Apple TV / tvOS Guide

Complete guide to Provenance on Apple TV — setup, controllers, iCloud sync, performance tips, and the best tvOS emulator experience

Provenance is the premier multi-system emulator for Apple TV, bringing classic gaming to the big screen with support for 38+ game systems from Atari to PlayStation. This guide covers everything you need to know to get the best experience on tvOS.

Why Provenance on Apple TV?

✨ Unique Features:

• 🎮 Native tvOS app - Built specifically for big-screen gaming

• 🎯 Full controller support - PlayStation, Xbox, MFi, and Siri Remote

• ☁️ iCloud sync - Seamlessly continue games across iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV

• 📱 TopShelf integration - Quick access to recently played games

• 🏆 Premium performance - All Apple TV models run classic systems at full speed

Supported on: Apple TV HD (4th gen), Apple TV 4K (all generations)

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Getting Started

Installation

From the App Store (Recommended):

1. Open the App Store on your Apple TV

2. Search for "Provenance"

3. Download and install (100% free)

4. Optional: Upgrade to Provenance Plus for iCloud sync ($3.99/month, $39.99/year, or $99.99 lifetime)

Alternative: Sideload from Xcode (requires Mac + Apple Developer account)

First Launch

1. Grant permissions - Allow file access when prompted

2. Pair a controller (recommended) - See Controller Setup below

3. Add BIOS files - Some systems require BIOS (see BIOS Requirements)

4. Import ROMs - See Importing ROMs below

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Controller Setup

Supported Controllers

Provenance supports nearly every modern game controller on Apple TV:

Recommended Controllers:

• 🎮 PlayStation 4/5 DualShock/DualSense - Best overall compatibility

• 🎮 Xbox One/Series X|S Controller - Excellent button mapping

• 🍎 MFi (Made for iOS) Controllers - Native Apple support

• 📱 Siri Remote (tvOS 17+) - Basic control for simple games

Not Recommended:

• ⚠️ Siri Remote on older tvOS - Limited buttons, awkward for most games

Pairing Your Controller

PlayStation or Xbox Controller:

1. Put controller in pairing mode:

   • PS4/PS5: Hold Share + PS button until light flashes

   • Xbox: Hold Pairing button until Xbox logo flashes

2. On Apple TV: Settings → Remotes and Devices → Bluetooth

3. Select your controller from the list

4. ✅ Controller is now paired!

MFi Controller:

• Usually pairs automatically when turned on near Apple TV

• If not: Settings → Remotes and Devices → Bluetooth → Select controller

Controller Tips

• 🔋 Battery: Most controllers last 8-12 hours per charge

• 🔄 Multi-device: Controllers can pair with multiple devices (hold pairing button to switch)

• 📶 Range: Bluetooth range ~30 feet / 10 meters (line of sight)

• ⚡ Latency: Wired Ethernet connection improves Bluetooth performance (see Performance Tips)

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Importing ROMs

Method 1: iCloud Sync (Provenance Plus)

If you have Provenance Plus and multiple Apple devices:

1. On iPhone/iPad:

   • Import ROMs using any standard method

   • Enable iCloud sync in Provenance settings

2. On Apple TV:

   • Open Provenance

   • Your library will automatically sync via iCloud

   • ✅ All saves and game states sync across devices!

Method 2: Direct Transfer

Via AirDrop (easiest):

1. On Mac/iPhone: Select ROM files

2. AirDrop to your Apple TV

3. Open files in Provenance

Via File Sharing (Finder):

1. Connect Apple TV to Mac via USB-C

2. Open Finder → Select Apple TV

3. Files tab → Drag ROMs to Provenance

4. ROMs appear in library on next app launch

Via Xcode (for developers):

1. Connect Apple TV to Mac

2. In Xcode: Window → Devices and Simulators

3. Select Apple TV → Installed Apps → Provenance

4. Drag ROMs into the file container

Method 3: Cloud Services

• Import from Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive via Files app

• Select ROM → Share → Provenance

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Best Systems for Big-Screen Gaming

Highly Recommended (Perfect on TV)

These systems were designed for TVs and translate perfectly to Apple TV:

• 🎮 Nintendo 64 (1996-2002) - Super Mario 64, GoldenEye 007, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

• 🎮 PlayStation (1994-2006) - Final Fantasy VII, Crash Bandicoot, Metal Gear Solid

• 🎮 Sega Dreamcast (1998-2001) - Sonic Adventure, Shenmue, Crazy Taxi

• 🎮 SNES (1990-2003) - Super Metroid, Chrono Trigger, Super Mario World

• 🎮 Sega Genesis (1988-1997) - Sonic the Hedgehog, Streets of Rage 2, Phantasy Star IV

Also Great

• 🕹️ Arcade (MAME, FinalBurn Neo) - Street Fighter II, Pac-Man, Metal Slug

• 🎮 NES - Super Mario Bros. 3, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid

• 🎮 Game Boy Advance - Better on TV than you'd expect! (Metroid Fusion, Pokémon Emerald)

Less Ideal for TV

• 📱 Game Boy / Game Boy Color - Tiny screen designed for handhelds, hard to see on TV

• 📱 DS / 3DS - Dual-screen layouts don't translate well to single TV screen

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Performance Tips

Optimize for Big-Screen Gaming

Reduce Input Latency:

1. 🌐 Use Ethernet instead of WiFi - Dramatically improves Bluetooth controller performance

2. 📺 Enable "Game Mode" on your TV - Reduces display lag (check TV settings)

3. 🎨 Turn off Dolby Vision - Adds processing delay (Settings → Video and Audio)

4. 🔌 Disconnect unused Bluetooth devices - Reduces interference

5. 📡 Position Apple TV in open space - Avoid thick walls, metal objects near device

Graphics & Performance:

• ⚙️ Disable "Smoothing" and "CRT filters" - Slight performance gain (Provenance Settings)

• 🎞️ Use native resolution - Don't force 4K upscaling on non-4K TVs

System-Specific:

• N64 on older Apple TV HD: Some games may need frameskip enabled

• PlayStation: Runs full speed on all Apple TV models

• Dreamcast: Requires Apple TV 4K for best performance

Expected Performance

Apple TV Model	Recommended Systems	Performance Notes
Apple TV 4K (2nd/3rd gen)	All systems up to PlayStation/N64/Dreamcast	Full speed, no compromises
Apple TV 4K (1st gen)	All systems up to PlayStation/N64	Dreamcast playable, some slowdown
Apple TV HD (4th gen)	All systems up to PlayStation	N64 mostly full speed with minor slowdown

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Provenance Plus on Apple TV

iCloud Library & Save Sync:

• 🎮 Start a game on iPhone during your commute

• 🏠 Continue exactly where you left off on Apple TV at home

• 💾 All save states, game saves, and settings sync automatically

• 📚 Your entire ROM library syncs across devices

Other Plus Features:

• 🔔 Early access to new cores and features

• 🛠️ Priority support

• 📬 TestFlight beta access

Cost: $3.99/month or $39.99/year (App Store free trial available for subscriptions), or $99.99 lifetime

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TopShelf Integration

Provenance integrates with tvOS TopShelf for quick access to your games:

What is TopShelf?

• The top row of your Apple TV home screen

• Shows your most recently played games

• Launch games directly without opening Provenance first

How to Use:

1. Move Provenance to the top row of your Apple TV home screen

2. Swipe to Provenance (don't open it)

3. See your recently played games in the expanded TopShelf view

4. Select a game to launch directly into gameplay

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Troubleshooting

Controller Not Pairing

Problem: Controller won't connect or keeps disconnecting

Solutions:

1. ✅ Forget and re-pair:

   • Settings → Remotes and Devices → Bluetooth → Select controller → Forget Device

   • Re-pair from scratch

2. ✅ Check battery: Low battery causes connection issues

3. ✅ Reduce interference: Move WiFi routers, microwave ovens away from Apple TV

4. ✅ Update firmware: PS5/Xbox controllers may need firmware updates (connect to console first)

5. ✅ Use Ethernet: Wired connection improves Bluetooth stability

Games Running Slow or Stuttering

Problem: Lag, framerate drops, audio stuttering

Solutions:

1. ✅ Check build type: App should say "Provenance" not "Prov Debug" (debug builds are slow)

2. ✅ Disable visual effects: Turn off Smoothing, CRT filters in settings

3. ✅ Enable Game Mode on TV: Check your TV's picture settings

4. ✅ Close other apps: Double-tap TV button, swipe up to close unused apps

5. ✅ Restart Apple TV: Hold Home button → Sleep, then wake Apple TV

iCloud Sync Not Working

Problem: Games or saves not syncing between devices

Solutions:

1. ✅ Verify Provenance Plus: Active subscription required for sync

2. ✅ Check iCloud storage: Settings → Accounts → iCloud → Manage Storage (need available space)

3. ✅ Enable iCloud in Provenance: App Settings → iCloud Sync → ON (on all devices)

4. ✅ Check network: iCloud sync requires active internet connection

5. ✅ Force sync: Close and reopen Provenance to trigger manual sync

ROM Not Showing in Library

Problem: Imported ROM doesn't appear

Solutions:

1. ✅ Check file format: See supported formats

2. ✅ Verify ROM hash: Corrupted downloads won't import (re-download)

3. ✅ Check BIOS: Some systems require BIOS files (see BIOS Requirements)

4. ✅ Re-import: Delete and re-add the ROM

5. ✅ Restart app: Force quit Provenance and relaunch

Black Screen After Launching Game

Problem: Game starts but shows only black screen (audio may work)

Solutions:

1. ✅ BIOS missing: PlayStation, Sega CD, Saturn, Dreamcast require BIOS files

2. ✅ Try different ROM: File may be corrupted

3. ✅ Update cores: Settings → Core Management → Check for updates

4. ✅ Report bug: If persistent, report on GitHub Issues

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Advanced: Dark Mode

Provenance respects tvOS system-wide Dark Mode:

Enable Dark Mode:

1. Apple TV Settings → General → Appearance

2. Select Dark ✓

3. Provenance UI will update automatically

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Tips for the Best Experience

For Multiplayer

• 🎮 Pair multiple controllers - Up to 4 players (system-dependent)

• 👥 Use same controller types - Mixing controllers can cause mapping issues

• 🔋 Check all batteries - Nothing worse than dying mid-game!

• 📖 Full guide: Multiplayer

For Save States

• 💾 Use incremental saves - Create multiple save states per game

• ☁️ iCloud backup - Enable iCloud sync to never lose progress

• 🎯 Quick save before bosses - Save state right before difficult sections

For Streaming/Recording

• 📺 Use AirPlay - Stream your Apple TV to Mac for recording

• 🎥 Built-in screen recording - Requires Xcode + connected Mac

• 🎬 Capture cards - HDMI capture cards work great with Apple TV 4K

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See Also

• BIOS Requirements — Required system files

• Importing ROMs — Add games to your library

• Controllers & Controls — Full controller compatibility list

• Multiplayer — Local and online play guide

• Performance Optimization — System-specific optimization

• Provenance Plus — iCloud sync details

• Troubleshooting — Common issues and solutions

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Enjoy retro gaming on the big screen! 🎮📺

For support, visit the Provenance Discord or check the FAQ.