Moonlight settings for Apple TV: what each one does and where to start
Short answer: On Apple TV, Moonlight offers 720p to 4K, 30 or 60 fps, and fixed bitrate steps from 0.5 to 150 Mbps; the default is 1080p, 60 fps, 20 Mbps. On a wired network, Moonlight PC’s defaults (20 Mbps at 1080p60, 80 Mbps at 4K60) are reasonable targets. On Wi-Fi, start at 1080p. Leave “Play Audio on Host PC” off, and only turn on “Request HDR Video” if the TV supports HDR10.
Checked October 30, 2026 against Moonlight PC v6.2.0 and Sunshine v2026.914.233613 (latest stable releases) and their documentation. Sources are listed at the end of the page.
Every setting, with its default
From Moonlight for Apple TV’s settings file (Root.plist), which the app also uses for its defaults:
| Setting | Choices | Default | Where to start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stream Resolution | 720p, 1080p, 1440p, 4K | 1080p | 1080p on Wi-Fi; 4K only when both ends are wired and stable. |
| Frame Rate | 30 FPS, 60 FPS | 60 FPS | 60. There’s no 120 fps option on Apple TV. |
| Bitrate | 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 70, 80, 100, 150 Mbps | 20 Mbps | 20 for 1080p60. For 4K60 wired, 80 matches Moonlight PC’s default. |
| Audio Configuration | Stereo, LPCM 5.1, LPCM 7.1 | Stereo | Surround only if your TV or receiver handles multichannel PCM. |
| Play Audio on Host PC | On / off | Off | Off, so sound comes out of the TV. |
| Optimize Game Settings | On / off | On | Leave on. |
| Automatic Game Controller Detection | On / off | On | Leave on. |
| Swap A/B and X/Y Buttons | On / off | Off | Personal preference. |
| Citrix X1 Mouse Support | On / off | Off | Only for that mouse. |
| Preferred Codec | Auto, H.264, HEVC | Auto | Auto. Don’t force H.264 if you want HDR, since HDR needs 10-bit HEVC. |
| Frame Pacing Preference | Lowest Latency, Smoothest Video | Lowest Latency | Try Smoothest Video if motion judders and a little extra delay is acceptable. |
| Request HDR Video | On / off | Off | On only with an HDR10 TV and an HDR-ready host. |
| Statistics Overlay | On / off | Off | Turn on while tuning, then off. |
On Apple TV, these options are defined in a system settings bundle, which tvOS shows in the Apple TV Settings app under the app’s name.
Picking a bitrate
Apple TV’s default stays at 20 Mbps even at 4K, so choose a value to suit the resolution. As a reference, Moonlight PC’s calculated defaults are 20 Mbps (1080p60), 40 Mbps (1440p60) and 80 Mbps (4K60). On Apple TV, 1440p60 sits between 25 and 50. Start with the lower option on Wi-Fi. If the Statistics Overlay shows frames dropped by the network, step down. The full table is in the bitrate guide.
Apple TV system settings that matter
- Match Content: under Settings › Video and Audio › Match Content, Apple offers Match Dynamic Range and Match Frame Rate, so the Apple TV switches the TV to suit what’s playing.
- HDR requirements: tvOS 11.3 or later, a TV with HDR10, and a host that meets Sunshine’s HDR requirements. See washed-out HDR if colours look off.
Handy Apple TV details
- To leave a stream, double-tap the Menu button on the remote.
- On tvOS 13 and later you can use Xbox One S and PS4 controllers over Bluetooth, with all buttons including Select, L3 and R3. If Bluetooth seems to cause stutter, see the stutter guide.
- Pair the Apple TV while it is on the same network as the PC. tvOS can’t add a PC from outside the local network.
- Steam isn’t listed by default on Apple TV (an App Store rule). You can add it yourself as a custom app.
FAQ
What is the best bitrate for Moonlight on Apple TV 4K?
It depends on resolution and network. Apple TV defaults to 20 Mbps, which matches Moonlight PC’s default for 1080p60. For 4K60 on a wired network, 80 Mbps matches Moonlight PC’s 4K60 default. On Wi-Fi, start lower and step down if the stats overlay shows network drops.
Can Moonlight on Apple TV stream at 120 fps?
No. The Apple TV app offers 30 or 60 fps only.
Where are Moonlight’s settings on Apple TV?
Moonlight for Apple TV defines its options in a system settings bundle, which tvOS shows in the Apple TV Settings app under Moonlight’s name.
Sources
- Moonlight for Apple TV source: settings list (Root.plist) (Moonlight source, master branch)
- Moonlight wiki: Setup Guide (official Moonlight docs)
- Moonlight wiki: Additional requirements for HDR streaming (official Moonlight docs)
- Moonlight wiki: Frequently Asked Questions (official Moonlight docs)
- Apple Support: Change video and audio settings on Apple TV (Match Content) (official Apple docs)
- Moonlight PC source: default bitrate calculation (streamingpreferences.cpp) (Moonlight source, master branch)