Apple TV app gets customizable tab bar in iPadOS 18.2 beta

Apple today released iPadOS 18.2 beta 3, and the update brings a welcome addition for TV app users. The Apple TV app now offers a customizable tab bar, gradually expanding the number of apps with this feature for power users.

Upgraded iPad Tab Bars Slowly Expanding

The number of new features added in iPadOS 18 and subsequent updates is impressive. But when Apple first unveiled the release at WWDC in June, it had little to say about the update.

That's because while iPad users get powerful additions like Apple Intelligence, new customization tools, and system app updates, there aren't many iPad-exclusive features.

One of the few new features this year that's only available on iPad is a new tab bar design for apps.

Luckily, it's more interesting than it sounds.

Apps can now offer a floating tab bar at the top of the screen, similar to the design found in some tvOS apps.

While many Apple apps use the new floating design, very few take advantage of the new system’s biggest benefit: customization.

If supported, users can customize an app’s tab bar with the menu items that matter most to them.

For example, in the Music app, I added specific playlists to my tab bar to jump to.

Now, in the iPadOS 18.2 beta, Apple has added customization to the TV app for the first time.

Customizing the TV app’s tab bar in iPadOS 18.2

Long-pressing the TV app’s tab bar in the latest beta will put it into edit mode.

Apple lets you add any sidebar item to the tab bar. This includes:

Channels and apps like Disney+, Max, and Peacock
Library sections like Recent Purchases, Movies, and more
as well as the Sports

Adding something to the tab bar will make it easier to access in the future.

Unfortunately, Apple doesn't currently let you remove default tab options. So unless you're a big soccer fan, for example, MLS will continue to take up space on your tab bar.

It's great to see more system apps supporting tab bar customization, and I hope third-party apps follow suit. Apple first showed off the customizable TV tab bar back in June, so it's taken a while to implement, and it's unfair to expect third parties to move faster than Apple.

iPadOS 18.2 is expected to be released in early to mid-December, so non-beta users will have access to the changes in just a few weeks.

Which apps do you think will add customization support with the new tab bar? Let us know in the comments.