Watching movies with friends on family is a contemporary way of passing time, enjoying each other's company, and strengthening social bonds. Even though catching movies in a movie theater is seen as a great adventure, many people nowadays prefer watching movies from the comfort of their homes. With smart TVs, the art of watching and experiencing is more enhanced than ever before.
Smart TVs offer more than comfort and internet connectivity. You get to enjoy movies from sizable HD or UHD screens and crystal clear sound courtesy of top sound tech companies like Dolby Digital. Most Smart TV brands come with integrated movies apps such as Netflix, Hulu, Showmax, etc. But, how about iTunes? Is it possible to watch iTunes movies on a smart TV?
If you are an iTunes movie fan, this article will guide you through different ways to enjoy iTunes
movies on your smart TV.
Part 1: Can You Play iTunes Movies on a smart TV?
Is it possible to play iTunes movies on a smart TV? Well, this has long been a concern for many iTunes users. Apparently, the answer to this question is Yes and No! As we know, iTunes movies are encrypted with Apple's FairPlay DRM protection, which means that they can only play on Apple devices and applications. Deriving from this fact, Apple TV users can easily access and play iTunes movies from their Apple TV. On the other hand, if you are using a different brand, you have to commit to alternative ways to play your iTunes movies on your smart TV.
Part 2: Ways to play iTunes Movies on Smart TV
In most cases, the smart TV brand determines what method you will use to watch iTunes movies. This section will explore different ways to get and play your favorite iTunes movie on your TV.
Method 1: How to Watch iTunes Movies on Apple TV
This is possibly the most straightforward way of playing iTunes movies on smart TV. Since Apple TV is an Apple device, playing iTunes movies should not be a problem. All you have to do is start the Apple TV, connect it to the internet and launch the iTunes store on the smart TV. Here is a quick guide for you.
Step 1: Start the Apple TV and choose "Movies">> "Purchased" or "Rental" on the Apple TV main menu.
Step 2: The purchased/ rented movies will show on your screen. Find the movie you want and select it.
Step 3: Hit the play button to watch iTunes movies on your TV.
Method 2: How to Watch iTunes Movies on TV with the Apple TV app
Another practical way to play iTunes movies on your smart TV is via the Apple TV application. Today, most smart TV comes with an Apple TV app that allows you to rent movies from iTunes with your iPhone and directly play them on your Apple TV app-supported smart TV. You will not need an Apple TV set-top box to play the movies. Some TV brands with a built-in Apple TV app include new Samsung smart TVs and LG webOS smart TVs.
Step 1: Open iTunes movies on your Apple TV.
Step 2: Find the menu bar and swipe to find the movies you want from the available categories.
Step 3: Select a movie title and choose whether to buy or rent it.
Step 4: After purchasing/ renting, the iTunes movie will automatically play on your smart TV.
Method 3: How to Watch iTunes Movies on TV via AirPlay or HDMI Port
Another way to play iTunes movies on your smart TV is by mirroring them from your computer. As far as mirroring is concerned, you can use AirPlay for a Mac computer or an HDMI connection for a Windows computer. Please refer to the guides below.
3.1: Play iTunes Movies on TV via AirPlay
Step 1: First, connect your Mac computer and smart TV to the same Wi-Fi network.
Step 2: The smart TV and your computer will automatically pair.
Step 3: Click the AirPlay button on your computer.
Step 4: Launch the iTunes app and find the movie you want to watch.
Step 5: Hit the play button and the movie will automatically play on your smart TV screen.
3.1: Play iTunes on TV via HDMI port
Step 1: Use an HDMI cable to connect your computer to the smart TV.
Step 2: Using your remote, select HDMI as your source. Your computer screen will display on your smart TV screen. Basically, you will be using the screen as your monitor.
Step 3: Now, open the iTunes app on your computer and log in to your account.
Step 4: Discover the movie you would like to watch from the iTunes store.
Step 5: Hit the play option and the movie will automatically play on your smart TV.
Method 4: How to Watch iTunes Movies on TV from iPhone
This method is similar to connecting your computer to smart TV, only that this time around, you will be connecting your iPhone to the TV using AirPlay. This way, you can watch your movies from your big-sized smart TV. So, how do you connect your iPhone to your TV? There are two options, i.e., use AirPlay or adapter cable. Please, refer to the guides below.
4.1: Connect iPhone to Smart TV via AirPlay
Step 1: Log in to your iTunes account and play the movie you want to watch on your TV.
Step 2: Swipe from the bottom of your iPhone screen to see the iOS Control Center.
Step 3: Select the " Screen Mirroring" button.
Step 4: Next, select your smart TV as the target device.
Step 5: Automatically, your iPhone screen will show on smart TV. You can turn your iPhone sideways so that the video fits perfectly on your TV screen.
4.2: Connect iPhone to Smart TV via AV Adapter
Step 1: Connect your iPhone to the TV using an AV adapter cable.
Step 2: Log in to your iTunes and discover the movies you want to play.
Step 3: Now, hit the play button to start playing the movie.
Step 4: The iTunes movie will automatically display on your smart TV screen.
Method 5: How to Watch iTunes Movies on TV Offline
As we mentioned earlier, iTunes movies are encrypted in M4V format, which is unsupported on most Smart TV. Hence, if you want to play your iTunes movies offline, you must download and convert iTunes movies to MP4 or other supported video formats. To do that, you require special converter software, and here recommend trying the iTunes Movie Converter.
The Ondesoft iTunes Movie Converter is one of the best iTunes converter tools in the market. The app removes Apple DRM protection on purchased and rented movies for offline watching.
Ultimately, it is possible to convert protected iTunes M4V movies to compatible videos format like MP4, M4V, MOV, AVI, to mention a few. This smart converter software allows you to break the 30-day/48-hour limitation on iTunes rental movies. Thanks to its advanced lossless technology, it also guarantees high-quality video output after conversion. The Ondesoft iTunes Movies Converter is available for Mac and Windows computers and therefore, you do not have to worry about compatibility issues.
Key Features of iTunes Movie Converter:
Downloads and removes DRM protection from iTunes movies.
Converts iTunes movies to MP4, M4V, MOV, etc.
Conversion speeds of up to 30X.
Supports batch conversion.
Guide: How to convert iTunes Movies for Offline Playback
Step 1: Download and install Ondesoft iTunes Movies Converter
First, go to the official Ondesoft page and download the Ondesoft iTunes Movie Converter. Please make sure you have the correct software for your computer. Next, run the software file to install the app on your computer.
Step 2: Add iTunes Movies to the app
Log in to your iTunes account and find the movies you want to download. Hit the " Add Files" icon and select the movies to add the iTunes movies on Ondesoft iTunes Movie Converter. Click on the " Add" button at the bottom to complete the import.
Step 3: Define output audio tracks and subtitles
After adding the movies, click the Gear button at the end of each movie item and define your preferred audio and subtitle settings. Simply uncheck the ones you do not want.
Step 4: Start conversion
Now, hit the " Convert" button, and the Ondesoft iTunes Movie Converter will begin to download and convert the selected movies. When the process is finished, hit the folder icon to find the downloaded iTunes movies.
After converting the iTunes movies to a supported format, you can play the movies using a USB. Please, refer to the guide below.
4.1: Play iTunes Movies on TV via USB
Step 1: Insert the USB drive on your computer's USB port.
Step 2: Find the converted iTunes movies and copy and paste them to your USB.
Step 3: Wait for the transfer to complete and then eject the drive.
Step 4: Now, insert the USB on your TV, and using the remote, select USB as the source and play the iTunes movie you want.
Conclusion
If you have been looking for the perfect way to enjoy iTunes movies on your TV, you are now sorted with 5 top tips to make it happen. However, if you would like to save up some iTunes movies to watch in the future, you can always download and convert them using the Ondesoft iTunes Movie Converter. With the app, you can download both rental and purchased iTunes movies for offline play on your smart TV.