Apple TV audio passthrough settings explained
Based on: Apple docs, Apple TV 4K (1st gen, 2017) with a 7.1 receivertvOS: Apple docs for tvOS 26; device test version not recorded (June 2026)Checked
Short answer
Leave Audio Format on Auto unless something is wrong. In Auto, Apple TV decodes audio and sends the best format your equipment accepts, usually multichannel PCM or Dolby Atmos. "Passthrough" in the strict sense only exists for Dolby formats; Apple TV never passes through DTS or TrueHD.
Where the settings are
SettingsVideo and AudioAudio Format
Apple notes that some options appear only when your TV or receiver supports them.
| Option | What Apple TV sends | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Auto | The best format for your equipment, decoded and uncompressed | Default; recommended by Apple |
| Convert to Dolby Digital 5.1 | Compressed Dolby Digital 5.1 | Your equipment supports neither Dolby Atmos nor multichannel PCM |
| Stereo Only | Two-channel PCM | Stereo speakers or TV speakers |
| Dolby Atmos | On or off | Atmos receiver or soundbar |
| Continuous Audio Connection | Dolby MAT, for glitch-free format changes | Turn off to let your receiver upmix stereo to surround |
Audio Format options, as Apple documents them for tvOS 26.
What we measured on a 7.1 receiver
What we measured
- Apple describes Auto as: Apple TV “decodes the best audio format for your equipment and sends uncompressed audio to your speakers”.Apple doc
- With Auto, Apple TV sent 8 channels of PCM to a 7.1 receiver. Our speaker-test app read “8 of 32 max” channels on the route.Tested
- The bitstream formats we saw on the route were Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and E-AC-3 JOC (Atmos). No DTS, no TrueHD.Tested
- Convert to Dolby Digital 5.1 re-encodes everything to compressed Dolby Digital 5.1, which fits through an optical cable.Apple doc
Common setups
- TV speakers only: Auto or Stereo Only.
- Soundbar on optical: Convert to Dolby Digital 5.1. Optical cannot carry multichannel PCM or Atmos.
- AV receiver over HDMI, no Atmos: Auto. You get multichannel PCM.
- Atmos receiver or soundbar over HDMI: Auto with Dolby Atmos on. Then test that Atmos really arrives.
Using DTS or TrueHD files? Read DTS on Apple TV and TrueHD and Atmos passthrough first.
Questions people ask
Is there a passthrough setting on Apple TV?
Not by that name. Audio Format controls what Apple TV sends. In Auto it decodes and sends uncompressed audio; Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby Atmos can reach the receiver as Dolby formats.
Should I use Auto or Convert to Dolby Digital 5.1?
Auto, unless your TV or receiver has no Atmos and cannot take multichannel PCM, which is common with optical connections. That is the case Apple describes for Convert to Dolby Digital 5.1.
Why does my receiver show PCM instead of Dolby Digital?
In Auto, Apple TV decodes and sends uncompressed audio, so PCM on the receiver is normal and not a fault.
If you would rather not fiddle with it
Atmos Speaker & Sound Test
Channel-by-channel speaker test and Dolby Atmos, 5.1 and 7.1 format tests on Apple TV, so you can hear what your receiver actually gets.
View on the App Store$6.99 once
We make this app. Everything above is true whether or not you use it.