Disney+ Update Enables Spatial Audio on Apple TV 4K

A recent update for the Disney+ app (version 2.9.5) on Apple TV 4K enables spatial audio directly through the app on the streaming device — reports FlatpanelsHD.

Spatial Audio on the Disney+ app is now available on both 1st Gen and 2nd Gen Apple TV 4K. Apple’s spatial audio is a Dolby Atmos-powered feature that brings a theatre-like surround sound experience on supported audio devices.

Spatial audio can take a 5.1, 7.1, or Dolby Atmos source and use it to create a dynamic and immersive sound stage in AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, AirPods 3, HomePod, and other supported devices.

Up until now, Disney+ passed 5.1 source content to Apple’s spatial audio system despite supporting Dolby Atmos on other devices. The update unlocks Dolby Atmos for Disney+ on Apple TV 4K, letting it handle spatial audio directly.

Disney+ on Apple TV 4K now also plays Dolby Atmos content through the original HomePod when it is set as the default speaker for Apple TV 4K.

Another Disney+ app update (version 2.9.1) for devices running Android TV and Google TV is reportedly breaking Dolby Atmos functionality. Sony TVs, Nvidia Shield, Chromecast, TCL Android TVs, and Hisense Android TVs have been confirmed to be affected, but the issue likely extends to other Android TV and Google TV devices as well.

Dolby Atmos still works on version 2.8.0 of the Disney+ app for Android TV and Google TV, so affected users can roll back to it until the issue is resolved. There have also been some reports of a server-side fix remedying the problem entirely.

Is Dolby Atmos for Disney+ working on your Android TV? Let us know in the comments below.