Apple TV gets Guest and child profiles, which work without an Apple ID

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Apple is changing the way profile creation works in its Apple TVs by allowing users to finally create profiles without an Apple account, with simple guest profiles and a brand-new kids-only mode. This change is a major shift for family and guest sharing on the company’s tvOS platform, which previously forced users to wanting to set up an additional profile, always needing a separate Apple account.

Apple tvOS 26.2 beta update introduces a simplified profile creation process

One of the most noticeable changes in the latest Apple TV tvOS 26.2 update concerns user profile creation. Until now, every Apple TV user has required signing in with an Apple ID, even for guest accounts, which made it cumbersome to set up temporary profiles, especially for visitors or children. However, now, as per a MacRumors report, there’s a “Create Profile” option in the latest Apple tvOS 26.2 beta update that only asks for a name, a profile rating, and whether the user is a child to create a new profile.

With this dedicated child profile, Apple TV automatically switches into a child-friendly experience, restricting content to a PG rating by default. Moreover, parents can customise these restrictions with granular control as they can view TV and movie ratings based on the child’s age. This creates a dedicated kids-only view within the Apple TV app, hiding all adult content from Store and Library sections or recommendations.

The change is also a major benefit for guest profiles, as an Apple TV owner can set up personalised temporary profiles without the need to sign in with an Apple ID or use the primary account. Both changes demonstrate Apple's increasing focus on providing practical and family-friendly features, especially in multi-person households.