tvOS 18.5 adds Dolby Atmos syncing to Apple TV for AirPlay and Bluetooth speakers

The tvOS 18.5 update that Apple has released for Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K adds support for Dolby Atmos audio syncing to speakers connected via AirPlay or Bluetooth, according to the official release notes.

The feature is designed to address the audio lag issue on Apple TV. Users have complained that the audio in movies and TV shows lags, such as voices not matching lip movements, and effects like explosions sounding delayed. This applies to both HomePod and other speakers connected via AirPlay or Bluetooth.

To get rid of the delays, users had to turn off Dolby Atmos and switch to the 5.1 format, which caused dissatisfaction among owners of expensive audio systems, as they could not fully take advantage of the benefits of spatial sound.

Dolby Atmos sync is now available in Settings > Video & Sound > Wireless Audio Sync . It allows you to better align audio with video on speakers that aren't connected via HDMI or optical.

The tvOS 18.5 update is now available for download on all generations of Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K.