iTunes 4K download or stream-only?

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Level 1

34 points

iTunes 4K download or stream-only?

Hi all,

I am considering upgrading my Apple TV hardware to 4K, along with my TV of course. Before spending this $$ I'd like to resolve a couple of questions. I have found some info elsewhere but the sources are a bit old and I want to make sure I understand the current circumstances.

(1) I prefer download+replay to streaming for reasons I will not get into here. I have read that Apple only allows you to stream 4K content, and you cannot download it for later playback. Is this true? If not, how do I download in 4K? I see no settings in the macOS AppleTV app (where I typically purchase content) to specify this. I assume that a 4K Apple TV will automatically get the 4K stream if streaming is indeed my only option to display 4K content?

(2) I already own many HD movies purchased from iTunes which are also available in 4K. Do I need to repurchase to get 4K? I sure hope not!! Assuming no repurchase needed, will just deleting the HD version from my local storage and re-downloading get me the 4K version?

Thanks!

PowerBook

Posted on Apr 29, 2020 12:48 PM

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Answer 1

RogerDavis Author

Level 1

34 points

Apr 29, 2020 1:58 PM in response to Phil0124

Thanks, Phil0124.

So, if I buy a 4K Apple TV I can use it to play streaming 4K content direct from the Apple servers, but I cannot pre-download that 4K file to disk for later playback? That's too bad, given that the reason I prefer download+replay to streaming is the slow and/or intermittent real-time internet access I occasionally experience!

Anyone know what's the big deal about not allowing 4K download, and is this likely to ever change?

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Answer 2

Apr 29, 2020 3:03 PM in response to RogerDavis

RogerDavis wrote:

Thanks, Phil0124.

So, if I buy a 4K Apple TV I can use it to play streaming 4K content direct from the Apple servers, but I cannot pre-download that 4K file to disk for later playback? ...

Correct.

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Answer 3

Apr 29, 2020 1:48 PM in response to RogerDavis

You cannot actually download 4K movies to either an Apple Tv or a Mac.

When downloaded to a Mac, it will automatically select the HD version.

See here: Find and watch movies with 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision, or Dolby Atmos - Apple Support

You can download a copy of an HD movie to your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch,

Mac, or PC, but you can't download a 4K version. You might be able to

download Dolby Vision and HDR versions to your iOS, iPadOS, and macOS

devices.

For movies you already own, any that fall under the auto upgrade policy, they are automatically upgraded to 4K. If it says 4K at the top of the movie details page its been upgraded, and can be streamed in 4K with the proper setup.

Notable exceptions to the 4K upgrade are Disney movies (Disney, Marvel, etc...).

The Tv App on Catalina can stream 4K content on supported Macs, but it cannot be downloaded.

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Answer 4

QuickPost

Level 10

103,365 points

Apr 29, 2020 1:19 PM in response to RogerDavis

Hello,

The iTunes application does not support streaming or downloading 4K content. Now that iTunes for Macintosh has been retired and replaced with the new TV application, the TV application can download and stream 4K content.

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Answer 5

RogerDavis Author

Level 1

34 points

Apr 29, 2020 1:27 PM in response to QuickPost

Thanks, QuickPost!

Just for clarification, when you say that the TV app can 'download and stream' do you mean that it can download the 4K content to local permanent storage for later playback by either the TV app on my Mac or by a networked Apple TV 4K? Also, can you tell me how to download the 4K version with the TV app vs. the HD version? All of the movies I have bought recently are 4K-available, but when I download them with the TV app I am only getting the HD version. How do I get the 4K version?

Thanks again!

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Answer 6

QuickPost

Level 10

103,365 points

Apr 29, 2020 1:30 PM in response to RogerDavis

Hello,

This is very interesting, when you download a movie the full 4K version (if available) should automatically be chosen.

What is your Macintosh’s exact model number and what version of the system software is it running?

Choose the Apple Menu  > About This Mac

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Answer 7

RogerDavis Author

Level 1

34 points

Apr 29, 2020 1:44 PM in response to QuickPost

MacBook Pro (16" 2019), Catalina 10.15.4

Recently I bought and downloaded Parasite, which has the 4K logo displayed on the store page where I purchased and downloaded the movie a couple of weeks ago. When I look at my downloaded library on this system with the TV app, however, the Parasite entry does not show the 4K logo, but rather only the HD logo. Furthermore, when I use Terminal to look at the downloaded file on my disk drive it looks way too small to be 4K:

> ls -l Paras*

-rw-r--r--@ 1 rbd staff 4558789123 Apr 10 12:02 Parasite (HD).m4v

Aren't 4K movies supposed to use about 4x the storage space of HD movies? I've got tons of older HD movies on this disk, all of which use about 4GB of space just like this movie.

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