Apple Adds HDMI ARC and eARC Support to the New Apple TV 4K GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO News > Home Theater & Entertainment

Apple Adds HDMI ARC and eARC Support to the New Apple TV 4K

Now you can play Apple TV audio on your HomePod speakers

By Joshua Hawkins Joshua Hawkins Freelance Technology Reporter Full Sail University Josh Hawkins is a freelance writer for Lifewire who loves writing about the latest tech and gadgets that help make people’s lives easier. As an avid gamer and VR enthusiast, he also enjoys diving deep into the technology that helps bring those kinds of experiences to life. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on May 21, 2021 02:19PM EDT Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Home Theater & Entertainment Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming The new Apple TV 4K will let you play all your TV's audio on your HomePod speakers. Apple has revealed that the new Apple TV 4K will allow users to enable HDMI ARC and eARC, which will let audio from all input sources stream over HomePod Speakers. According to 9To5Mac, Apple originally enabled the ability for older versions of Apple TV to stream audio to HomePod Speakers last fall. Apple That software update only allowed audio from Apple TV, itself, to be shared. The Apple TV 4K will allow all audio from all of your TV inputs to be played through your HomePod, if your TV supports ARC output. Before you can make use of the new ARC feature, you must set up your system properly. Apple says the HomePod speaker needs to be connected to the same room as the Apple TV 4K, then you’ll need to set the HomePod as the default audio output. Once done, you can enable the Audio Return Channel feature, which is in beta at the moment. It is important to note that the HomePod mini—the only version of the HomePod that Apple is still actively manufacturing—is not supported. Instead, ARC is only compatible with the larger HomePod speaker, which the company discontinued earlier this year. ARC is only compatible with the larger HomePod speaker, which the company discontinued earlier this year. The move to enable universal ARC support is important because previous reports have pointed towards the eventual release of a HomePod-like television speaker set. Bringing universal audio passthrough could be a logical step towards something of that nature. However, such a device has yet to be officially announced. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire New Apple TV 4K Refresh Boasts Updated A15 Bionic Chip, HDR10+, and More How to Turn Down the Volume on Apple TV Is an Apple TV Worth It? How to Connect Your TV to an External Audio System What Is HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel)? How to Get HBO Max on Apple TV How to Use Apple AirPlay With HomePod How to Make Phone Calls With Your HomePod Apple TV 6th Generation: Price, Release Date, and News How to Pair an Apple TV Remote How to Update to the Latest the Apple TV Operating System How to Find and Watch Disney Plus 4K Content How to Cast Apple TV to Chromecast How to Fix It When an Apple TV Remote Isn't Working Apple TV 4K 2021 Review: Ultra-High Definition Streaming With Siri Controls What Is Apple TV? How Does It Work? Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies