Apple TV Zoomed In: Deactivate This Function

Apple TV Zoomed In: Deactivate This Function

After I hooked up the new Apple TV 4K to my Samsung Smart TV, the content on the screen appeared zoomed in. 

This was strange as my older Apple TV 2nd generation model worked perfectly on the TV. 

I tried restarting my TV and switching inputs in an attempt to fix the issue but nothing worked. 

It was almost impossible to use the Apple TV remote and access other apps that weren’t visible on the screen. 

Annoyed, I started searching for a way to fix the issue on the official Apple Community Forum and website. 

A few responses on discussion threads suggested that the issue may be related to the TV display settings. 

I found a way to fix Apple TV stuck on the zoomed-in issue and also got some TV display settings that need to be adjusted if the issue persists. 

To zoom out on your Apple TV 4K or Apple TV 4th Generation, use the Siri Remote. Press the clickpad center or touch the surface of the remote three times. Alternatively, go to Settings > Accessibility > Zoom and turn it off. 

Use The Siri Remote to Zoom Out On Your Apple TV   

The most common reason why your Apple TV looks zoomed in is because of the remote shortcut that may have accidentally set your Apple TV to a zoomed-in position. 

Apple TVs have a Zoom feature to magnify the image appearing on the TV screen. When the feature is activated, it can zoom in on the content appearing on your screen. 

However, you can use the Siri Remote to easily zoom out or return your TV screen to normal viewing mode. 

Here’s how: 

  • Press the clickpad centre (for Apple TV 4K) or touch surface (for Apple TV 4th Generation) of the Siri remote three times 
  • Check if the TV screen is zoomed out now 

Alternatively, you can also turn off the Zoom function on your Apple TV to remove its effects completely. 

There are two ways to turn off the Zoom function- Via Apple TV settings and by using an accessibility shortcut. 

Via Apple TV Settings  

  • From your Apple TV Home page, select Settings 
  • Navigate down to Accessibility and then select Zoom 
  • Turn off the Zoom function  

Set up an Accessibility shortcut for the Zoom function 

You can activate or deactivate the Zoom function easily using the accessibility shortcut. 

To add an accessibility shortcut for the Zoom feature: 

  • Open Settings on your Apple TV
  • Go to Accessibility and select Accessibility Shortcut 
  • Select Zoom from the list of available options 

To deactivate/activate the Zoom function via the accessibility shortcut: 

  • For Apple TV 4K, triple-click the Back button of the Siri Remote 
  • For Apple TV 4th Generation, triple-click the Menu button of the Siri Remote 

Adjust The Overscan Setting on Your Apple TV To Avoid Zoomed-In Content 

Overscan is a condition when the margins of the picture usually go beyond the borders of the screen, making it appear as if the picture is zoomed in. 

You may be experiencing the zoomed-in issue on your Apple TV due to incorrect overscan settings. 

The overscan may usually occur when you’re trying to cast any content via AirPlay on your Apple TV. 

Follow these instructions to adjust the overscan on your Apple TV: 

For Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD

  • Open Settings 
  • Navigate to AirPlay or AirPlay and Homekit option 
  • Select AirPlay Display Overscan and adjust the settings as required 

For Apple TV (3rd generation) or Apple TV (2nd generation)  

  • Open Settings
  • Navigate to Audio & Video 
  • Select Adjust For Airplay Overscan 

Check The Display Settings on Your TV  

Most TVs have built-in picture and display settings that may cause the zoomed-in issue on your Apple TV. These settings vary depending on your TV model and manufacturer. 

On your TV settings, search for options like aspect ratio, zoom, overscan, picture size, etc. 

Try adjusting these settings as required and check if that helps fix the zoomed-in issue. 

Refer to your TV manual or get in touch with the TV manufacturer for more information related to display settings. 

Unplug Your Apple TV If The Content is Still Zoomed In 

If changing the display settings on your TV didn’t resolve the zoomed-in issue, try power cycling your Apple TV. 

A power cycle clears all running apps and closes background processes before restarting the TV. 

Moreover, it also clears any build-up cache and drains the residual power left in the TV. 

Follow these instructions to power cycle your Apple TV: 

  • Unplug your Apple TV from the wall outlet 
  • Wait for up to six seconds before plugging it back in 
  • Once the Apple TV turns back on, the zoomed-in issue should be fixed 

Note: A power cycle usually works the best in case you’re unable to navigate through any in-display settings on your Apple TV as the content is zoomed in. 

Restore Your Apple TV To Its Factory Settings 

If none of the above solutions helped fix the zoomed-in issue, the last option is to reset your Apple TV to its factory settings. 

Note that this process erases all Apple TV data, restores it to its factory settings, and removes all the saved information on it. 

Make sure that you’ve tried all the above methods before going for a factory reset. 

Restore Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD (4th Generation) 

  • On the Home screen of your Apple TV, select Settings. 
  • Navigate to System and select Reset.
  • Choose a reset option based on your preferences:
    • Reset: This option doesn’t require an internet connection. It is a quick way to factory reset your Apple TV. 
    • Reset and Update: This option requires an internet connection. It installs available software updates along with factory resetting your Apple TV.  
  • Ensure that your Apple TV is plugged in until the Reset process is complete. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your Apple TV again. 

Restore Apple TV (3rd generation) or earlier 

  • From the Apple TV Home screen, go to Settings.
  • Go to General and select Reset.
  • Choose your preferred restore option:
    • Reset: This option doesn’t require an internet connection. It is a quick way to factory reset your Apple TV. 
    • Reset and Update: This option requires an internet connection. It installs available software updates along with factory resetting your Apple TV.  
  • Ensure that your Apple TV is plugged in throughout the entire reset procedure. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up the Apple TV once the factory reset is complete. 

Get In Touch With Apple Support For Professional Assistance

If you’re still facing trouble zooming out the content on your Apple TV, contact Apple Support for further assistance. 

Share your problem description along with your Apple TV model details with the Apple Support Team. 

Based on the diagnosis, the authorized agent may suggest proven solutions to help fix the zoomed-in issue. 

Get Fit To Screen Content Back On Your Apple TV

The older Apple TV models (2nd or 3rd generation) do not have a dedicated Zoom function. You need to adjust the display settings on your TV to fix the zoomed-in issue. 

If you’ve got an Aspect Ratio setting on your TV, set it to Auto and check if the zoomed-in content is fixed.

Similarly, set the Picture Size setting to Screen Fit if it is available in the picture settings of your TV. 

You may also want to try changing the resolution on your Apple TV through a remote shortcut to fix the zoomed-in issue.

For Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD (4th generation), hold the Volume and Menu button on the Siri Remote for 5 seconds and release it. 

For older Apple TV models (2nd or 3rd generation), hold the Menu and Up button on the Apple remote for 5 seconds and release it. 

Once this shortcut is activated, your Apple TV will switch to a new resolution after every 20 seconds. Select OK to choose the desired resolution or Cancel to quit. 

Frequently Asked Questions  

Why does my Apple TV show black bars on the top and bottom of the screen?  

If black bars appear on the top and bottom of your Apple TV screen, it’s due to underscan. Underscan usually preserves the aspect ratio so that the whole picture is visible. However, it’s not suitable while streaming movies or TV shows. To fix the underscan on your Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD, go to Settings > AirPlay (or AirPlay and Homekit) > AirPlay Display Underscan. 

How to fix an unresponsive Apple TV?  

The best way to fix an unresponsive Apple TV is by restarting it. There are two ways to restart your Apple TV. Press and hold the Back < button or MENU button and TV buttons on the Siri Remote till the Apple TV status light blinks rapidly. Alternatively, unplug your Apple TV from the wall outlet and wait for at least five seconds before plugging it back in. 

How to adjust the video settings on my Apple TV?  

You can adjust various settings such as format, frame rate matching or test your HDMI connection in case of any issues. To do this, open Settings on Apple TV. Navigate to Video and Audio. Based on your preferences, you can set the video output format, check your HDMI connection, turn on dynamic range matching, and recalibrate your display. 

How to update Apple TV software to fix the zoomed-in issue?  

The latest software updates are regularly released by Apple to solve user-reported bugs and common issues with Apple TV. This may help fix the zoomed-in issue as well. To check for updates, open Settings. Go to System > Software Updates and select Update Software. A pop-up message will appear if an update is available. Ensure that you don’t turn off or unplug the Apple TV during the update process. 

About the author

Maria Chan, or MC, as we call her, is the genius girl-boss who gave up on her cushy silicon-valley job to grind it out with us. Her undying pursuit of wanting Zeebox to the best makes it very clear that she has no interest in running a generic tech-site.

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