How to Get to the Main Menu on an Apple TV
Last updated July 21, 2026
The main menu on an Apple TV is the Home Screen, the grid of app icons. The fastest way there depends on which remote you have.
On the current Siri Remote, press and hold the round Back button. On the older remote, press and hold the Menu button.
Either one drops you straight onto the Home Screen from anywhere. Here is how it works on every Apple TV remote.
What is the main menu on an Apple TV?
Apple does not call it a main menu. The screen you are looking for is the Home Screen, where all your apps sit in a grid.
That is where you launch Netflix, open Settings, or jump to any app. If an app is missing, our steps to add channels on an Apple TV put it on that grid.
Getting back to the main menu is a one button move once you know the button. If your apps will not load at all, start with our guide on how to get the internet on an Apple TV.
How to get to the main menu on the current Siri Remote
This is the remote that comes with the Apple TV 4K, the one with the click ring at the top. It has no button labeled Menu.
- Find the round Back button, just below the click ring on the left.
- Press and hold it for about a second.
- Let go when the Home Screen appears.
A quick press of Back only steps back one screen. The press and hold is what takes you all the way to the main menu.
How to get to the main menu on the older Siri Remote
This is the earlier remote that shipped with the Apple TV HD and the first Apple TV 4K. It has a flat glass touch surface and a Menu button.
- Find the Menu button below the touch surface on the left.
- Press and hold it for about a second.
- Release when the Home Screen loads.
Just like the newer remote, a single press only goes back one step. Hold it to reach the main menu.
How to get to the main menu on an old Apple TV
The Apple TV 3rd generation from 2012 came with a small aluminum remote. It works a little differently.
Press the Menu button to back out of a screen one step at a time. Keep pressing it and you land on the top menu.
That older box has no App Store and cannot add new apps, so the main menu is a fixed set of channels. A cheap streaming stick brings modern apps to the same TV, and our Roku vs Fire Stick comparison covers the best ones.
The one button shortcut to the main menu
You can make the round TV button go straight to the Home Screen. By default it opens the Apple TV app instead.
- Open Settings on your Apple TV.
- Select Remotes and Devices.
- Select TV Button, then choose Home Screen.
Now one press of the TV button takes you to the main menu every time. It is the easiest option if you use the Home Screen a lot.
This setting matters mostly in the United States, where the button opens the Apple TV app by default. In places without the Apple TV app, the TV button already goes to the Home Screen.
Which button by remote
| Remote | Button to hold | Comes with |
|---|---|---|
| Current Siri Remote | Back | Apple TV 4K, 2nd gen and later |
| Older Siri Remote | Menu | Apple TV HD, first Apple TV 4K |
| Aluminum remote | Menu | Apple TV 3rd generation |
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Menu button on the new Apple TV remote?
There is no Menu button on the current Siri Remote. Apple replaced it with the round Back button, and holding Back is what returns you to the main menu.
Why does the TV button open the Apple TV app instead of the menu?
That is the default in the United States. You can switch it to the Home Screen under Settings, then Remotes and Devices, then TV Button.
How do I go back just one screen instead of to the main menu?
Press the Back or Menu button one time and release it. A quick press steps back one screen, while a press and hold jumps all the way to the Home Screen.
What is the main menu on an Apple TV actually called?
Apple calls it the Home Screen. It is the grid of app icons you see when the Apple TV first starts up.
Can I get to the main menu without the remote?
Yes. Open Control Center on your iPhone and tap the Apple TV Remote, or open the Apple TV Remote app. Tap the TV button there to jump to the Home Screen.
My old Apple TV menu has no apps I want. What can I do?
The Apple TV 3rd generation cannot install new apps, so its menu is fixed. A current model or a streaming stick is the fix, and our guide on how to use an Apple TV on a non smart TV covers your options.