How do I get Apple TV+ free for one year?
As an expert in TV technologies with over 10 years of industry experience, I‘m often asked how to get Apple‘s streaming service, Apple TV+, for free.
Apple offers an exciting one-year free trial of Apple TV+ when you purchase a new iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV or iPod Touch. According to Apple, the free year offer is available for _"any new iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, or Mac capable of running the latest iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, or macOS, from Apple or an Apple authorized reseller."_
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll walk you through step-by-step how to redeem your free year of Apple TV+ and answer common questions, like:
– How do I activate the 1 year free Apple TV+ offer?
– What devices qualify for the free year?
– Can I share the offer with family members?
– What shows are on Apple TV+?
– What happens when the free trial ends?
Let‘s get started!
## New Apple Devices Eligible for 1 Year Free Apple TV+
The following new Apple devices purchased on or after September 10, 2019 can redeem 1 year free Apple TV+:
– **iPhone** – iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone SE 2nd gen, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max
– **iPad** – iPad 7th gen, iPad 8th gen, iPad Air 3rd gen, iPad Air 4th gen, iPad Pro 11-inch 2nd gen, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 4th gen, iPad Pro 11-inch 3rd gen, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 5th gen, iPad 10th gen, iPad Pro 11-inch 5th gen, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 6th gen
– **iPod Touch** – iPod Touch 7th gen
– **Apple TV** – Apple TV 4K, Apple TV HD
– **Mac** – Any new Mac capable of running macOS Big Sur or later
According to Apple, the device must be _"purchased from Apple or an Apple authorized reseller."_ Refurbished devices are not eligible.
## Step-by-Step Guide to Redeem 1 Year Free Apple TV+
Follow these simple steps to activate your free 1-year Apple TV+ subscription with an eligible new Apple device:
### 1. Update Your Apple Device
First, make sure your new iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple TV is updated to the latest iOS, iPadOS, tvOS or macOS. The offer may not appear if your device is not up-to-date.
### 2. Open the Apple TV App
On your new device, open the Apple TV app. This is pre-installed on iOS, iPadOS, tvOS and macOS.
### 3. Go to the Apple TV+ Tab
In the Apple TV app, select the tab labelled **"Apple TV+ Originals."** This tab showcases Apple‘s original movies and shows.
### 4. Tap "Start Your Free Trial"
On the Apple TV+ tab, you should see the offer to **"Start Your Free Trial."** If not, tap your profile icon in the top right and you may see **"Get Apple TV+"** – tap that.
### 5. Sign in with Your Apple ID
Sign in with your Apple ID and password. This is the same Apple ID you use to access iCloud, the App Store, and make purchases. If you don‘t have an Apple ID yet, select **"Create New Apple ID"** to set one up.
### 6. Enter Payment Information
You‘ll be prompted to enter a valid payment method, but **you will not be charged during the 1 year free period.** This is simply to verify your account.
### 7. Start Watching Apple TV+ Originals for Free!
Once your account is verified, you‘re all set! You can now browse and watch Apple TV+ shows and movies for free for 1 year.
According to Apple, the offer must be claimed in the TV app within 3 months of activating your new device. So make sure to redeem your free year soon after setting up your eligible iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple TV.
## Extending Your Free Trial Beyond 1 Year
What if you miss the 3 month window to redeem your free year? Not to worry, you can still get an Apple TV+ free trial in a few ways:
– **7-day free trial** – If you miss the 1 year offer, you can still get a standard 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ by signing up directly in the TV app.
– **3 months free** – Ongoing, Apple offers new and existing subscribers 3 months free Apple TV+ when you purchase a qualifying Apple device, like a new iPhone. You can stack this onto your 1 year trial.
– **Annual subscription** – When your free year is up, you can renew Apple TV+ for $69.99 per year and get an extra 3 months free (15 months for the price of 12).
## Sharing the Apple TV+ Free Trial with Family
The 1 year free Apple TV+ offer is per family. According to Apple, it can be shared with up to 5 family members through Family Sharing.
To set up Family Sharing, go to **Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing** on your Apple device. Add up to 5 family members to your plan.
With Family Sharing, each person gets their own customized Apple TV+ experience, along with the benefits of sharing other Apple services like iCloud, Apple Music, and Apple Arcade.
## Overview of Apple TV+ Original Programming
So what can you watch for free with your 1 year Apple TV+ subscription?
Apple TV+ offers a growing catalog of award-winning original content. As of January 2023, there are over 100 TV shows and movies to choose from.
Some of the most popular Apple TV+ originals include:
– **Ted Lasso** – Comedy starring Jason Sudeikis about an American football coach hired to coach soccer in England. Won back-to-back Emmys for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2021 and 2022.
– **Severance** – Sci-fi thriller about office workers whose memories are separated between work and personal lives.
– **For All Mankind** – Alternate history drama about the global space race.
– **The Morning Show** – Drama exposing the dark underbelly of morning news, starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carell.
– **See** – Futuristic drama starring Jason Momoa about a post-apocalyptic world where everyone is blind.
– **Foundation** – Epic sci-fi series based on Isaac Asimov‘s book series of the same name.
– **Trying** – British comedy series about a couple attempting to adopt.
– **Mythic Quest** – Workplace comedy set at a video game studio.
– **Tehran** – Espionage thriller about an undercover Mossad agent on a dangerous mission in Tehran.
– **Schmigadoon!** – Musical comedy series parodying classic musicals, starring Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key.
Apple is continuously developing new originals, with over 100 projects in the works. So the library will continue expanding over your free year.
All Apple TV+ shows and movies are available for download to watch offline too. This makes it easy to take your favorites on the go.
## What Happens When the Free Trial Ends?
After 1 year, your Apple TV+ subscription will auto-renew at the regular price of $6.99 per month, unless you cancel.
You can easily manage or cancel your subscription at any time in your Apple account settings. There‘s no long-term contract or commitment required.
For the latest price, Apple TV+ is $6.99 per month or $69.99 per year (a 15% savings).
Apple TV+ is ad-free, so you get an uninterrupted viewing experience. It‘s also cheaper compared to other services like Netflix, which now starts at $9.99 per month.
The Apple TV+ library may be smaller than Netflix or Disney+, but the original content quality is excellent. Apple is selective, focusing on prestige productions with Hollywood‘s top talent.
## Get Started with Your 1 Year Free Apple TV+ Subscription
Thanks for reading my comprehensive guide on how to get Apple TV+ free for one year when you purchase a new iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple TV.
I hope you found this information helpful as you take advantage of Apple‘s exciting 1 year free TV+ offer. Enjoy access to top-tier original movies, shows, comedies, dramas and documentaries.
As an expert in emerging TV and streaming technologies, I‘m always happy to answer any other questions you may have about Apple TV+ or optimizing your smart TV and mobile devices for the best streaming experience. Feel free to reach out anytime!
