How to create a UIButton for tvOS with a clear background color?

Question

I'm trying to create a UIButton of System type with a clear background color. The problem is that it shows a gray background color even if I set it to clearColor. I can do it with a Custom type UIButton, but then the button loses the default effects for focusing and selection.

Does anyone knows how to create a System UIButton with a entirely transparent background?

Answer 1

Since tvOS 11 there is a solution for that using the button type "plain" instead of "system" without loosing the effects for focusing and selection:

1. Open the button properties in the Interface builder an select "Type"->"Plain"

2. Set the button background color to "clear color"

Thats it.

Watch Apples Video about "UIButtonTypePlain" here (starts at 13:44): UIButtonTypePlain explained