Christmas Tree Decorator Help & FAQ

Christmas Tree Decorator is built so a child can hang the first ornament without being shown how. This page covers the rest: lights and garlands, the light effects, saving trees, Show Tree and what the Holiday Pass adds.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I hang an ornament?

Pick an ornament from the shelf, move it over the tree with the Siri Remote, and click to hang it. One click per ornament. Press Menu to cancel if you change your mind.

Why can I not place an ornament in the air beside the tree?

On purpose. Every spot follows the branches, so ornaments always land on the tree. It means children cannot get it wrong, and a decorated tree always looks like a real one.

How do I add lights, tinsel and garlands?

Open the Garlands tab on the shelf and choose one. The free version includes warm string lights. With the Holiday Pass you also get colourful, icy blue and red & gold lights, gold and silver tinsel and bead garlands, and up to three garlands on the tree at once.

How do I put a star or another topper on the tree?

Open the Toppers tab and choose one. The golden star is free; the Holiday Pass adds every other topper, including the classic star, paper star, golden snowflake, red bow, angel and Moravian star.

What does Lights Out do?

It turns off the room around the tree so only the lights and ornaments glow. With the Holiday Pass you can also choose a twinkle, chase or fade effect for the lights.

What is Decorate for Me?

A fully decorated tree in one click. Press it again for a different festive look. It is a quick start if you want to change a few things rather than begin from an empty tree.

What is Show Tree?

Your tree full screen, with the shelf and buttons out of the way. Press Play/Pause on the Siri Remote to switch the lights on and off.

Can I undo an ornament?

Yes. Undo removes the last thing you added. Delete removes a selected ornament, and Clear All starts the tree again from bare branches.

Is my tree saved?

Yes, automatically as you decorate. In the free version you can keep one saved tree; with the Holiday Pass you can save as many as you like and find them all in My Trees.

What is the Top Shelf tree?

When the app sits in the top row of your Apple TV home screen, your own tree appears in the Top Shelf area above it.

What is the countdown?

A bonus countdown to Christmas and New Year, in days, hours, minutes and seconds. You can set your own dates.

What is free, and what does the Holiday Pass add?

Free: the Forest Glow tree with up to 15 ornaments, warm string lights, a golden star, Lights Out, Show Tree, Decorate for Me and one saved tree. The Holiday Pass adds all four trees, all 50+ ornaments with no limit, every light, tinsel and bead garland, the light effects, every topper and unlimited saved trees.

Is the Holiday Pass a subscription?

No. It is a one-time purchase.

Can my family use the Holiday Pass?

Yes. The Holiday Pass is shared with your family through Family Sharing, so other members of your Family Sharing group get it too.

I bought the Holiday Pass but it is not unlocked. What should I do?

Make sure the Apple TV is signed in with the same Apple Account that made the purchase, or one in the same Family Sharing group, then use Restore Purchases in the app.

Which Apple TV do I need?

Any Apple TV running tvOS 16 or later.

Christmas Tree Decorator Game

Get Christmas Tree Decorator Game

Decorate a Christmas tree on your Apple TV with the Siri Remote - ornaments, lights, tinsel and a star, then Lights Out.

How-to guides

How to decorate your first tree

From bare branches to a glowing tree in a few minutes.

  1. Open the app and choose a tree.
  2. Start with lights: open Garlands and drape a string of lights.
  3. Open Balls and hang the larger ornaments, spread evenly around the tree.
  4. Fill the gaps with smaller ornaments from Special.
  5. Open Toppers and put a star on top.
  6. Press Lights Out.

Lights first, then ornaments, then the topper is the same order decorators use with a real tree - and it looks better here too.

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How to decorate together as a family

One remote, several decorators.

  1. Decide who goes first; the youngest usually wins that argument.
  2. Each person hangs a few ornaments, then passes the remote.
  3. Let the oldest put the star on top - or the youngest, with help.
  4. Switch off the room lights and press Lights Out together.

Undo is there for disagreements. Nobody's ornament is ever really lost.

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How to use Decorate for Me as a starting point

Skip the empty tree.

  1. Press Decorate for Me.
  2. Press it again until you like the overall look.
  3. Use Delete on the ornaments you do not want.
  4. Add your own favourites in their place.

A good trick for small children: start from a full tree and let them change it.

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How to leave your tree glowing on the TV

For the evening, or while guests are over.

  1. Finish decorating and press Lights Out.
  2. Press Show Tree to hide the shelf and buttons.
  3. Use Play/Pause on the Siri Remote to switch the lights on and off.

Gentle snow and festive music play in the background while the tree is on screen.

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How to change the light effect

Twinkle, chase and fade come with the Holiday Pass.

  1. Find the Effect button above the tree.
  2. Click it to cycle between steady, twinkle, chase and fade.
  3. Press Lights Out to see the effect at its best.

Fade suits a quiet evening; chase is the one children usually pick.

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How to save and reopen trees

Keep last year's tree, or one per child.

  1. Your tree saves automatically as you decorate.
  2. Press Save to keep it as a separate tree.
  3. Open My Trees from the menu to see every saved tree.
  4. Select one to show it full screen or redecorate it.

The free version keeps one tree; the Holiday Pass removes the limit.

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How to set up the Christmas countdown

A bonus countdown to Christmas and New Year.

  1. Open Countdown from the menu.
  2. Choose Christmas or New Year.
  3. Set your own date if your family celebrates on a different day.

Handy if you celebrate on Christmas Eve, or on January 7.

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Related guides

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