Apple TV app rental: if you rent on the iPhone, can you watch on the smart TV app?

Forums › Online streaming services › Apple TV app rental: if you rent on the iPhone, can you watch on the smart TV app?

Geektastic

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#293761 11-Feb-2022 22:42

I rented Dune on my phone.

Wanted to watch on the TV using the Apple TV app. I simply could not find a way to make that happen. Ended up using Airplay to watch it, which dropped out, stuttered and drove us mad.

Apple rarely make it hard but I could not for the life of me find a straightforward way to watch the film I had rented "natively" from the TV app.

Can it be done?

rugrat

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#2866719 11-Feb-2022 22:51

I have no problems. Are you signed in with the same user ID on both devices?

I usually rent on phone so can use Face ID to authenticate, then watch on Apple TV.

Think it shows in watch next. Also if I search for movie it has play instead of purchase price.

Also the rented movies show if I use the Applic on LG TV.

jarledb

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#2866720 11-Feb-2022 22:52

I would think you should be able to do that if you are using the same Apple ID on both devices. I am assuming you rented the movie through the Apple TV app?

Here is a support document

Hope this helps. Always rent the movies through the movie app on Apple TV myself. Usually using the US Apple ID that I have, so that I get the movies sooner.

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Geektastic

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#2866736 11-Feb-2022 23:46

Does Apple TV use your iTunes ID or your Apple ID?

For me they are different due to having the iTunes ID in 2004 several years before I had an Apple computer and needed a proper Apple ID.

It's possible that the TV is using the Apple ID and the phone the iTunes ID.

AFAIK you can't merge them.

rugrat

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#2866742 12-Feb-2022 01:09

Just log out of the TV Applic, then log in using your iPhone ID, and password.

It sounds like you made a new account when setting up on TV, where should have just logged in using same name, password as on phone.

It shows as Apple ID on my phone. I click settings on phone, tap on name at top, then next screen has email address below my name, which is the Apple ID that the phone is using. Use that one.

rugrat

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#2866745 12-Feb-2022 06:19

If you’ve purchased a lot of movies or have Apple TV plus under the TV ID just note that you’ll lose access to them when using the phone ID, if case maybe easier to either rent movies on TV one, and keep separate ID’s or if paid Apple TV plus cancel it, then when sub runs out, take it up again under phone ID. This will lose your watch history though.

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#2866752 12-Feb-2022 08:24

The TV is using my main Apple ID (same as email etc) but I don't know what the TV app on the phone uses.

Apple TV

Stream your favourite shows now on Apple TV (affiliate link).

Eva888

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#2866769 12-Feb-2022 09:43

As rugrat said above. Your phones apps will be using the account the phone is signed in to. You may be signed in to your Apple TV with a different ID.

Try using 'Family Sharing' instead so that your two devices can stay signed into their own respective accounts but they can share content between them.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201085

Eva888

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#2866772 12-Feb-2022 09:54

Just reading your question again and realising you mean you want to watch on your smart television's Apple App, not the Apple TV device so try this.

https://support.apple.com/guide/tvapp/family-sharing-atvbb056462b/web

fearandloathing

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#2866781 12-Feb-2022 10:08

You can tie the two accounts together with a family account, you would need to test if you can share rentals.

rugrat

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#2867787 13-Feb-2022 16:36

I rented Snake Eyes on Friday using phone.
Didn’t get a chance to look at TV until now, but on the LG TV Applic it is there at the top first entry under watch next.

That is with the watch now icon highlighted at top.

I can also click on library at top, and then Rentals on the left and shows there as well.

I do think your phone and TV ID’s are not matching some how. I suggest going to settings icon on Apple TV Applic, far right at top, click on accounts. Then click on add new account.

After that scan the QR code on right side of TV screen with your phone. Then hopefully your phone will log you into the TV Applic.

Then when rent next movie, do it on TV Applic so can watch on TV. Check to see if showing as available on your phone as well, and if so then you’ll know all set for the future.

Edit: I just tested it with account matching phone, if they already match it doesn’t do any harm and no new account created. So if you do end up with a second account will know ID’s didn’t match.