when the Audio Format is set to


Change Format: On

New Format: Dolby Digital 5.1


no multichannel output goes out of the devices through HDMI or S/PDIF.

(I think I neglected to use the phrase "New Format" in my previous posts. Sorry.)


Remember, when you set Change Format to Off, the 2nd option (the option to assign "New Format") is no longer available. Then the Audio Format setting defaults to Auto. The Auto setting allows both models of Apple TV to send 5.1, but only if the AVR, or Sound Bar, or whatever sound system connected synchronizes with the Apple TV in such a way that the Apple TV recognizes that sound system and sends multichannel audio. AFAIK, there's no published list to reveal what sound systems allow Apple TV to sync and sent multichannel audio when the Auto setting is active.


If you want to observe the problem, just make these settings in Audio Format from the Audio section of Video and Audio in Settings:


Change Format: On

New Format: Dolby Digital 5.1


Then play a multichannel audio title from a streaming app other than Home Sharing or YouTube. The output will only be stereo (2-channel).


I hope that is a useful explanation.

Sep 23, 2024 6:11 PM in response to Payton Garner

Exactly the same problem here (in the U.K.) after auto update to TV OS18 with my 1st gen 4K TV Box. I thought it was a problem with the Netflix app so updated that. Now I've tested my other streaming apps and I can't get 5.1 sound from anything. I have over 100 films purchased in iTunes and no 5.1 sound from them either.


I have a Denon avrx2200 receiver and it clearly tells me what sound I've got on the display and I'm now back to Dolby surround.


I wish I never turned auto update on but I've never had an issue before. Personally I'm fuming about this because I always listen to 99% of content in 5.1 sound. This is a huge step downwards & I feel like I'm missing half the content.

Sep 29, 2024 2:33 AM in response to Payton Garner

As others have stated, I can get 5.1 from YouTube and that's the only app. All others had 5.1 broken at the 18 update. I have a 1st gen 4K. The workaround doesn't work for me. I've been trying to mess around and find a different workaround but nothing has helped. I see on my receiver that the Apple TV is switching the audio signal when I start a program that should have 5.1, but then just goes back to stereo. This switch is normally where it would switch and stay on 5.1.


[Edited by Moderator]

Oct 9, 2024 1:59 AM in response to Windh

I have updated to the version that must not be mentioned here. I can confirm that the issue is resolved for me with a 1st Gen 4k box going into an LG C1 then HDMI (earc) to LG SN9YG Atmos soundbar. Atmos works (as it always did) and Change Format gets me DD5.1 again instead of PCM Stereo. I’m sure the fix will carry on to the public release of 18.1🤞🏻so hopefully not too much longer to wait.

Oct 25, 2024 12:50 AM in response to Payton Garner

The problem was solved with the latest update released for the Apple TV 4K.

I signed up on Apple's website to also receive beta updates and then the option to download a beta version on the streamer itself was opened. I downloaded an update and the problem was solved. At first, I manually enabled the Dolby Digital 5.1 option in the settings, then I set it back to auto, after I saw that it was indeed playing Dolby Digital. When I put it back to auto, it now knows how to play Dolby Digital with the appropriate content and Dolby Atmos with the appropriate content. very happy!



[Edited by Moderator]

Apple Broke Dolby Digital 5.1 Output on Apple TV 4K

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